Specialized Tricross Sale

I struggled over this one.
I cannot justify another bike, but at this price it seemed just too good to miss.
So I just ordered one.
Plan is to sell some of my massive collection of bits on flea bay to balance the books.

Just hope Mrs J doesn't notice.

Toodle pip

Hmmm ditto, and ditto, but haven't ordered/bought it yet.

I got a Genesis Flyer just over a year ago on a Ride2Work scheme but have never Ridden2Work on it... its too pretty and white to leave locked outside work to the vandals and thieves!

And in the meantime I've bought a Cervelo frame to build up for serious road riding.

But now what I use to ride to work: my 5 year old no-name Chinese Imperial' brand 75-quid-when-new is-maintenance-free-and-would never-be-stolenMountain Bike' (says Mountain Bike' on the top tube so it must be true!?) is -really- giving up the ghost so I need *something* for the 2 mile commute. The bottom bracketbearings' are now rainwater and mud, the chain and teeth are so worn I can't put more than 2 watts of power into it without skipping, and now the tires are gone.

It would shock the Missus to tell her of a 3rd bike purchase in just over a year! But I can see the TriCross s/s being useful to ride off road along the canal etc as well as commuting....so I may bite the bullet and risk the scorn.

Can anyone tell me what the crank BCD is on the singlecross?

Toodle pip

Can anyone tell me what the crank BCD is on the singlecross?

Toodle pip

I get mine tomorrow. I will measure it and let you know.

Ta very much.

TP

Rode the beast home; my god why do mountain bikes exist? So pleasurable to ride. I was suprised how easy the gear was up hill. It won't be long before I up the ratio, I think.

One important tip, though, the sizing on Pearsons website is totally wrong. At 5'10" I was supposed to have the 56cm but it was massive! After trying on a couple 52 was clearly most appropriate so went for that. Guy was very friendly and helpful. They're a lovely little shop; its a shame so many of these local bike places have since closed down across much of the country.

Mark, will get onto BCD shortly.

One important tip, though, the sizing on Pearsons website is totally wrong. At 5'10" I was supposed to have the 56cm but it was massive! After trying on a couple 52 was clearly most appropriate so went for that. Guy was very friendly and helpful. They're a lovely little shop; its a shame so many of these local bike places have since closed down across much of the country.

Interesting ... I was thinking of the 54cm but with me, at 5'8" (long leg short torso,) your news is a bit ominous.
You don't think you were influenced by MTB experience do you? The 52cm one has a 530mm top tube 90mm stem which sounds a bit short for someone 5'10". And there's also the shorter head tube length to consider making you crouch more. The Specialized's geometry table is here:
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?a=b&minisite=10028&spid=32208&language=US
Anyway, as long as its comfy! Seems you may have got the last 52cm. Now `out of stock'. :^(

Well, I'm more like 5,9 1/2 :)

And I almost certainly was partly influenced by MTB geometry, but the 56 was definately too big - it felt dangerous to sit on even stationary in the shop.

The guy fitting me seemed to know what he was talking about, but I do think I could have gotten away with a 54 too. Just not the 56, so I would go for the 54, as you plan. And do let me know how you find that sizing, it'll be interesting to compare.

i was measured for the geared version at 56cm...i'm 6' tall with a long torso and arms.

i actually came to feel it was too small after getting used to a 58cm condor, but then the position is supposed to be more upright.

Going on the fact that I have a 54cm Langster which fits me pefectly, I went for the same size Tricross.
I'm 5' 11'' but have (according to my son) stumpy legs with an inside leg 0f 30' so I'm hoping that Specialized have stuck to the same sizing.
It should be arriving Monday. Along with torrential rain.
Can't wait...........for the bike that is.

Toodle pip.

Picked mine up today, very impressed with the quality so far.

Size wise I'm 5' 8" and went for a 54cm which seemed a good fit for me, although I have yet to venture outdoors on it.
Busy fitting my gaurds and other bits tonight.

I will report back on the size after a spin on her hopefully tomorrow.

Love the colour.

ps can anyone comment on the need for a lockring on the fixed sprocket. Guys at Pearson said not to bother with one?

Picked mine up today, very impressed with the quality so far.

ps can anyone comment on the need for a lockring on the fixed sprocket. Guys at Pearson said not to bother with one?

I think you mean the single sprocket freewheel it (supposedly) comes with as standard. So no lockring needed.
A fixed cog would def. need a lock ring. You wouldn't ride far without noticing, I would say.

After much deliberation over the state of my post-christmas finances, I have just decided to take the plunge with one of these.

I am just over 5' 11" and plumped for a 56cm as per the Pearsons website, but having read this thread I am now considering giving them a ring on Monday and seeing if that can't be swapped out for a 54cm... Given I tend to like my bikes on the smaller side (I ride a 17" Orange MTB and a 'M' Giant Compact Road Bike) I think this may be wise!

Also, it may be a silly question, but would this be suitable for conversion to fixed? If so, what parts would I need to get - obviously I'll need another sprocket, but a lockring? Which type?

After 40 years cycling Road/mountain, 32 mile round trip commute and a bit of track. I’ve finally succumbed to SS/Fixed thing and bought a Specialized Tricross single it arrived Thursday and was built up in an hour or so, very simple not much to it really. Never set up v breaks before but once you realize there aren’t any adjusters there easy too. Went for first ride this morning bike set as SS with 18 tooth cog turned out to be just right on combination of gritty ‘B’ roads, icy bridle paths and a few ploughed fields nothing to steep but was defiantly out of the saddle more than when cycling road or mountain bike, reminded me of my first bike Raleigh tomahawk (baby chopper) if it got hard you worked harder no choice. All in had a great couple of hours don’t know if I’ll use it for all day road stints or mountain bike adventures but for two hours on a Sunday morning on varied surfaces it may be my weapon of choice from now on. I also fitted a 16 tooth cod on the fixed side of the hub and gave it a quick try (interesting).

