Specialized TriCross - first ride

[NobbyK]

Just taken the TriCross out on it's maiden journey ( a 50 miler over a mixture of smooth and frost damaged roads with a couple of cattle grids thrown in for good measure!) and I have to say that I have already fallen in love with the new addition to the Nobby fhousehold! I should warn you, before I get too far into the nitty gritty of the ride that I do have a reputation amongst certain 'friends' to talk in superlatives BUT... I can't believe how beautiifully this bike rides (without wishing to diss the memory of my beloved Carrera Virtuoso (3 years of unblemished service, sob!) The frame and forks are A1 aluminium and give the impression of being fairly bombproof, as does the graphite paintjob. The gearset is (admittedly from the cheaper end of the market) Shimano 2300 throughout but I had that on the Carrera and it never let me down once) and works perfectly with a reassuring click at every change. The brakes are Tektro CR-520 wide cantis and worked perfectly, without judder. The chainset is a triple 52/42/30 (with an 8 speed cassette) so, hopefully, there will be no more 'en pied' humiliations up Blissford Hill and Coombe Gibbet in forthcoming sportives. The tyres (Specialized Borough CX Sport, 700 x 22c) roll extremely well considering they are far more aggressive tread-wise than the Continental Gatorskins on the old bike and the complete package seems to cut out vibration in the 'gentleman's rear parlour', lower back and shoulder area too. The Body Geometry Riva Plus didn't make itself known, which is all that you want in a saddle and I was struck by the comfort, speed (relatively speaking, of course) and silence of the ride over some pretty challenging terrain. The cost (before extra bling) was £750 so it would fit in perfectly with someone buying on the 'under a grand bike to work scheme' and I really can't recommend it highly enough - its like moving on from a much loved plate of chips to a plate of chips with extra curry sauce - lovely! I will whack on a picture of the bike when Mrs N gets back from her job on the door at the Bricklayer's Arms as the vagueries of t'intynet are quite beyond me. I also plan on putting it through it's cross paces in the Boxing Day Cross at Southampton Sports Centre - I'll be the one grovelling around in last place but, believe me, it won't be the bike's fault!

[pragmatix]

So you like it then ;-) Enjoy

[Mostyn]

So you like it then ;-) Enjoy

I think he does Prag,

Loved the write-up Nobby, and I could tell you were excited and pleased with your new steed. I was out this-morning on my Ridley X-Ride, it's amazing how nice a cyclo cross bike can be on the roads.

[bfergie]

I had that exact model as a trade in during the summer(used once)(only got £400 for it! , it's a nice frame but the components were a bit of a let down for the price but I did think it would make a nice winter/light touring bike more than a cyclocross bike and having the gearing it has that basically confirms that. Keep an eye on the spoke tension and for play in the hubs(basic care will keep that in check) but everything else is good. The one I got in still had the extra bar top brake levers in a bag and if riding in traffic probably a good idea to get fitted...good bike...but for £100 more I'd have had the 10 speed Tiagra Forme :P

[NobbyK]

I had that exact model as a trade in during the summer(used once)(only got £400 for it! , it's a nice frame but the components were a bit of a let down for the price but I did think it would make a nice winter/light touring bike more than a cyclocross bike and having the gearing it has that basically confirms that. Keep an eye on the spoke tension and for play in the hubs(basic care will keep that in check) but everything else is good. The one I got in still had the extra bar top brake levers in a bag and if riding in traffic probably a good idea to get fitted...good bike...but for £100 more I'd have had the 10 speed Tiagra Forme :P

Thanks for the replys guys and bfergie I shall definitely get SWF (SheWhoFettles) to keep her beady eye on the spoke tension/hubs although I doubt very much whether any bike (even a 10 speed Tiagra Forme) could match the bike I'm confidently expecting to appear in the next CW Special Issue as Bike of the Year/Century! In fact the tech team are working on it right now! ps new bike makes its sportive debut in this weeks Winchester Sportive. I'm the one grovelling about at the back,covered in snot, on the wheel of a much fettling Alexei Sale lookie-likey. Coming dear...

[allezhopper]

... in the next CW Special Issue ...

That'll be tomorrow then, going by the recent frequency of 'Special' issues

[fizban]

I also plan on putting it through it's cross paces in the Boxing Day Cross at Southampton Sports Centre - I'll be the one grovelling around in last place but, believe me, it won't be the bike's fault!

Good luck and enjoy yourself

[NobbyK]

Good luck and enjoy yourself

Cheers Fizban! I'd like to say that I covered myself in glory but the only thing I covered myself in was mud glorious mud! An absolutely brilliant day out in spite of the p******g rain. It took me longer to clean the bike than it took me to finish - which is most definitely NOT a comment on my finishing time! Congrats to Mike Simpson of GS Henley who aced it and also to my lovely lady wife/WAG and Alexei Sayle impersonator , the 'devine' Mrs Nobby who supported me throughout with such empowering epithets as 'for God's sake get a move on you useless bald git!' and 'if you think you're getting in my car smelling like that...' It's just like being married to Victoria Beckham sometimes...