Ten starter cyclo-cross bikes
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Cannondale CAADX 6 £799
The Cannondale CAADX 6 Tiagra has a name that doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue, but as its main purpose is looking good at your local cyclo-cross race, we’ll forgive it! And it’s Cannondale, which means it should be good as they know a thing or two about aluminium frames.
The CAADX 6 features 6061 Alloy frame with BB30 bottom bracket, Cannondale Ultra X carbon bladed forks, Shimano Tiagra STI shifters and mechs. The FSA Omega chainset has 46-36 chainrings, so this points at a cyclo-cross race bike, but Cannondale have cunningly included some very discreet eyelets, to help you keep your options open.
Although some compromises have been made for the price, this allows you to easily upgrade this great looking frame for the next season, once the cyclo-cross bug has well and truly bitten!
GIANT TCX1 £1009
From the mighty Giant Bicycles, comes the TCX1, which comes down heavily on the race side of things. The Giant TCX1 looks very purposeful and you would have no qualms about racing on this lovely, gloss black machine.
The TCX1 has a ‘highly tuned and manipulated frame’, using their own brand ALUXX aluminium and a composite fork with alloy steerer. It also uses what is becoming the industry standard integrated, tapered headset; when did you last see a traditional headset on a racing frame?
There’s a complete set of Shimano 105 shifters and derailleurs on the TCX1, quality items that will last you. Giant have also included TRP CX 9 brakes, which are more like V brakes than traditional cyclo-cross cantilevers. You will have to pay a bit more attention to pad choice and setup, but they will deliver a more powerful braking experience.
The TCX1 has a much more racey feel to it. It runs 46-36 chainrings and a 10-speed cassette. Some argue that 10-speed is more likely to clog with mud, but top riders have been using it for some time, although they do have the luxury of pit crew and spare bikes to combat mud build-up. There are no mudguard or rack attachments, but you can still add versions of these later if you want it to perform other duties.
At £1009 The TCX1 is just £9 over our limit but we figure it’s too good a bike, with some serious kit, not to include.
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