Best cyclocross bike under £1000 and other CX chat

Just picked up my Boardman frame post Armourtex'ing and can reveal that the oh-so-smooth tube junctions were achieved with the use of (now removed) body filler.

Ah! That's unfortunate... ): How much lighter was the frame post strip/coat? Commuted on mine for the first time in a while this morning, forgot how nice a ride it is. Thinking about losing the guards and getting some big cross tyres on there for a coast to coast trip later in the year.