threeflys

I have both a triple on my Riv and a compact on my Salsa cross (in SoCal) and I'm just fine on the compact... The triple is nice sometimes on the Riv, but it weighs 31# also....

You may ask them to swap a 12-28 cogset onto the rear if it doesn't have it already....

threeflys

MAKE SURE! I bought a medium Giant TCX that felt fine on the test ride and killed me later... cross bikes tend to have a longish top tube, the Giant was basically a 54 but had a 55.5cm top tube. IMHO, top tube length is one of, if not the, most important measurements...

Unagidon

Of the bikes you listed, I agree that the Fuji Cross Comp appears to be the best deal. All those frames are aluminum frames so they won't feel too different, assuming their geometries are also similar. And yes, Ultegra/105 will feel smoother than Tiagra. However, one benefit Tiagra has over the Ultegra/105 is that it's 9 speed, so you can easily swap MTB rear derailleur and cassette for greater gearing. Depending on how fit you are, that's actually a good option to have.

In addition to components, I think you should consider trying other frame materials such as a Masi, and the Surly. I wouldn't recommend a Surly complete, as I don't like downtube shifters and ended spending $ to change to STI on my own Crosscheck. But I love my Surly - steel feels nice.

zerocool33

IMO a steel framed bike will be more comfy. My Gary Fisher Presidio rides like butter, and when I get out of the saddle I don't feel any flex (and I'm a clyde). The Presidio is out of your price range (I paid $1,600), but something else in steel might be a better option. Nothing wrong with aluminum, but steel IS real!

Unagidon

If I could do it all over again, I'd probably get this bike - the Masi Speciale CX - purely from a cost perspective. MSRP US$ 1,150 with Tiagra STI.

DirtyDragon

Thanks for the awesome advice! Has anybody purchased a bike off Jenson USA before. If i decide to go with the Bianchi, I will have to buy it off Jenson online. Has anybody had experience with how well the bike has been put together? I've read that BD bikes do a crap job of putting together the bike when its shipped and am wondering if I will not be able to put together the Bianchi myself without having to go through a major tune up with a LBS (which sounds like the most likely case if I buy from BD)

wankel

I have the Bianchi from Jenson. The only thing I had to do was straighten the handle bars and install the the wheels and pedals. I believe the brakes and derailleurs were already setup, but that is something you should learn how to do if you don't already know. Cranks, BB, levers, etc, were all good.

Jenson was great to deal with, by the way. Fast and reasonable shipping to Canada. The bike actually came with the wrong length cranks, so I phoned them up and they were very apologetic. They said if they couldn't get the proper cranks from Bianchi they would substitute some nicer Suginos that they had. The guy even called me at home to keep me updated on the issue!

DirtyDragon

Thanks for all that are contributing. I'm going to go to performance bike and see if they are going to have a memorial day sale

notskid

Try Nomad Cyclery, Sunset District, Irving@27th. Saw one in the window - thought it was on sale.

black_box 

check for coupons and join the performance bike club. You'll get 10% back in "points" to spend at the store (web or storefront). $1000 bike = $100 in free stuff (minus $25 membership fee). Just be sure to cancel the membership before it renews the next year if you don't buy enough to make it worthwhile.

bsyptak

If it were me, I wouldn't buy a road/cross bike over 20 lbs. Which means that none of these would be on my list. However, if you're dead set on one of these, you owe it to yourself to ride a steel CX bike in the same weight range. They are better.

Another option is to buy a used CX off Craigslist and ride it for a while. You get a nice depreciated price. Then if you decide you like it, sell it for about the same and step up to a nicer bike like the BD Fantom Cross Team Ti. No better value anywhere, and with road tires or a road wheelset, a nice, light road bike.

black_box 

used is a good option, but what bikes are new, 20 pounds or less, and in his price range?

M_S

And for an admitted clyde (or anyone, really) what difference is a few pounds? What magically changes at the 20# mark?

Anyways, service at Performance varies a lot depending on location, as there is variance between other non-chain bike shops. A lot has to do with the quality of the manager and staff at the location. But either way it sounds like you're interested in learning to do most stuff on your own down the line, so having the best ever mechanics at the shop you buy from probably isn't a huge deal.

bsyptak

True. What I meant was to buy a used 22lb cx for 5-600 like one in his list. Then if he sticks with it & likes it, resell it for 5-600 and buy a 20 #er.

