Best cyclocross bike under £1000 and other CX chat

There was a 52 that went recently- for strong money I thought.

I'd love one in (probably) a 56 with discs and a headshock.

just seen this thread on singletrack, so now not so sure about the crest rims for fitting a road tyre

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/29er-wheels-on-a-cyclocross-bike

Have you been on the Stan's site/forum?

If you know what tyres you'd like to run I'm sure they could give you an answer.

There was a 52 that went recently- for strong money I thought.

The glossy red one? Yeah I thought about bidding on that. Then remembered I have two frames on the go at the moment and a third would just be...stupid.

This was the the other one I spotted.

Saw that, too large for Fenella, too small for me, and no discs.

In an ideal world I'd have it in Team Volvo Cannondale colours, also.

And a puppy that plays football.

have just registered on their forum

not really sure what tyre i wish to run, initially i want a road tyre, but will also get an off road tyre later

i am not planning on running them tubeless

^^ Not sure they made a headshock disc CXer?

I remember seeing the Volvo paintwork in 2001. Thinking about it makes me feel quite old.

just seen this thread on singletrack, so now not so sure about the crest rims for fitting a road tyre

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/29er-wheels-on-a-cyclocross-bike

Like I say Stans have a different bead lock. So I'm not going to comment specifically on them. But I have a set of Halo 29er rims, that I run CX/commuter//winter tyres on. I never had any issues. IMHO 24mm rim + 32mm tyre = great set-up.

How small would you like to go?

Am open to suggestions on this. Not looking for the smallest tyre, just something that will work well.

Long term I would like to get a pair of road tyres, and a pair for off road use.

Am open to suggestions on this. Not looking for the smallest tyre, just something that will work well.

Long term I would like to get a pair of road tyres, and a pair for off road use.

I have small block 8 in a 35mm. Which are good for those too lazy to change tyres all the time. Plus I used to do mixed routes.

Bonty race-lite hardcases in a 32mm for road use, and something bigger for off-rod (depends where you ride I guess). I dont see the point in going blow 3mm on such a bike TBH.

http://www.1stgearcycles.com/m13b11s121p2759/BONTRAGER_Race_Lite_Hardcase_2012/RS_GB/6217

end of cx season i guess

^^ Not sure they made a headshock disc CXer?

I remember seeing the Volvo paintwork in 2001. Thinking about it makes me feel quite old.

Probably not, it's just a random wishlist I threw together.

I've got a Volvo/Cannondale jersey, fancied a matching bike since I bought it.

have just registered on their forum

not really sure what tyre i wish to run, initially i want a road tyre, but will also get an off road tyre later

i am not planning on running them tubeless

http://bontrager.com/model/09184

In 32c with a reasonable weight of 510g.

Neil

How are the hope brakes? I have been reading mixed reviews of them online. Are they worth the extra 50% on top of the cost of the BB7s?

How sturdy is the bracket/widget? Is it likely to break or is it fairly sturdy? My concern is when locking the bike up and someone else bashing it or catching it with their bars/levers.

James just get the BB7 and Travel Agent.

By the way, you can mount the rear Travel Agent on the seat stay rack mount.

Ed, are you talking from experience?

I had not realised I also would need the travel agent in addition to the BB7 road brakes. If I want to remove the rack and mudguards it's going to become an additional faff.

Also Luci has commented that his BB7's were destroyed by winter commuting, so looking at the options.

Yes, I have the same set up, it feel perfect with the travel agent, previously a little fiddly, it's either too lOose or too grabby, travel agent not only make it feel perfect but much easier to tweak.

Lucy destroyed his but it doesn't mean they're bad brakes, we're in London, on a road.

So you also have the hope brakes?

Luci was using his bb7s on the road?

It might be worth looking a the Tektro Lyras. I don't anyone using them but they're a newer and lighter design than Avids. I've seen them Focus OTP bikes and they look tidy enough.

Neil

How are the hope brakes? I have been reading mixed reviews of them online. Are they worth the extra 50% on top of the cost of the BB7s?

How sturdy is the bracket/widget? Is it likely to break or is it fairly sturdy? My concern is when locking the bike up and someone else bashing it or catching it with their bars/levers.

Apples and oranges really- with the Apex levers anyway.

I did have far more success with a BB5 and a Tektro drop bar lever- that was a very powerful and easy to modulate brake.

However, the Apex lever simply doesn't pull enough cable to get a BB7 to work (road version).

Hence the travel agent- bear in mind that this does reduce power though, although it was a compromise I was happy to make.

The bracket is cut out of 2mm thick alloy plate- I have zero concerns about its fragility.

In fact, if I did actually use it to race cross this winter I'd be far happier that the braking gubbins was out of the way under the stem- if I stuffed it at speed the brake levers are likely to hit things, underneath the stem is pretty safe. Making an assumption here, but I reckon Apex levers are cheaper to replace than Hydraulic Red.

Hope power and modulation- really good, not great, but good- in comparison to full hydraulic systems that I've run that is. In comparison to the BB7's it's much much better.

Lucifer is correct on the effect of salt on the BB7- it can and does eat them very quickly unless you keep on top of cleaning them- salt that they spread on the roads over winter that is.

I've no regrets at all about changing to the Hope system, it's simply a better braking system than before.

As I have said- you are welcome to have a go.

Is anyone using SwissStop Greens on cantis?

...and if you use BBB cantilever shoes do those let you use SwissStop road pads.

...and am I wasting my time when I should've just fitted Brand Whatever pads to my Tektro 720s?

Rode my bb7s throughout the winter and didnt notice them suffering too much. Don't use any kind of cable pull modifier either with apex shifters - everyone seems to have their own experience with these.

^ I've run ST greens on cr720s. I accidentally ended up with the campy fitting but five mins with the dremel and they fitted the standard cr720 shoe fine.

FWIW I thought the stock pads on the 720s were fine, and didn't feel as noticeably poor as say a stock shimano pad.

But then I was only really commuting on them and riding in the snow, so I was never really using them at any real speed.

Ok. Thanks both of you for the info.

Does anyone know about the cable pull ratios for the breaks on apex vs DA 7800?

Just trying to work out if I will have similar problems on my intended bike, and then if the bb7 or the hope v twin will be the best option.

7800 and Apex should pull the same. 7900/6700/5700 pull slightly more iirc.

If you can afford the Hope then do it.