Specialized tricross sport

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at Pedal and Powder at

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Over the hill and through the woods

Bike Setup:
Added SPD pedals, Garmin 305, Niterider lights, Planet Bike Cascadia touring fenders. Everything else is stock.

Summary:
I bought a 2008 Tricross because I wanted an all around, go anywhere, winter bike for Colorado. Bought it on clearance and I got lots more than I paid for. Rides well on dirty winter streets and I am having a blast connecting all the dirt roads together around my town. The components LX rear and Tigra triple front work well, Tiaga shifters working well, and I have yet to experience any braking shudder. It may be because my Tricross came with mini v brakes and not canti's as spec'd. Put fenders on and had to replace the front bolt for a longer one to get them to fit. All in all a blast to ride, smoother than I expected. I would definitely buy it again.

Strengths:
Great do it all bike, keeps up with my roadie buddies with a 50-11, climbs like a goat with a 34t cog in the rear. Great on dirt roads and buff singletrack. Ton of fun.

Weaknesses:
Rear fender mounts full of paint. Tough to get fenders on. Needed longer mount bolt for front fender because of fork depth. Had to modify front fender bracket to clear mini v brakes.

Similar Products Used:
Bianchi Volpe, Lemond Poprad Disc, Surly Cross Check

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at Revolution Bikes

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
hills and views

Bike Setup:
Stock, with SPD pedals, but upgrading brake pads soon.

Summary:
Good all around bike for the rough roads and steep hills here in the Virgin Islands. I wanted something with more top end than a mountain bike, but tough enough to go off road when necessary. I had wanted to go up the range, but the sport model with the triple ring better suits my abilities and the local terrain.

Strengths:
Bullet proof construction and really low gearing makes steep climbs reasonable, 50-11 top end keeps me rolling with the street bikes on the flats.

Weaknesses:
Needed to fine tune brake pads to eliminate scary front end brake shudder on heavy decents. I kept pulling stems thru wheels until I used tape as a spacer.

Price Paid:  $950.00 at Gettysburg Bicycle

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Country-Side & Rolling Hills

Summary:
Great bike for all types of varied riding. Cannot find any shortcomings on this bike. I weigh 270 lbs and it feels like it will stand up to anything I throw at it.

I like to ride at night sometimes and the beefy tires give me an extra edge since gravel is hard spot. The tires give a very smooth ride on pavement yet can handle very rougher gravel and dirt roads also.


My previous bike was Trek Y-foil For Triathlons. I moved to a rural area with with rougher type roads and the y-foil just did not feel right anymore.

I tested the tricross several times along with other bikes for several months and kept going back to the tricross.

Strengths:
Very versitile- A truly do all bike. Very comfortable for an aluminum bike.

Weaknesses:
None

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at Spokes

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Mt. Vernon Trail, Virginia

Bike Setup:
Stock with Shimano SPD pedals

Summary:
Bought this as my first bike with the intention of using it for commuting. I was looking for something that I could easily ride on the road but with enough beef to take on the trail if need be (sidewalks included). After consulting my brother, who is infinitely more well informed than I about bikes, he suggested a cyclocross bike. After quite a bit of research I landed on the tricross sport. Since purchase, I have about 2500 miles on it and still love it. I have done a few tours, including a century, with this bike and it never quits. It does get a little sluggish on road rides, but for sporting hybrid tires it keeps up with the carbon kids pretty well. I've taken this on a few unpaved trails (dirt, chips, etc) and while it remains steady, the lack of mountain tires and tread, it sinks into the ground and bogs a little. Regardless, I've gotten too many compliments on the bike to remember and as far as commuting goes, I doubt there is a better bike.

Strengths:
Solid frame; stock components work surprisingly well. The guy who sold me the bike told me I'd tire of the stock saddle immediately, however it is so comfortable I want one for my new bike.

Weaknesses:
Brake shudder that disappears with some simple adjustments. Wheels are not meant for the offroad that the tires seem to suggest. I have had so many flat tires that I ended up replacing the rims after about a year.