blargman

I'm trying to decide between these 2 bikes and with the SRAM Rival parts the TCX 1 looks like the obvious choice. Am I missing something?

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bik...ccompact#specs

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...specifications

simonaway427

The Tricross is a commuter bike.

The Giant is an entry level race bike.

blargman

I'm not sure I understand. Surely you could race in a TriCross. I'm just confused as to why the groupset is so much better on the Giant.

simonaway427

Because Apex is perfectly fine on a commuter bike.

Sure you COULD race the tricross - but:

1) Aluminum fork could make for a pretty rough ride.
2) Long chainstays tend to make the handling much slower
3) 50/34 compact isn't ideal for cross
4) Not to mention direct from the Specialized website: "Whether commuting to work, exploring local singletrack treasures, or touring the coast with fully laden panniers....". Me thinks this bike isn't gear (pardon the pun) towards racing.

Mondo734

Specialized has the Crux as its cyclocross specific race bike. The tricross used to be their cyclocross specific bike a few years back. Despite the tricross having an aluminum fork it was in my opinion a more comfortable ride than the Giant TCX was.

waltersc

+1

But unless the geometry has changed dramatically the TCX is similar. I currently race a 2009 TCX. I plan on getting rid of it because of the slow handling. It makes a great commuter, just not a great race bike.

moralleper

I currently race on an '09 S-works Tricross. It is all carbon but still a Tricross. The current models are marketed toward commuting but I am not sure they changed the geometry. The info about longer stays making you slower or the compact not being idea is a bunch of hogwash. It might be an issue for the top 5% of racers but just fine for the masses. On top of that my Tricross is probably the most versatile bike I have ever owned. In the fall/winter I race it(sub 16lbs) the rest of the year on commute/long road rides/gravel grinders fenders/rack and all. I know this will make others mad but I think the trend of removing the eyelets from cx frames it a mistake. Eyelets do not hinder any functionality of a CX bike yet they provide lots more options.

Rwebb

I agree with the difference between the two and wish they would leave the eyelets on the crux.