Specialized Tricross Sale

FWIW, I fiddled with Evans Ride2Work calculator and tho its listed at 399, using the program would have taken it down to 245 net value (for me) deducted in 12 salary installments.
My employer is too slow off the mark though. Did the Evans program previously for a Genesis and it took them 4 months to do the paperwork for Evans.

Anyone who has bought one of these got any negative views on them? Other forums have whinges on brake shudder. What spec are the brakes that come on these? I tried out a 56cm geared tricross at Edinburgh Bike Co-op and it had cantis, but some of these seem to have Vs.

Fortunately my test on the 56 seemed to prove I was indeed lanky enough for one of Pearson's 58s, although I'm not sure how much clearance you should have on a cross frame. Been mulling this all week. If I do go for this, I'll have a 56cm Holdsworth Mistral (531 frame and forks) for sale. PM me if that floats yer boat, cos that'll probably tip me over the edge.

I've just bought one of the 58s. I'm 6'2". It does have a flip-flop hub doesn't it?

Got mine yesterday and spent the evening putting it together. Totally impressed with it for the price. Looking forward to giving it an outing at the w/e.

Jimbo - Mine came with Vs although they are no name cheapo units and I'm going to change out the pads anyway so I hope it ain't going to be a problem. My opinion - don't hesitate for the price and stock seem low!

Mine's arriving today. So excited. Like christmas all over again.

I am loving mine, but I am new to bikes which are at least moderately fast on the road, so its great fun!

Brakes do suck a bit - but I would suggest just tightetning up the levers so they are less spongey.

I'm just wondering if these levers really have enough cable pull - are they really just road levers which should only be run with standard road calipers or cantis? Not a stopper on buying one, just got to perhaps factor in buying a set of cantis.

They come with are V brake specific road levers so have the correct amount of cable pull. Apparently the brake judder referred to was on the earlier models and had it sorted on the 2008.

I need worry no more about brake judder. All the 58s are gone. Grrr. Anyother cracking deals out there? Liked the rack and guard mountings on the tricross - my commute is short and I don't see the point in changing clothes twice in the morning.....

I need worry no more about brake judder. All the 58s are gone. Grrr. Anyother cracking deals out there? Liked the rack and guard mountings on the tricross - my commute is short and I don't see the point in changing clothes twice in the morning.....

Blimey, glad I couldn't sleep last night! Ordered it at 01.30.

Although I am hugely distracted by the Tweed Run today (but far too late to get involved) I thought it would be a good idea to post my experiences and thoughts for those still uuming and aaring.

Up bright and early for a quick shakedown roll round Regent's Park after building and tweaking since Wed (changed the tyres added fixed cog and tried my dammnest to sort out the brakes).

Fantastic ride, why hadn't I done this before? The bike was, quiet, quick and felt reassuringly positive on the road - no mucking about with gers etc, downside are the brakes - they are frankly shocking and grip like cheese. The ol'chicken lever have got to go and I am thinking of ditching the back brake as well.

After a quick stop to adjust the seat post and the bars it was off for a few extra laps round the Park when disaster - an effin puncture. No problem I had a massive adjustable spanner to do the biz on the back wheel but in my excitement to get out there I'd left the PRK at home. so if you happened to be out this am in the Park and saw a fat freak trudging back to NW Londinium with a tricross that was me that was.

Reflections - for the money a bloody good frame and lots of potential for upgrading.

Just getiing my sh*t together to go fixed!

Pip pip!

Is there any particular lock ring that i should be looking for for this?

Thanks for your thoughts Huge - my back brake has basically stopped working today. !

Piece of crap. Luckily, I never use it. I really want my discs back; they're cool.

Paul, give Pearson's a call. They owe you a 4-6 week free service. So far they've been exemplary in trying to sort things out for you, and wouldn't want such a recent customer to be let down so quickly.

What's the problem with the brake by the way? If you're around, maybe we can have a look at it together? My front brake assembly gave me some grief not long ago, but I eventually sorted it myself. The screw and nut needed tightening in the fork, and it was causing juddering, and had the effect of the front wheel being out of true.

