I am currently thinking of getting a CX bike while it mainly be for racing (particularly some off road multisport races where CX have an advantage over MTB's). I would also use the bike as a winter trainer on the road.

Currently I have been looking at the Focus Mares CX3, Cannondale Caadx, Specialized Crux Elite, and the Cube range. Any opinions on these bikes. It looks like the Specialized has a good frame but perhaps not the greatest spec - I would prefer 10 speed as I have more 10 speed cassettes/wheels around. The Caad x bikes seem to have a less race orientated geometry than the Super X range but otherwise look good. The Mares has a Carbon frame though not sure if this is an advantage or not for CX.

There is also the new Planet X carbon Disk cross frame though they are not yet selling it as a complete bike.

Any opinions or alternatives greatly recieved.

am looking at the same makes as you. also in the mix for me is the boardman team cx with disc brakes.

i test rode a caadx with 105 components last week. felt ok and very stable.
i think the boardman is unbeatable for the price for spec but in the UK it is halfords only
however, its at least £100 cheaper than the cannondale.

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cannondale flash3 alloy 29er
trek 5200 nude carbon
pegoretti marcelo

Check out Kona too.

Mares bikes bizarre geometry-wise: they have nice low 70mm-drop BBs which is appealing b/c I'm tentative in corners. But the HTs are super-mini - the size I need with the 556mm TT has a 125mm HT which is a joke, I ride a 56cm Cervelo with a 160mm HT and I need 1.5cms of spacers below that. Even the fork length diff of 370mm vs 400mm doesn't make this a road-like size.

I don't know what they were trying to do? As a result many guys run up-turned stems.

The Kona Scandium frames are ridden with great gusto by many guys I see. The new Jake with the 1.5" lower bearing are seldom seen, but 1 guy is leading the series with a std 105 equipped Jake with Alu frame - although he runs Reflexes with Dugasts.

I'm super happy with my 2012 Mares CX. I took the ultegra off it and swapped to Campy - wanted it for the frame/fork only!

I wish it had a taller headtube (i'm 'leggy') but with a taller bearing camp and spacer and flipped stem had no problem getting it to fit me. The fork is TALL. And for the first time ever - no shudder on Frogleggs.

Be sure to check out Scott, Felt and Blues range also.

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FELT AR0
Velo Club Bristol