DirtyDragon

[QUOTE=bsyptak;8968244]True. What I meant was to buy a used 22lb cx for 5-600 like one in his list. Then if he sticks with it & likes it, resell it for 5-600 and buy a 20 #er.[/QUOTE

I have listed mainly aluminum w/ carbon fiber fork frames as my main choince. Whats the advantage of Steel?

kcham16

Hey- so i recently bought a CX bike, and could not be happier with it. i picked up an '08 Lemond Poprad from a trek store for $1100. this meets your price requirement, and you would be getting a very nice steel frame (perfect for SF's hills and choppy streets), a carbon fork, 105, and disc brakes. plus, they will fit you to the bike.
there aren't a ton of them left, but the trek store in SD has about 5 on the shelves.
it's true that Lemond is no longer being made. however, trek warrantys the bike. for about a grand, this is a hard deal to beat.
one thing that you must factor in is how the bike fits you. i would steer away from mail order, unless you can test ride the same bike.
good luck.

there are a ton of posts regarding steel vs. aluminum, but here's a few reasons why steel is great for most bikes:
1) Aluminum is much more rigid and unforgiving. this means your elbows, back and knees will take more abuse than with a steel bike.
2) Steel has a 'buttery' ride. it is stiff, but still absorbs a lot of the bumps and harshness of the road (or CX course).
3) Aluminum is lighter. however, if you get the newer reynolds or an ox platinum frame, it's not that much lighter. and, if you yourself lose 1-2 pounds riding, that would nullify the argument.

You should go ride a newer steel bike, and a newer aluminum bike. then buy the one you like.

DirtyDragon

kcham, thanks for your post. Did you buy the bike in SF or SD? Whats the name of the store, maybe i'll go pop on by? Thanks

DirtyDragon

Also with the lemond, I'm pretty hard on my bikes and probably won't baby it, also i live in a wet part of SF near the ocean so i am pretty turned off by steel because of rust issues. Is this a real concern?

Cynikal 

Nope, get a can of Framesaver and get squirting.

kcham16

Hi- i actually bought it at the trek store. no need to worry about the steel in SF. you could use frame saver, as stated by someone else, but you most likely won't need it. the paint on it is pretty tough stuff.
Also, it comes with BB7 road disc brakes. once these get dialed in, they perform so much better than canti's or rims (in my opinion), especially in wet conditions. you have to ride the bike a bit to get them really grabbing, but man, they work really well.
plus, being a steel bike, i couldn't believe how light it was. i really have not had a better bike suited to my style of riding- a lot of city riding with bumps, hills, etc. I sold a bianchi alu/carbon race bike to get the lemond. I went on one of the longer climbs in my neighborhood the day i got the lemond, and it climbed way better. or at least i climbed way better on it. the cool thing about it being a cross bike is that i took it on a mountain bike trail near my house- it was bumpy as crap, but fast as he**!

the other bike i looked at was the salsa la cruz. unfortunately, it is about $1700.

mrtornadohead

Performance stores have been notorious for pushing road guys to compact doubles instead of triples. Even people who have ridden both and really prefer triples, Performance will push you to doubles. Myself, i have some of each - depends on the bike's "purpose."

I will second the Surly Cross Check. It's really a solid bike for the pricepoint. Soma's are really nice as well so if you can find one that meets your budget you can't go wrong. That said, I am partial to Bianchi for some reason that I haven't come to grips with, so I will lean in the direction of the '08 Axis, too.

There's no reason you couldn't do any of the wrenching yourself. Just exercise some patience and buy the right tools. Read Sheldon Brown's webwsite. Park Tools has some real handy stuff on their site as well. Metric allen wrenches, some cone wrenches, cable cutter and a chain tool and you're most of the way there. Once you're comfortable with the assembly stuff, why not jump to truing your own wheels and rebuilding your wheel hubs? It's not like putting the timing belt in a V6 FWD compact car.

kcham16

+1 to tornadohead's post. the cross check is a cool bike as well. it comes down to what you want. compare a few bikes, and i bet you'll come up with some stuff that overlaps. those would be the must haves. example: cross check and poprad both have steel frames, but different brakes and forks.
it's a lot to take in- go ride a few and see what YOU like best.

DirtyDragon

Gents, thanks for the advice. So i decided to go with the fuji cross comp. I am buying an 2009 fuji cross for 827 + tax. There is an awesome discount going on at performance cycle right now. 10% off + 20% off friends and family. This deal is hard to pass up for a decent quality bike and the non-headache of bikes direct. I do like the bianchi, but i figure the component group set is far to inferior to pay for a bianchi name. Thanks a lot for all your contributions!! I love this forum

Sawtooth

Congrats! I think you will love your fuji. BTW, a fellow joined our group for our April Century who was riding a Fuji Cross with slicks. It was his 12th!!!! century for the season already. He kicked the living trash out of us. That bike should do you well and besides, there is nothing wrong with the fuji name. I now lots of great race teams who ride their bikes.

DirtyDragon

yah i really like the fuji so far... it is really stiff like people said it would be. I did a couple of runs down some fire trails, in the Presidio, also did a lot of curb jumping. Its a great bike. the double is not as bad as i thought it would be. I managed to bike home from work alright.