IP Freely

I've been looking for a CX bike to do double duty (commuting/cross) and I'm having trouble finding the following characteristics:

Disc brakes
Carbon Fork
Aluminum Frame
Rack/Fender Mounts
SRAM Group (Apex preferred for cost/durability)

The closest I've found is the Felt F65X, which seems a little pricey at over $1,800 with BB5 brakes (Side note, I have a Felt F5 and am generally a huge Felt fan so I may very well get this bike, I just want to know what my options are). There's also the Jamis Nova Race, but it has a Tiagra group. I need the big paddles of the SRAM group because I commute through the winter and use heavy mittens when it gets below 30. Most of the miles on this thing will be as a commuter, so features like discs/fenders/etc. are really important.

FYI, my current commuter is a hybrid, which is fine, but it's not going to do much for me on the cyclocross course. Also, it's got some problems braking in the rain/snow (rim brakes) and it's quite heavy (I have to carry it up a number of stairs and also over a subway turnstile every day).

If anyone who knows the market can find more of this type of bike, I'd greatly appreciate it.

adam_mac84

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ane/outlaw.htm

few bucks to swap on some Apex, and i think it'd fit the bill?

IP Freely

Thanks. Really all I care about is the shift levers. Would it be easy enough to buy a tiagra equipped bike and swap out the levers? It are there compatibility issues?

If swapping components is really that easy then there are a host of options.

Andy_K 

SRAM shifters need a SRAM rear derailleur. Otherwise, I think it works.

This is exactly what you described, but it seems to have very limited availability at the moment: Airbourne Delta

fietsbob

Parts upgrades at point of sale in a bike shop are as simple as saying 'make it so' and paying the difference.

BD you are on your own, you buy the part, do the work, then try to resell the take off..

BD frame warrantee seems to involve returning the whole bike ..

Mudgut

I have a new Felt F65X and it does not have rack mounts on the upper seat stay. I'm not sure if mine is a 2012 or 2013. Make sure you check if you decide to go with it. The Felt webpage photos show the mounts.

IP Freely

Thanks, that's the exact bike I've been looking for! Too bad it's only available in a 53cm -- much too small for me at 5'10". I've never heard of this company before, but I like what I see. I'll keep my eye out for one in the right size.

adam_mac84

True assessment here. I got my first bike from BD. Learned to wrench on that bike because I had no money at the time (why I went to BD). Got a manual and some basic tools. Now i have 10 bikes between my wife and I, and still do my own wrenching, but can purchase, new, used, online, LBS wherever I find what I am looking for because I learned on that first bike.

Swapping shifters/deraileurs and then tuning them on your own is a very valuable skill to have.

IP Freely

FYI, I sent an e-mail to Aribourne about the availability of the Delta in other sizes and got the following response:

Hi,

we are no longer going to be moving forward with CX at this time.. we may come back to it in a year or two.. Sorry

thisisbenji

The Specialized Tricross makes a good all all around bike. Although it doesn't come with a carbon fork anymore.

marqueemoon

About the last thing I'd want to do after racing on Sunday would be re-installing rack and fenders to commute the next morning, and I sure wouldn't want to do that a dozen times a year.

But anyway, here's a frame.

https://www.globalbike.co.uk/products...oss-Frame.html

Throw an Apex group on it and knock yourself out. There's a mid-cage Rival rd too, so you could sub that for the Apex if you're so inclined.

AlphaV

https://www.marinbikes.com/2013/bike_...m=1901&Cortina