Best cyclocross bike under £1000 and other CX chat

There is a third cable guide. It's just not being used. I've no idea why.

Here is a close-up. Before you ask for one.

http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/hasirin/imgs/6/4/64aa5cd4.jpg

That Fiji is pretty nice.

Cheap?

I like it.

wow. those dropouts are even uglier than those of the pompetamine.

That Fuji feather cx+
Can't seem to find stockists or info... anybody knows if it's available?

After reading the current review of the FOCUS MARES DISC 4.0 I am glad I didn't buy one in a way.

Link?

Cycling Plus magazine, £4.50 from your newsagent.
Very heavy, rattly mudguards and not so good as the others.

Plus several other CX bikes, some under £1000, but they missed the two that I think are best value.

Who thrusts a magazine review nowadaze......

The same peepul hoo luk at internet syts

Not exactly a cross bike, but Planet X are banging out an Alfine Pomp build with BB7s for £599!!

Flat bar and changers, but that could be remedied.

Ritte 600 BIN

Here's my proposed cx build (provided I'd still be able to race with risers??)

Planet x kaffenback frame and fork - £180
Random headset - £15
Thomson stem - once right length has been choose - 2nd hand
On one risers - £13
Bb7 discs and avid levers - 2nd hand
Xt shifter and 105 mech - 9 speed - 2nd hand
12-25 cassette - £15j
Road crank with single 39t ring - fsa/campag - 2nd hand
SRAM 971 chain - £20
Tyres to be decided - probs maxxis
Wheels no idea - 2nd hand
Lizard skin lock on grips - £20
Got some dmr v8 pedals I'll use
Is a dropper post a good idea for jumping? I notice nobody uses them but not sure why, seems a reasonable idea to me.....

Last thing, do you have to run over the barriers or can you hop them? Can't find any proper cx rules :/ maybe I'm just a retard

You can hop them if you want. It just tends to use more energy.

Really? Oh right, must be faster though?

Mostly no. Barriers tend to come in pairs.

The challenge is that you need speed to clear them with a hop and speed is not good when you have to hop a second one quickly afterwards (and speed is not always available if muddy or their is a bit of traffic with people dismounting everywhere)
If there was just one barrier I would think it would always be quicker to hop it.
The more or less energy I am not so sure about as it it pretty easy to hop a bike if you have the technique right.

Here's my proposed cx build (provided I'd still be able to race with** risers**??)

Is a dropper post a good idea for jumping? I notice nobody uses them but not sure why, seems a reasonable idea to me.....

sounds like you would be better off with an MTB?

Get a fair few people at cross races on MTBs too.

Seat post was just an idea to help hop barriers, but it sounds like that won't happen. And the bars, well I just can't imagine being able to through a bike around with drops, but my local club has cx bikes they lend out so I'll ride one of those before committing

Does the kaffenback have enough clearance?

If you want a cheap frame I'd have thought you'd be better off with a uncle john or a dolan?

Seat post was just an idea to help hop barriers, but it sounds like that won't happen. And the bars, well I just can't imagine being able to through a bike around with drops, but my local club has cx bikes they lend out so I'll ride one of those before committing

I love riding off-road with drops. Takes some dialling in, but its masses of fun.

Do you have enough seatpost showing for a dropper?
I quite like the idea for trial riding. But you can usually hang off the back enough for anything you could manage with 35mm tyres anyway IMHO.

I'm bias. But why not a rigid 29er?

You'd have more options later down the line.

Strange CX bike..................................................................

Does the kaffenback have enough clearance?

If you want a cheap frame I'd have thought you'd be better off with a uncle john or a dolan?

You can swap to ss drop outs on the kaffen back though, and it's steel not alu.

Cheers for all the advise guys, I'll go back to the drawing board.....