More Affordable Materials and Modernized Geometry
Carbon fiber is the frame material for mid-range and top-end cyclocross bikes, and you can now find quality rides made with it at more affordable prices. The Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2, for example, has a carbon frame and will set you back $2,600 for a race-ready spec. Many brands continue to lower the bottom bracket height on their bikes, which gives better all-around handling. Manufacturers like Trek and Cannondale are putting out bikes with drops between 66mm and 70mm. However, you can still find a traditionally high BB (and greater pedal clearance) on European-style cross bikes, such as the Canyon Inflite CF SL or the Ribble CX SL.
Here’s how the marginal gains of cyclocross spending break down: The $3,000-4,300 level—where you’ll find the Vitus Energie EVO CRS eTap AXS, Santa Cruz Stigmata Rival, and Cannondale SuperX—gets you a precise SRAM 1x drivetrain and bikes that typically weigh about 17 to 18 pounds. Dropping a little less money—below the $3,000 range on bikes like the Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2 or the Canyon Inflite CF SL—nets you a similar-quality carbon frame with a slightly heavier drivetrain and wheelset. Bikes like the All-City Nature Cross swap in steel frames with carbon forks, which saves a bit of money but still offer a 1x drivetrain, disc brakes, plus a cool paint job. All of these bikes are race-ready for your local cyclocross event, plus can do double duty as gravel bikes the rest of the year.
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