Best cyclocross bike under £1000 and other CX chat

New entry from Halfords...

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/carrera-crixus-ii-limited-edition-cyclocross-bike-2015

limited edition my arse.

Assume you have tried asking Halfords for a replacement?

Ordered.

Hopefully be ready before Xmas - so I can take it home and do some winter miles on it, for now it will have some road tyres. First change will be contact points and then the ugly crankset.

Think those wheels are fairly hefty too, so will be looking at replacing those in time.

But an interesting bike and now using Claris...

Got my TCX SLR2 this week and love it. My only minor complaint is that the front brake cable seems to need a zip tie to stop it rubbing on the front wheel. I'd originally cut a zip tie off the fork as I thought it was part of the packaging, only to have put another one on after finding the brake cable rubbing on the wheel.

Otherwise, little I'd surprisingly change on it. The two things I'd though I'd change - saddle and tyres, are both fine. The Giant branded saddle is like a more padded Arione, and I get on fine with the Schwalbe Super Swan's on various surfaces

Most forks require a zip tie or other - and sometimes neater - retainer for the brake hose / cable. If you want a slick solution there are super pricey / rare forks that run the cable internally.

Looks pretty slick http://www.dolan-bikes.com/dolan-cdx-carbon-cyclo-cross-bike.html

all strating from £1,199.99

Dolan plz spelchek

Picked this up.

Contacts will all be changed out but then it will be done for now (maybe change the cranks). Will get some Aileron rims built onto Novatec hubs in the spring

Nice one, Joe. Love the pedals.

There are still 6 rounds of the London League left you know, wink.

Great aren't they, also added a bell, reflectors and clip on rear mudguard with built in light...just need to find my Bern helmet

And Orly? I've half a mind to go to Epping on Sunday if I've got time

London League round at Hog Hill on the 21st, so local (ish) to you.

Do it.

Junior men?

Junior? You wish

I'm only 25

7 years into your senior career then. You've another 15 before you join the ranks of the veterans.

Man I'm old

Pfffftttt.

When can I move to Vets? on the day of my birthday, or the season after?
(I'm 40 in January and the prospect of getting my head kicked in by older people is appealing)

From the 1st of September from the year of your 40th birthday according to BC rules (I just checked before anyone thinks I know this shit off the top of my head).

You do realise the Vets category is as competitive as the Seniors don't you?

Yes. I absolutely know it's as competitive. I just didn't want to be "doing it wrong", and get pulled up on something I should have read about....

Doing it wrong