BCD 130 someone asked earlier.
If fitting a smaller cog than the 18 tooth supplied wheel position ends up close to the end of the dropouts I took one link out of the chain.
I’m 5’8” and bike size is 54cm size is right for me.
Thumbs up to pearson cycles very good service.

DanDan

After much deliberation and fannying about with a tape measure, decided to switch to a 54cm. Pearsons were very helpful, much more so than any of the bike shops I use near me. Pity they're so far away!

i tell you not sure what money pearson's are/aren't making on these but they sure seem to be selling a tonne of these

After much deliberation and fannying about with a tape measure, decided to switch to a 54cm. Pearsons were very helpful, much more so than any of the bike shops I use near me. Pity they're so far away!

Are you sure about the 54? I'm 5'11 and ride a 56 I know everyone's different physiologically but Is a 54 not going to be too short for you on do you have a short torso with long legs or vice versa.

Geometry here http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?arc=2008&spid=32208
wrench science said I need a 55.5 top tube which is about bang on for me.

I'm just curious as to why you went for the 54> Top tube length? Bike sizing perplexes me!

Mine arrived today @17.00.
By 18.00 I had replumbed the brakes and ditched the little top levers, fine trued the wheels, regreased the wheel bearings with Finish Line ceramic grease, replaced the 18T with a 16T, and gone for a quick spin around the village.

Spot on bit of kit. Nice and comfortable and a perfect fit (54cm).
I'm off to work on ot in the morning.

Pearsons seem to have an inside line on large batches of bikes, the guy there was telling me that he did the same type of deal with a load of Bowerys recently.

Toodle pip

When you choose, post pics of you bikes here.

Standard or modified............

@markrjohnson: So many mods on the same day! You're a show off. But thats ok too......

;)

Hmm I joined the critical mass and ordered one late last night on-line.
Was expecting a confirmation e-mail when I got home from work today but nadda. Should I have got one? At the end of the webshop order I got a Ref. Code'. Hopefully they are just too busy shippingem out. Not saying `sold out' yet...!

Just got mine today, so i thought i'd better break my lurking habit to say cheers for the spot, nice bike at a fucking great price.
First impressions having set it up are pretty good, went for a quick spin and it feels really nice. But then after years of riding mtb it was always going to be a big change. Seems like i'll probably change the tyres and pedals pretty soon, and i'm not sure of the need for four brake levers.
Anything else you guys would recomend swapping out early? or just wait and see what shiny things i fancy?

Are you sure about the 54? I'm 5'11 and ride a 56 I know everyone's different physiologically but Is a 54 not going to be too short for you on do you have a short torso with long legs or vice versa.

Geometry here http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?arc=2008&spid=32208
wrench science said I need a 55.5 top tube which is about bang on for me.

I'm just curious as to why you went for the 54> Top tube length? Bike sizing perplexes me!

It perplexes me somewhat as well!

Basically, I have a background in riding MTBs, so I am used to 'smaller' bikes, I think. I ride a 17" MTB,and a size 'M' Giant Compact Road bike, which both fit me well, but on the Giant I have the seat quite low and on the drops I still feel quite stretched out.

I got the tape measure out and measured all the bits and pieces on my current bikes, and I was on the brink between the 54cm and the 56 cm. I read a lot of comments which talked about the frames running quite big, and considering I tend to err on the smaller side, I talked to Pearsons and they confirmed that I would probably be fine with either.

Pearsons did also say that if it was too small for me I could bring it back in and they would see if they couldn't sort it out somehow.

I am a bit oddly shaped, so maybe that explains why I prefer odd sizes?

I deliberated for ages about this, but in the end, if it really is too small, it's not like it's the end of the world.

Also, echoing MidnightRambler, cheers for the spot LFGSS - wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't been lurking on this forum so much lately.

Can anyone answer my earlier question about adding a fixed cog? I got the impression from pearsons that i could just thread one on, but then I got the impression from here that I'd definitely need a lockring? Also, how many teeth for a first-time fixed rider?

Yes, you can just stick a fixed cog (although I found the threading a little tight and produced a few tailings). Yes you will need a locking ring unless you like adding a little risk to your ride (This is pretty much universal for threaded cog usage).

As for size, well it certainly does matter. Alas it is done to the rider. Just how much to you think you can take. With the factory chainring, I would advise a 16 or a 17 unless you live around a lot of hills then go for 18. Best thing to do is to have a spin on the factory freewheel and see how it feels.

OK, so I could just get something like the Surly 16t fixed cog (1/8th?) and the surly lockring on this page:

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/userimages/procart6.htm

And screw them both on (using a lockring tool?) and I'd be good to go?

Sorry for all the questions - just want to be sure, as there's nothing more disheartening than ordering something only for it not to fit!

Rode it into work this morning, 7 miles of farm tracks and bridleways, 9 miles of road.
Loads of observations but will distill them down to one:

This is the only commuter/tourer/winter bike I am ever going to need.

Job done.

Toodle pip

MattB - I can't see any reason why not. The hubs are standard threading so you should be fine. I've got a cheap sproket that need a little persuasion to get on with a chainwhip, but the lockring when on easily.

markrjohnson - Are you sure that it'sthe only tourer? Lovely as it may be it's not going to be the best bike for hauling loads up hills (unless you never tour on hills).