Best cyclocross bike under £1000 and other CX chat

which lynskey?

i have a ridgeline SL, i got it a few months ago, its amazing

Cooper CX - would probably be amazing, if I could ever get my hands on one. But it's been such an epic wait that my head has won over my heart; just doesn't seem worth it now.

• Bike is a Boardman CX Team
  
• Carbon Steerer
  
• Metal expanding stem bung
  
• Alloy spacers
  
• Alloy stem
  
  

Made a cracking and creaking noise (similar to a Tea Clipper putting on all sail) whenever you got out of the saddle to climb.

I took everything apart, cleaned, applied carbon assembly paste, and then reassembled (moving one spacer to on top of the stem) and used my torque wrench to get everything done up exactly as it should be.

It still fucking creaks.

A lot more quietly, but it still does it- ideas anyone?

If the creaking remained after cleaning the bung, and your pretty sure its coming from the headtube area. You should check the headset. Maybe the fork crown race has been shite-ly installed.

I'll take it apart again tonight.

No experience of integrated headsets (last one I installed was a traditional version, put in using the Murtle method of wood+hammer), I imagine the Park Tools website will have a full quide though.

If it was installed badly/headtube not faced/steerer not cut straight, what are the odds on the headset being banjo'd?

It did repeatedly loosen off, so it has been rocking under braking quite frequently, which I suspect did not help.

I had same awful noise in same situation (out of saddle with bike moving side to side) with alloy steerer forks on my Specialized Allez Elite and after changing everything around the only thing that shut it up was swapping out the forks completely.

That could be tricky for me- they are disc only, and I'm not sure where I would get another pair from.

I am making an assumption here, but if I were to wander into the OKR Halfords and ask for a pair I think there might be a bit of confusion.

If the fork is knackered and Halfords are unsympathetic try Mr. Boardman - I've heard he gets things sorted out.

Couple of 3rd party disc forks out there; Wound-up & Kenesis worth looking at if you have to.

That could be tricky for me- they are disc only, and I'm not sure where I would get another pair from.

I am making an assumption here, but if I were to wander into the OKR Halfords and ask for a pair I think there might be a bit of confusion.

I*ve installed a few integrated headsets using the wood+hammer method. Sometimes you need to ride the bike, loosen + retighten, then look at the lower fork/headtube gap to see if everything looks straight. If it is'nt I suppose it could creak, and would almost certainly reduce the lifespan of your headset. But I doubt anything banjo'd just yet.

Whip the fork off and give it a little more 'hammer'.

If the fork is knackered and Halfords are unsympathetic try Mr. Boardman - I've heard he gets things sorted out.

Couple of 3rd party disc forks out there; Wound-up & Kenesis worth looking at if you have to.

How would one contact Mr Boardman? On the Boardman website it simply gives you an email address that reads something like boardmanprioritycare@halfords.com

I'll go third party if I have to- however the fork has a tapered steerer, I have not seen any others out there that combine a tapered steerer and disc tabs.

I*ve installed a few integrated headsets using the wood+hammer method. Sometimes you need to ride the bike, loosen + retighten, then look at the lower fork/headtube gap to see if everything looks straight. If it is'nt I suppose it could creak, and would almost certainly reduce the lifespan of your headset. But I doubt anything banjo'd just yet.

Whip the fork off and give it a little more 'hammer'.

hammertime.jpg

I've a pair of the Wound Up forks you could borrow to see if it is the forks. They are sat in my loft, awaiting a hydraulic groupset from SRAM...

That would be most kind Andy- they have the tapered steerer I take it?

For reference if you contact Halfords via the Boardman website you get this:

Dear Dammit
Thank you for your recent e-mail.
Due to the nature of your enquiry, we would ask you to contact your local Halfords store, where our specialists are available to provide you with the necessary information.
The telephone number and address for our stores can be found at http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HalfordsStoreLocatorView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10151
Alternatively, you can dial 0845 762 6625 and you will be connected to your nearest Halfords store.
Andy Weston
Customer Services
Cycling Product Specialist

where our specialists are available to provide you with the necessary information.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz2-ukrd2VQ&feature=player_embedded

Believe it or not he used to have his email address on his website.

http://www.chrisboardman.com/

Can't find it now though. Pffft.

His twitter is http://twitter.com/#!/Chris_Boardman

How would one contact Mr Boardman? On the Boardman website it simply gives you an email address that reads something like boardmanprioritycare@halfords.com

I'll go third party if I have to- however the fork has a tapered steerer, I have not seen any others out there that combine a tapered steerer and disc tabs.

The two ronnies - Fork handles - YouTube

Best. Sketch. Ever.

This guy did the manxe2e on his dolan CXer on sunday. MAD.

Found a 51cm CAADX in Onyourbike. Price matched Evans: £780. Lynskey order cancelled. Have change for carbon deep section tubs. Or a holiday. I actually like the way this has turned out.

Which wheels are you considering? And the 105 CAADX I am assuming?

Yeah 105.

Not sure on the wheel front. Possibly the cross version of Zipp's 404 or Reynolds Assault CX; leaning towards something disc specific as I'll probably upgrade the CAADX's fork to a disc tab equipped model. I can live with a canti or mini v on the back. But yeah, not ideal.

CAADX is tapered steerer?

(I should know this)

I don't think so, but I'll check it out after I collect it. When you say tapered does that mean the steerer reduces in size from 1 1/8 to 1" meaning you'll need two different headset cups/races? Is there an advantage to this?

A tapered goes from 1 1/8 at top to 1 1/2 at bottom.

The advantage is that it is stiffer at the bottom to reduce the flex in that area that I am sure we all notice when riding...

The advantage is that it is stiffer at the bottom to reduce the flex in that area that I am sure we all notice when riding...

You never notice these things untill you upgrade. I found the idea that I could flex a Deore square taper BB + crankset laughable. Untill I upgraded to the External BB, and felt the improvement.

I'm pretty stocky up top, and throw the bike from side to side like an idiot with no finese, that spent too much time BMX'n as a lad. So the one thing which made me pause before bying the BMC. Was the lack of tapered headtube. TBH it does actually feel super solid. So maybe if your steerer is only 15cm long its imaterial.

Yes, see your point. A quill to ahead is another example where it is very noticeable.
However, the degree of noticeability must be pretty low when increasing the size of bottom cup alone. Why not go the whole hog and increase the whole steerer as the 1 1/2 steerer/stem interface must benefit by a tiny amount too?