Giant Liv Invite Comax

[pll]

The nice thing about cyclocross bikes.... is that you can test ride in snow. :-)

There is a blue and pink Crux E5 frame that looks awesome.

[Helene2013]

I saw the 49cm Specialized Crux. Nice bike. The white when seen in person is more like a glacier with tiny sparkles. Nice one. Could not test drive it because would not have been purchasing it there. Feels a bit awkward to "use" their bikes and then turn around and say thank you...going to one of your competitors... not my type at all.

Saw a Norco. Just too flash with its lime fluo colour and it is in sram or something.
Saw the Caadx. Plain black. Missing some colour but could have been a good option. Except my Amira is flat black, with minimal colour and you all know how I complain from day one from lack of colour
Ridley...none around here left.
Giant, the one we would have liked is over our budget

So for the time-being, I'm leaning towards the Crux.

I could have gone back to my store and ordered 2 (one for each of us) but I want to give myself time to think of my options. It is still over my initial budget. I had planned a max of $2000 each, all inclusive and now it would be $2000 plus 15% taxes x 2. And we know when we buy a bike, it needs pedals, bags, and a few things...which add up. Still trying to figure a way to fit in my budget. Store owner tells me I can take the bike and handle him a few post-dated cheques but I don't work that way. I prefer to pay it all and I'm done. I don't want to pay for it for a few months. $1000 a month for 4 months (plus my deposit) is a LOT of cash. So if I buy something, it's because I have the money in hand. I can order one bike, pay for it, then wait a few months and order the 2nd one.

I can always turn around and go for the Caadx at the other store. And I'm still trying to find a used crossbike in the classified. But so far, nothing comes up for our size. They are rare and when found, they had a line up of buyers. The good thing... if I buy one and don't like it, I maybe able to resell it quickly. At lost but doable.

TBC....

[Helene2013]

There is a blue and pink Crux E5 frame that looks awesome.

OMG... we don't have that frame set in Canada. Boring colours again! dah!

I wonder how much it would cost me to get this frame and build my own bike. I could pick up this frame when we go camping in May in the USA and then have my LBS put it together. ahhhhhh that would be soooooooo cool. Probably cost me twice the price of a normal E5 but what a thrill. Let me think some more. haha

[pll]

OMG... we don't have that frame set in Canada. Boring colours again! dah!

I wonder how much it would cost me to get this frame and build my own bike. I could pick up this frame when we go camping in May in the USA and then have my LBS put it together. ahhhhhh that would be soooooooo cool. Probably cost me twice the price of a normal E5 but what a thrill. Let me think some more. haha

Go for it! [you can get a custom wheelset with pink hubs, say Hed Belgium Plus with White Industries Hubs (the Belgium Plus rims are 25mm wide and tubeless ready ... I have a pair of them with black hubs, they are *sweet* wheels).

I think the key would be for you to ride the bike in the US and take it back to Canada used.

[Helene2013]

Go for it! [you can get a custom wheelset with pink hubs, say Hed Belgium Plus with White Industries Hubs (the Belgium Plus rims are 25mm wide and tubeless ready ... I have a pair of them with black hubs, they are *sweet* wheels).

I think the key would be for you to ride the bike in the US and take it back to Canada used.

As much as we were tempted many times, it is something I could never do. A few people we know indirectly got caught at borders and their bikes were confiscated and they got fines, etc. Since we travel a lot across border and I am eligeable to spend $800(cdn) with any fees, it is worth it to declare it. The 2 of us have a total combined of $1600...it would cover the frameset and I'd be "legal".

We have the receipts for our current bikes and anything expensive we cross with often. Even my dogs, I still have their invoices, and "immigration" papers...in case. hihi

[Helene2013]

No hurry at all...but I don't want to wait 2 years either. I'm pretty compulsive when I want (and make it in the back of my mind a thing I need to survive haha) something.

I will ask my LBS on Monday how much it could cost me to get that same bike with that frameset. He has good connection with Spec office. So who knows. But it won't come cheap for sure. I just love to dream in colour and don't want my bubble burst until Monday.

[pll]

There is also the Trek Crocket in similar colors to the Crux. Perhaps it's easier to find in Canada? It's slightly cheaper, too.

[Helene2013]

There is also the Trek Crocket in similar colors to the Crux. Perhaps it's easier to find in Canada? It's slightly cheaper, too.

We looked at that one yesterday with our other bike shop and they are way more expensive than the Spec one. the Crockett one (full mounted) was over $2500. My Crux is currently $2000 - with rebate. No rebate on the Crockett as they don't have a line discount.

[pll]

The Spec is better looking, in my opinion. If you go for the frame, you might be able to find the components in some local exchange group (here, in DC, there is a great Facebook page where people post bike stuff they are selling). Many people buy a bike and upgrade their components right away, so you can find a brand new groupset very cheaply. I can see a Spec with pink hubs and neon yellow bar tape. You'd need sunglasses to ride it.

[Helene2013]

Thanks for the tips. I don't know much about bikes or parts. Know the names but that is about it.

I think the neon tape would be a tad too much....I love looks but not THAT much. hahahha