Best cyclocross bike under £1000 and other CX chat

Sorry, but I've never liked SRAM, and never will. Predominantly it's the obvious let down of the shifting type. Campag designed and patented the best and most ergonomic design. Shimano got in there with the second best alternative and SRAM have had to take what was left. Shifting at all with a brake lever is plain wrong, but both up and down is just awful.

Also the shift feels terrible, so clunky and heavy. I don't like it. My only positive is that a fall left the right lever 'popped out' of its position which was easy to get back in.

I will be burning the SRAM from the disco the moment the new fully hydraulic DI2 cross system comes out next year.

If you are moving the brake lever when shifting then that might be the problem - shifting is totally independent of the brake lever with SRAM, you go both up and down with a Campag style paddle behind the brake lever.

SRAM ftw

Although campag mechanical works flawlessly for me too, they've got some serious catch-up to do against di-2, which i grudgingly acknowledge as being very good indeed

I'd like to give Campag EPS a go in order to compare it to Di2.

Hmm, the marketeers are ruining campag now, too many frankly poorly manufactured groups, but yes eps could be 'special' (though at rrp i wont be trying it)

I'd just like to see how it shifts- much has been made of the more tactile nature of it's buttons.

They are still in the wrong place, that said, but with Di2 it's sometimes difficult to know you have changed gear with a close ratio cassette- I've changed down, then down again and back up as I didn't know if the first downshift had happened.

This does show how smooth and silent it is, however.

i fucking love the sram shifting system. easier and not that chunky brakelevers

You're wrong.

Your wrong.

You're*

If you are moving the brake lever when shifting then that might be the problem - shifting is totally independent of the brake lever with SRAM, you go both up and down with a Campag style paddle behind the brake lever.

My calipers don't change gear for me, just as my derailleur doesn't provide braking. Each thing should have one job, and one job alone.

Also a major let down is the lack of multiple shifts.

SRAM is rubbish and anyone who rides it with pride needs their head checking..

You're*

What? ;)

SRAM rear shifting is great, when well set up- needs a really long loop of cable though, much longer than you'd think.

Shifting at the front is not brilliant, but once setup it's acceptable.

The multiple shift thing- fair point, that's missing, but then you do get used to rifling down (or up) the block, just as with Di2.

I have no idea what you are talking about ref shifting- both Campag and SRAM have a gear shift paddle.

Christ. What happened to this thread?

Let's do away with all this geary talk with a quality SS crosser.

It got derailed,

Civilian in roadSS mode doesn't look that bad, but defo needs amendment with the rear spacing

It got derailleured,

Fixed

Much better.

is this the dirty disco?

someone's got one up on teh bay > http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/carbon-disc-cyclocross-bike-/251178965436?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item3a7b6ed9bc

Does look it.

I'm really tempted by it, make a great roadie/light tourer (no reason why it shouldn't work as one).

Just need to work on figuring out how to mount mudguard.

buying direct would allow you to specify extra tabs or eyelets, like this focus mares:

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Focus-Mares-AX-4-0-Cyclo-Cross-Bike-Various-Sizes-2012-/00/s/MTA3MVgxNjAw/$(KGrHqRHJEkFBb(!olR1BQctVHL8RQ~~60_12.JPG

what do import duties add up to, 25%, or more?

That's a decent estimate.

I've paid duty and VAT on two packages, both from Taiwan, I've never paid duty on anything from China- I think it has a lot to do with who they use to ship the stuff.

Plan on getting charged, then if you don't it's a pleasant surprise.

so, for appx £470 (370+import) it's possible to get the disco f&f... hmm

Or: http://www.hongfu-bikes.com/html_products/HF-FM089-269.html

Although I don't think the 56 is large enough for me.

7 out of about 40 riders broke their gearhanger yesterday and I wasn't one of them. Fixed FTW :) Cheep as hell to maintain.