I have the opportunity to buy a 2011 Blue Norcross SL Frameset for a fair price. I am riding a 2009 Ridley X-Ride right now which fits me well and has no problems other than being a bit heavier than I would like and has a 68mm BB instead of a BB30 shell. I bought the frameset after being used as a B-bike for a racer with two X-Fires so it was a good deal and I didn't explore other options. I just wanted a cheap cross bike.

Here is my question: Would this be a worthwhile upgrade? I also have the options of a raleigh RXC pro or a Specialized Crux frameset for roughly the same price. My alternative is sticking with my Ridley and saving my money for a future project. I am getting the upgrade itch and this looks like a fun bike, but I'd like some validation before I make the leap to a new frameset.

Any opinions would be helpful.
Thanks.

If I had to pick from the bikes you listed it would be the Crux. When I looking at a bike, fit first, Geometry second, weight a very far third. everything else is hype. The Crux has a good geo in IMO.

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2 Serotta's, 1 Spectrum, 1 Van Dessel, 1 Parlee & 1 Carl Strong, & 1 Titus.

May not be relevant to this discussion, but I note that Mud And Cowbells had some news from QBP's annual Frost Bike dealer expo on both the X-Ride and X-Fire, reporting that the X-Ride will be available in both canti and disc and the X-Fire will be offered as a disc only version for the 2012/2013 season.

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Michael - The Anaerobic Threshold is neither...

I was at FB on Sunday and they had the X-Fire in a few build specs (as well as the new X-Night which is absolutely stunning) but I seem to recall a canti-version. Now that you bring that up, perhaps an X-Fire frameset is what I should be looking towards for cross season. There are too many options and too much time to think during the winter.

Don't become obsolete. Get the one with disc brakes.