Any recommendations for a starter cyclocross bike? My sister is in the market, probably 48cm frame, and needs to be affordable. She’s also interested in buying used, so she’s looking fof good cyclocross websites. Thanks for any suggestions.
Kona – Jake, or Jake The Snake.
I agree with the Jake the Snake. I have an 07 myself. This is my first cross bike and I absolutely love it. Take the time and read Tom D’s article " A case for cross" he is bang on. There is no better value on the market than the “Jake the Snake” IMOP. I personally think the Major Jake is more than most people need.
Redline.
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Ridley Crossbow.
OK, I headed over per your request.
And my response?
Redline.
i just helped one of my teammates purchase a jake, and i must add that the jake’s geometry is really slack… this makes it a good road-and-'cross bike, but it will probably hurt handling off-road, especially at higher speeds.
i’ve been riding the scott comp. it’s stiff as hell, handles aggressively, is light, and is relatively inexpensive. my only gripe is that the stock gearing includes a 36-50 chainring… which is silly.
Probably a good time to buy used. RBR, craigslist, and Ebay are the best I know for used bikes.
Edit: Quick check of the cross bikes on RBR; about 35 bikes, none under 52cm…
Ridley and Redline are tough to beat from a value standpoint, although I’m pretty sure I saw a very attractively priced Felt a while back as well. I’d be wary of buying a used 'cross bike from a stranger if it has carbon on it (fork/bars/stem).
I dig my Cannondale.
I bought the frameset and built it up with parts laying around the house. Old DA/Shimano 600, bar ends, cinelli bars, wobler wheels.
redline, or if you have more money rock lobster
I have a 2007 Redline Conquest Pro and it’s great. Some other great options that I see at races are Felt, Bianchi Axis, Trek, Surly Crosscheck, and Lemond (but it has a long top tube and is not great for women who fit the typical shorter torso build). I really love my Redline because the fit is great and it was a lot of bike for the money.
Also, here is one of my friend’s CX websites www.madcross.org It might be a nice place to start.
Surly Cross Check! This is a bulletproof no BS bike. It will take all that you have and then some.
Money no object: Specialized S-Works, or Colnago Super Cross.
Budget: Any of the common names in the $800-$1500 range; Redline, Kona, Cannondale, the lower end Specialized.
I want that Specialized S-Works for Xmas. Oops, it IS Xmas and I don’t see one under the tree! Doh!
As others have said, for pure 'cross racing the Bianchi, Felt, Kona, Redline, and Ridley are adequate. Some have more off road manners than others.
I’m not a fan of sloping top tubes at all on a cross bike, but at the small sizes it is probably unavoidable.
-SD