Charge Mixer as Cyclecross Bike

[jackthelad]

Hi Guys I have been looking at the charge mixer which comes with dis brakes,alfine hub and 32c tyres which could go up to 35c.I was wondering if it would make a good cyclecross bike with nobbly tyres for for light forest trails.

Just wondering what other views on this from you experience guys on the forum.Any help appreciated

jackthelad

 

[Norm]

Do you mean cyclocross as in you are planning in competing? Or cyclocross as in "can I take it off the tarmac"?

 

[jackthelad]

Do you mean cyclocross as in you are planning in competing? Or cyclocross as in "can I take it off the tarmac"?

basically taking it off tarmac and using instead of the mountain bike.looking for a do it all bike

 

[Norm]

IMO, the Mixer is a road bike with short wheelbase, tight clearances and too much weight on the wrists to substitute as an MTB.

However, I'm from an age when we just had one bike and did everything with it. The Mixer would work off road with a set of CX or mud tyres but, if it was me, I'd be looking at starting with something much more appropriate if heading off road was one of my requirements.

IMO, the Genesis Day 1 Alfine also has disks, Alfine hub and 35c tyres, but would be a better off the tarmac.

 

[jackthelad]

Norm thanks for getting back to me and you are spot on the genesis is the one to get however I have a couple of drop bar road bikes and was thinking of going for straight bars.I am quite surprised they dont do the alfine on the flat bar day one

jackthelad

 

[Norm]

It's a good plan, but I think that the Mixer is too road-biased. How about the On One Pompetamine?

Or, possibly the best option if you are off-roading a fair bit, the Cotic Roadrat apparently starts with an MTB frame, despite its name. The Roadrat sets my base fizzing.

 

[jackthelad]

Norm spot on again with the roadrat this is the kind of bike I am loooking for a rigid fork mountain bike with alfine hub.

I had looked at the genesis io and fitting an alfine hub ,but it would look stupid with the cyclecross tyres.The roadrat looks ideal for fast trail work
where it is a combination of trails,tarmac and canal paths.Thanks again for putting me in the right direction.Going to have a good read of that roadrat web site,and check the different tyre sizes this bike will take

jackthelad

 

[jackthelad]

Hi Norm have now looked at the roadrat website and this is the type of bike I am after,I was wondering is it better to just buy the frame and hope bottom bracket and build rest of the bike from other sources.I have a wheel building company that quoted me £250 for quality hand built wheels with an 8 speed alfine fitted,any views from yourself appreciated

jackthelad

 

[Norm]

Sorry, JtL, I'm not really in a position to offer advice on that one, I've only ever had bikes built up at my LBS and I'm still on the stock wheels.

 

[du2711]

Hi I've just spotted this conversation and I'm dithering about possibly buying either a Charge Mixer or a Roadrat and wondered how you got on with the bike if you bought it? I am attracted to this type of alfine hub steel frame bike but uncertain how the thinner tyres would fare on the tracks and poor country lanes I'm often cycling on.....

 

[jackthelad]

du I never got around to it but it is still on the back burner for the future

 

[du2711]

If you were to now - which do you think you would go for? From your research at the time did you come to the conclusion that these type of bikes were ok for some off road use?

 

[jackthelad]

Du I think Norm got it right with the roadrat, a lot of bike for £800