Best cyclocross bike under £1000 and other CX chat

On One carbon disc complete £1500 with SRAM Rival BB7s and FSA chainset

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOODDRIV/on_one_dirty_disco_cyclocross_rival

The headset in the kit list is for a tapered steerer, which would make it likely that it is the same fork as on my Boardman, but the frame and fork description don't mention a tapered steerer.

Anyone know the truth of this?

If it is tapered I'd be tempted to buy one (forks, not the bike)

Tapered. Although their specs are consistently wrong on this, there's a comment from Jon stating it's tapered.

Hi Simon, initially the Dirty Disco will be frame and fork only (ie not fork separately). The fork is a tapered 1 1/8 to 1 1/2 in carbon steerer. Will inform of weight as soon as I have it.

http://on-one.co.uk/news/products/q/date/2011/10/14/dirty-disco-pre-order

If you want a tapered disc CX fork talk to Kenesis UK about their 'CXd'.

Not looking for the best, but any recommendations on how to get into cross on a budget of £250-£300?

If you are on a budget you might want to think about single speed (eg second hand on one pompino). Not the greatest but less to break and replace plus there is a whole thread of them on here so buying advice and spares could be easier to source.

A second hand specialized Tri-cross could work for you. There's geared and SS variants. Some on ebay...

The SS Tricross is a great bike, as long as it has V brakes on the front rather than (early model) stock cantis. Plenty were sold about 3 years ago, and they now change hands for £200 or so. I bought mine for £250, sold it a year later for £240.

My knees were a bit weak for SS at the time so it was not to be. Now I'm in the process of stripping my hybrid back to SS, I wish I hadn't sold it.

been considering a Specialized Crux Elite.the 2011 model for 800/850, anyone got any opinions or experience on it?

Have not ridden one myself, but a friend of mine has one and is very happy with it although it took him a while to get the sizing right (he works for a Specialized dealer).

Just serviced my Boardman- noticed that the front mech is a microshift.

I had put the slow front shifts down to it being Srams lowest tier groupset, but it's not even that.

It works, I'll give it that, but that's coming off at some point soon.

Still, on the whole now that everything works I really like it.

I've got a band on Apex mech if you want it.

Come race it at Herne hill on new years day!

Now available to purchase, £250 for the whole shebang: http://www.hopetech.com/page.aspx?itemID=SPG343

That's sorted out my first bicycle related purchase of 2012.

hmmm.... do want. but what happened to "buying the boardman and leaving it as it is" eh Neil?

I may have lied about that.

Look at Salsa, On-One, Surly. Genesis would be worth considering as well.

^ wut?

That Hope cable to hydro converter is bonkers. Would like to get a test ride on one though...

You are most welcome to have a go on mine when I get them. Although looking at the financial carnage that Christmas has visited upon my finances that may be February.

Apparantly Mae is sending me your brake pads and cages so we'll meet up soonish :)

Hah, I saw that email. I keep thinking "hmm, 60mm cabron rims for the CX bike would be awesome".

However then I think about the winds on the coast, that blew me left and right with TN719's here:

[ame]http://connect.garmin.com/activity/136125442[/ame]

And reconsider!

Have not ridden one myself, but a friend of mine has one and is very happy with it although it took him a while to get the sizing right (he works for a Specialized dealer).

Likewise, the sizing is hard to get right. Im 5'11 and have had a 56' Langster in the past. I assumed a 56' Crux would be right for me but no.
The standover height has to be taken into consideration. I couldn't clear the top tube at standover on the 56' even with sloping geometry. I went for a 54' which I just mange to 'clear' worth thinking about. Out of interest what size did your pal go for and what height is he/she?

been considering a Specialized Crux Elite.the 2011 model for 800/850, anyone got any opinions or experience on it?
I would advocate the Crux. I sold my Cotic X to buy one, and I'm glad I did.

The Crux is a true cross bike unlike many of the bikes on the market that are trying to tick all the boxes. (but failing)

I purchased mine a couple of months ago and with the imminent arrival of the 2012 model I managed to get a 2011 model for £799.00 which I was very happy with. Certainly the spec of the 2012 model is not as good so I would say shop around as this years bike is a better deal.

The clearances are excellent, which if you only have one bike, and are racing in gloopy mud, become very important. The cabling is clever too with internal routing keeping the cables shielded from the worst of the detritus. This also makes shouldering easier as the tubes are cleaner, no cables in the way.
The top tube is also flattened on the underside towards the seat tube, where you rest it on your shoulder.

Spec wise The only negative points are the wheels which are a bit lardy. I swapped these for something a bit lighter and they make a world of difference. I also swapped the chainset for something lighter but that said the supplied kit is more than adequate. Its just that with such a great frame and fork a few upgrades means a properly light racing x bike.

Specialized all the way. Its a cracking bike for the money

Out of interest what size did your pal go for and what height is he/she?

He's around 6' I think, and went for the 54. I'll see him tomorrow, at the latest London CX League round, so will double check.

@andyp

Nice one, cheers for that. The Specialized cross bikes are all very 'tall' or are in my opinion.

I feel vindicated in picking the 54' now.:)

My friend has the 54, but he's not as tall as I thought, at 5' 10". He did say that the sizing was funny and, as you said yourself Merak, they are very tall frames.

I saw lots being raced today, and I think Jody Crawforth was on one.

Does anyone have any experience of the Voodoo Limba?

I have fond memories of Voodoo but when I began seeing them in Halfords it shook me a little. Is that the same company that made 853 MTB frames?

The cross bike is scandium frame with carbon stays and forks, with 105 group. It's at a good price in my local halfords, just wondering if anyone has ridden one or knows what's going on with Voodoo? Is the frame just a generic Taiwan job branded by a bought out Voodoo?

it is the same firm, halfords got distribution rights in the UK

Does anyone have any experience of the Voodoo Limba?

I have fond memories of Voodoo but when I began seeing them in Halfords it shook me a little. Is that the same company that made 853 MTB frames?

The cross bike is scandium frame with carbon stays and forks, with 105 group. It's at a good price in my local halfords, just wondering if anyone has ridden one or knows what's going on with Voodoo? Is the frame just a generic Taiwan job branded by a bought out Voodoo?

The brand went under some years ago. It was then saved/bought-out by some far east outfit, and cheaper production combined with the existing brand rep, sorted things out.

The new owners employed Joe Murry, to keep the US theme, and the brand moving forward. So the design, and ethos, of the frames is as good as ever, but the production has moved.

Well something like that. Tis early here.

IMHO they still make great bikes.