CX bike specs decision time

[BRad704]

I need some input. I'm going to order a new CX race bike for this fall. I'm a competitive cat 4, so not the best fitness but I still want to race hard and win if I can. Down to the 2 options.

2020 Trek Crockett 4. Apex 1. Vertical dropouts. Mechanical discs. Awesome blue color. Right on my budget.

2019 Trek Crockett 5. Rival 1. Hydro discs. Adjustable read dropouts. Boring black only. Plus a few hundred dollars more.


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[jtbadge]

You're gonna want hydro, but the 2015 Crockett 5 Rival you mentioned doesn't have them either.

[Gummee]

If you want hydro brakes, stay away from SRAM groups.

If you can spring for it, the Boone does actually get you a snappier ride with more comfort.

If you're on a budget, get last year's Crockett with the swappable dropouts. SSCX is fun.

M

[BRad704]

Originally Posted by Gummee

If you want hydro brakes, stay away from SRAM groups.



If you can spring for it, the Boone does actually get you a snappier ride with more comfort.



If you're on a budget, get last year's Crockett with the swappable dropouts. SSCX is fun.



M

My only hydro disc experience is with the nx group on my MTB. It's been solid for me over the last year, but my sample size is only 1. I don't think I would mind the mechanical, and could always upgrade later when I find a deal around here.

I'm going to be using this one for cat 4 and converting my Felt for SSCX. But then if I got the 2019, I could use THAT one for SSCX. Ugh. First world problems, right?


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[ltwtsculler91]

Just a heads up, per stock specs neither of those two will come with Hydro disc. Both are mechanical.

The 2020 Crockett 5 has some rad colors and adds hydro to the Rival build. A friend just picked up a blue one, and it's a sweet ride.

[Bentley]

I have a Crockett, 2017 so rim brake. Honestly, there is not much weight difference between the Crockett and Boone. Put the money in the group. I don’t think you will be disappointed with the Crockett.

Ray

[BRad704]

Originally Posted by ltwtsculler91

Just a heads up, per stock specs neither of those two will come with Hydro disc. Both are mechanical.

The 2020 Crockett 5 has some rad colors and adds hydro to the Rival build. A friend just picked up a blue one, and it's a sweet ride.

OH YOU'RE RIGHT> I guess I got the 2019 and 2020 specs confused and thought the 5 moved up to hydros for both. This makes it easier for me to go with the blue 2020 Crockett 4 (just can't afford the 2020-5).

[simpsonn]

Originally Posted by Gummee

If you want hydro brakes, stay away from SRAM groups.

M

Why the recommendation to stay away from SRAM hydro?

[yinzerniner]

Originally Posted by simpsonn

Why the recommendation to stay away from SRAM hydro?

[crankles]

Originally Posted by simpsonn

Why the recommendation to stay away from SRAM hydro?

I have the same question as my experience differs. I have 2 CX bikes, one Sram hydro and one Shimano Hydro. While I've always believed Shimano to have superior calibers...at least in the MTB arena, I've had zero issues with the Sram over the two season I've raced it, where as the Shimano road hydro group developed a leak at the reservoir and a buddy had a piston crack in the ultegra version.

IN both cases Shimano did warranty them so there's that.

I DO find it easier to bleed Shimano calipers, but I don't see huge performance difference between the two...at least under CX condition.

[ltwtsculler91]

Originally Posted by BRad704

OH YOU'RE RIGHT> I guess I got the 2019 and 2020 specs confused and thought the 5 moved up to hydros for both. This makes it easier for me to go with the blue 2020 Crockett 4 (just can't afford the 2020-5).

Yeah went through the same debate with my buddy and he settled on spending a bit more on the 2020-5. You won't be disappointed though, the new Frame is definitely a sweet riding beast, and lighter.

I currently have a 2019 ALR which is the same tubes as the new one, and had an older 2017 ALR and the difference is night and day. The Trek CX geo is great, I have a rim brake Boone as my go to for offload and it's a great allrounder and race bike.

[Gummee]

Originally Posted by yinzerniner

The list of reasons why I hate SRAM brakes starts with bleeding, and ends in DOT fluid. You may as well hold a chicken over your head, spin on your right big toe 3x clockwise, sacrifice the chicken, then spin on your left heel 2x and pray that your brakes still work. It's entirely likely they wont.

Why should you need to de-gas the DOT fluid before you bleed brakes? When's the last time you did that to a car?!

Add in making your customers beta testers on a lot of stuff and the proper answer is Shimano or Campag.

M

[BRad704]

Good thing the only ones I can afford are mechanical. ;-)


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[BRad704]

Thanks everyone who added to the convo. I just ordered the 2020 Crockett 4 with the Miami Green/Teal blue fade.


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[Rekalcitrant]

If you are planning to race CX in crappy conditions and do your own mechanical work then I would try to scrape together the extra $$ for hydro discs. And while I am not a SRAM-hater, bleeding SRAM brakes is a nightmare compared to Shimano, which is very simple and much more foolproof.