Blue, Bianchi, Redline...best value? Help me decide!

[celerystalksme]

alright...i think i have fit issues worked out. these bikes all fit pretty well. now i just have to choose a bike. this will be my first cx bike...my first foray into cyclocross. i want a decent bike...but i'm not rich so i want a good value. i do NOT want to spend more than $2000.

what's the best value (in your opinion, of course)?

Blue CX6.5 (used, "like new") $1000: double butted 7005 AL frame, aerus carbon fork, carbon seatpost, mavis aksium wheels, chris king headset, 105 groupset, truvativ crankset, avid shorty six, fsa handlebars

Redline Conquest (used, "like new") $650: double butted 6061 AL frame, U6 alloy fork, ritchey road seatpost, ritchey comp road wheel set, steel threadless headset, fsa compact crank, tiagra front derailleur, 105 rear derailleur, tiagra shifter, tektro oryx brakes, tektro rl 726 brake lever, ritchey road comp stem

Redline Conquest Pro (new) $1400: U6 double butted allo frame, carbon fiber fork, fsa carbon wrap seatpost, ritchey pro wheelset, SRAM Rival derailleurs, SRAM Rival brifters, fsa gossamer crank, avid shorty canti', tektro rl 721 brake levers, fsa stem and bar.

Bianchi Axis (new) $1200: Easton 7005 UltraLite Al frame, carbon fork, LX rear derailleur, tiagra front, tiagra brifters, LX compact crank, avid shorty 4 cantis, carbon seat post, Mavic CXP-22 alloy wheelset, Deda Piega bar, alloy stem.

Bianchi Cross Concept (new) $2000: scandium 7000 frame with carbon rear triangle, carbon fork, ultegra rear derailleur, 105 front, 105 brifters, fsa gossamer crank, avid shorty 4 canti's, carbon seatpost, Mavic Aksium, Deda Piega bars.

[KnottedYet]

They're all at least main-tube aluminum. Do you like aluminum?
(scandium is aluminum)

I'd worry about the Conquest with the alu fork ("alloy" is aluminum) but there are plenty of steel or carbon forks out there you can replace it with if you are concerned about fragility and dependability.

[celerystalksme]

They're all at least main-tube aluminum. Do you like aluminum?
(scandium is aluminum)

I'd worry about the Conquest with the alu fork ("alloy" is aluminum) but there are plenty of steel or carbon forks out there you can replace it with if you are concerned about fragility and dependability.

aluminum is fine. i think it's suitable for cx.

[Velobambina]

Which bike fits and feels best?

I'd go for either of the Bianchis. I have one (steel, not aluminum) and it's great bike.

[mimitabby]

Bianchi holds its value. If you ever want to upgrade or just sell that bike, you will be better off with the Bianchi, all other things being equal. I bought one off Ebay for $700 (older model) and sold it more than a year later for $650 to a nice kid.

[VeloVT]

Hmmm... lots of information there...

--I'd stay away from the Conquest (the lower-end used one). That frame is going to be heavier and less stiff. I actually rode a low-end conquest that was quite sluggish feeling. Also I believe those Tektro brakes are not as good as the Avids.

--Generally, I'd want to stay at least at 105, especially for the front derailleur (why is it that they always put higher quality rear der's on, when it makes much more difference in front?).

--I wouldn't get hung up about small things like seatposts and handlebars; not only do these not cost much to change, but you may end up needing something different than what comes stock anyway. Carbon seatposts sort of fall into the "bling" category -- and I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to have one for cross anyway.

--One thing I would look at is gear ratios. While you certainly can swap out cranks and cassettes, it can get a little pricey and you'd want to figure that into the final cost. I would definitely compare the gear ranges and try to figure out what you want. That Axis has an LX rear der -- does it have a big huge cassette in back? Are the compact cranks standard road compacts (50/34) or something more like 46/36? Etc...

--That Cross Concept looks pretty sweet ...I'd be tempted. Blue looks nice also, and the Conquest Pro seems fine too. They downgraded the components on the Axis to Tiagra (my 2005 Axis has 105), and that would be a negative for me.

--I guess other than this, I would take each of them for a nice long test ride if you can (at least 30 min). Each one will have different ride characteristics, and you will have preferences. This is probably as important as the other stuff.

Good luck! Glad you were able to find some bikes that fit.