Tricross v Secteur Elite.

[Brandane]

I have a dilemna! I currently have a 2010 model Specialized Tricross triple, the basic version. I have upgraded it a wee bit with Shimano RS20 wheels and narrower tyres (700x28) and I am quite happy with it. I have done 2500+ miles in the year that I have had it, mainly roads and surfaced paths, with a bit of French touring thrown in.

I am now thinking that it might be time to get a proper roadie, and was looking at a Secteur Elite. The 2010 model is available just now at a good discount, so this might be the time to buy. Thing is, I am no biking expert, although I have learnt a bit about different specs from reading on here, so I know the Secteur Elite with it's Shimano 105 groupset is a good bike. BUT....is it really going to be a noticeably better bike than the Tricross? I am 48, so have no aspirations to ever being a top athlete, but enjoy my cycling. Would I really notice an increase in speed, and find hills easier? I know fitness is the main factor, and I'm working on that one!

Another thing that puts me off is the state of the roads. Even on the Tricross with relatively wide tyres the ride can be a bit harsh. Presumably a narrow tyred roadie would be worse still?

Just need some help to justify spending another £800 on a bike .

 

[RedBike]

Yes the Secteur elite should be a quicker bike, but now that you've upgraded your tri-cross I doubt there'd be that much of a difference. Putting a GOOD set of 23/25mm tyres on your tri-cross will probably get you a very similar level of performance.

Although the Secetur is clearly not a slow bike it does have a relatively upright riding position, which means its obviously pitched as more mile muncher than an outright speed machine. Once you get over ~18mph most of the resistance you experiance is air areodnamic drag.

The trouble is to gain any significant speed increase at this sort of level you're looking at areodynamic riding positions (arse up, head down), close clearance frames, light weight wheels (aka skinny high pressure tyres). The trouble is if you're not carefull these features can come at the cost of comfort.

 

[Brandane]

Thanks for that, RedBike. As I suspected, it might be just too similar a bike to the Tricross to justify the extra expense. They both look as if they have a similar riding position, i.e. NOT so much head down, arse up in the air; which is probably a good thing in my book! I can do 50 mile runs on the Tricross, and even got as far as 100 miles (once!) without any real comfort issues.

Thanks for saving me £800 . Anyone think otherwise?

 

[potsy]

I have toyed with the idea of a Tri-cross for ages to use as a winter commuter,the extra clearance for full guards and wider tyres appeals to me,love my Secteur though and am currently riding it in all weathers.
What's £800 when your happiness is at stake

 

[zigzag]

my mate cycled thousand miles event over 5 days on tricross with 35mm tyres. he had no issues with speed or comfort. in my opinion secteur's (lack of) tyre clearances is a limiting factor.

 

[Falwheeler]

I'm lucky enough to own both a Tricross Sport and a Secteur Elite. The Secteur in my opinion is noticeably quicker. Riding position is very similar and both are very comfortable but the Secteur is somehow more fun

 

[johnr]

I've had thin road tyres on my Tricross all summer. I think it makes me faster, but it's a bumpier ride

 

[RedBike]

I'm lucky enough to own both a Tricross Sport and a Secteur Elite. The Secteur in my opinion is noticeably quicker. Riding position is very similar and both are very comfortable but the Secteur is somehow more fun

There's little doubt that the Secteur will be quicker than a standard Tri-cross, but if you were to 'swap the wheels' over would the Secteur still be noticeably quicker?, It should still be the quicker bike but i'm not sure it will be £800 worth quicker?

 

[Norm]

I'm lucky enough to own both a Tricross Sport and a Secteur Elite. The Secteur in my opinion is noticeably quicker. Riding position is very similar and both are very comfortable but the Secteur is somehow more fun

I'd agree that a standard Secteur is faster than a standard Tricross on good roads but, as RedBike says, changing the wheels and tyres on the Tricross will probably negate most of the differences.

I'd also say (sorry for repeating this so often) that a 10-mile commute on my Tricross took as long as the same 10-mile commute on the Secteur, because a Tricross with standard wheels and tyres can be ridden faster across very rough tarmac than a bike with narrow road tyres. There was no identifiable difference in the time that it took me on the Tricross compared to the time it took me on the Secteur.

 

[ProudSalopian]

Morning All

All this talk about the Secteur started me thinking about making the most of the offers available at present. Currently I have two Ridgeback hybrids - one lives in my Welsh caravan during summer and comes home to winter commuting whilst the lighter weight Supernova takes a deserved rest. Of late I've been doing more and more longer rides on the S'nova and think I might benefit from drop bars and thinner tyres - so.....Does the Secteur Elite make sense at £799 or would the expense be sheer indulgence? I need reassurance 'cos the spending review may hit close to home!

 

[Norm]

Does the Secteur Elite make sense at £799 or would the expense be sheer indulgence?

Yes and that depends on personal circumstances. If you are on the dole, then it is sheer indulgence. If you are Wayne Rooney, then it isn't.

But the answer to the first question is yes.

 

[vorsprung]

If you are entering long distance events that need to be ridden fast then get a Sectuer.
If you want the fun of a new bike and feel ike you are going faster then get a Sectuer

If you want to actually go faster, do some interval training and maybe get some quicker tyres

 

[Brandane]

Thanks for al the replies. All things considered, I have decided that the Tricross is still the bike for me! I might give thinner tyres a go and see how I get on with them. A big consideration for me is the fact that quite a high proportion of my riding is by necessity on less than perfectly surfaced paths. A good road bike would probably be wasted on me, so why spend £800 even if it is a good deal? Like others, my job situation is not ideal, and I am a great believer in sods law. Buy the Secteur tomorrow and get my P45 through the post on Monday . Don't buy it, and stay employed .

 

[potsy]

Thanks for al the replies. All things considered, I have decided that the Tricross is still the bike for me! I might give thinner tyres a go and see how I get on with them. A big consideration for me is the fact that quite a high proportion of my riding is by necessity on less than perfectly surfaced paths. A good road bike would probably be wasted on me, so why spend £800 even if it is a good deal? Like others, my job situation is not ideal, and I am a great believer in sods law. Buy the Secteur tomorrow and get my P45 through the post on Monday . Don't buy it, and stay employed .

Sounds like a good decision Brandane,think norm summed it up well,there's not enough difference in speed in real life conditions to warrant the spend if money is tight.
I've been toying with the idea of a new bike,but like you my work situation is still iffy,so not worth the risk IMO.

p.s. Another chance of commission lost norm

 

[Norm]

...I am a great believer in sods law. Buy the Secteur tomorrow and get my P45 through the post on Monday . Don't buy it, and stay employed .

I bought the Secteur without a problem. I bought the Tricross and got my P45 within a week. Maybe that is something which should be taken into consideration.

p.s. Another chance of commission lost norm

Life goes on.