What's the problem with the brake by the way? If you're around, maybe we can have a look at it together? My front brake assembly gave me some grief not long ago, but I eventually sorted it myself. The screw and nut needed tightening in the fork, and it was causing juddering, and had the effect of the front wheel being out of true.

Hey - never thought of that! I'm just going to check the brakes out (again).

Thanks for your thoughts Huge - my back brake has basically stopped working today. !

Piece of crap. Luckily, I never use it. I really want my discs back; they're cool.

The cables and brake pads they give you are shiiiiit, and the top levers also don't help.

As others have already suggested in this thread, throw away the top levers, get new pads, replace the brake cables and all will be good (or maybe strong-arm where you bought it into doing it for you at cost of the parts as part of your free first service?)..

As stated: Ditch the "mini" levers and replumb the brakes with proper cables and outers.
You have to be very careful about the rear brake cable outer that joins the caliper to the frame.
Too long and it will bind causing the brake to stick.
Its a bit of a pain but get the length right (oh er Matron!) and all is well.
Its pretty hilly round here so brakes are of keen interest to me. If you give the pads a chance to bed in they work really well.

Toodle pip

Anyone who has bought one of these got any negative views on them? Other forums have whinges on brake shudder. What spec are the brakes that come on these? I tried out a 56cm geared tricross at Edinburgh Bike Co-op and it had cantis, but some of these seem to have Vs.

Fortunately my test on the 56 seemed to prove I was indeed lanky enough for one of Pearson's 58s, although I'm not sure how much clearance you should have on a cross frame. Been mulling this all week. If I do go for this, I'll have a 56cm Holdsworth Mistral (531 frame and forks) for sale. PM me if that floats yer boat, cos that'll probably tip me over the edge.

Thea geared version comes with a shit chain which plenty of ppl have managed to snap apparently.

Mine arrived on Friday as promised by Hargroves, good service, can't fault them. Took about 30 mins to assemble. Had a play over the weekend and previous posters are correct: brakes are poor.

Good fun overall, and held wet roads quite nicely on Sunday. For the money- can't beat it in my opinion.

Finally putting mine together.
First encounter with rubber seal-hood things on the hubs (inside of the bolt). They seem to slow the hub rotation a fair bit. Does this stop with some use? Or are they even seals or just some shipping thing? They come off easy enough.

And now for my first V-brake setting up effort......

Finally putting mine together.
First encounter with rubber seal-hood things on the hubs (inside of the bolt). They seem to slow the hub rotation a fair bit. Does this stop with some use? Or are they even seals or just some shipping thing? They come off easy enough.

And now for my first V-brake setting up effort......

I stripped the hubs and repacked with proper grease, if you leave a bit of overspill this lubes the seals. There is still some drag but I think it is the penalty you pay for decent seals.
I did a 70 mile ride yeasterday, about 20 on road the rest on bridleways and farm and forest tracks. Bike got monster dirty as a lot of the tracks were water logged.
Got the bike home and after a quick hose down its as good as new.

I'm running a 42x16 which was a bit high for the offroad but paid dividends on tarmac. I also ditched the drops for a set of fairly wide flat bars which give plenty of leverage when climbing.
I was dubious about the tyres when it arived, but they are actually rather good.

Toodle pip

Get some new brake pads it will make a huge difference. I put some Gooey Pads from Cavendish cycles on my cycle cross bike, wear rate might be a bit faster but the improvement in braking capacity is amazing.

I'm bumping this back up, as there is no better SS bike for this weather.

http://www.cyclesuk.com/1011/139-258243

Now £350.99 (2008 model). Still not a bad price.

markrjohnson, you were right about repacking the hubs...makes a def. difference and it wasn't difficult!

I've also replaced the front quick release with a Trans-X keyed skewer (poor man's' version of thePitlock') to slow the thieves down a tad if I carry less than two locks. I am looking for decent black tape to cover up some of the lettering on the frame to make it look less `factory fresh'. Is there anything other/better than electrical tape I wonder?

Yep.

Wrap the whole thing in duct tape and leave in front of a radiator for about three hours. Strip duct tape and then dip the frame in sand.

After that, there is no way it will look factory fresh and there will be no annoying sticky bits.