Sirrus or Tricross?

Orion

Time for the expert opinions - I'm expecting as many differing opinions as there are replies to this post

Going to be buying a new bike next month hopefully. Currently have a BSO from Halfords which I bought just to get me going. I'm on a 'getting fit after quitting smoking' regime. So I've signed up for some duathlons during the summer and for Connemara Adventure Run in May and Gael Force West in August. Also planning on starting commuting (26km) once a week (i.e. in one day and home the next day to start with).

So hybrids were my original choice until I became aware of cyclocross bikes. So I'm now tossing up between the Sirrus Elite and the Tricross Sport.

In Stagg Cycles the Sirrus is ~750 (can't remember if that was the Comp or Elite it's the Elite) and the Tricross sport is ~1100. It's a big price jump and I'm not sure if it's worth it for where I'm at now.

Which would you recommend?

blorg

Why is the Tricross the alternative rather than a road bike? Nothing against them, I actually have both a Sirrus (now converted to drops) and Tricross myself.

Duathlons and Gael Force you would be best off with a road bike, certainly drop handlebars. You can run with it over the short rough bits in the latter if necessary.

You should get a Tricross (rather than a road bike) if you need the ability to fit big tyres, full mudguards, rack etc., all useful things and make the Tricross a very versatile bike- but it won't be quite as nippy as a road bike. Make sure you change the tyres for slicks, the stock tyres are painful on the road.

So, between those two, the Tricross, but also consider a road bike if you don't need wide tyres.

daymobrew

A road bike will take a lot more abuse than you think. So you might consider the Specialized Allez road bike (as you are looking at Specialized brand).
You will find a few people here who commute on a road bike.

I have a Sirrus and a road bike. The road bike is many times more nimble - I feel faster as soon as I get on it.

I used to commute on my Sirrus (about 26k round trip). On the few times I took my road bike it was a lot more enjoyable. Having said that, you could put a rack and panniers to the Sirrus (something I did last year - it's great to get the backpack off my back).

ROK ON

I have a Tricross Sport and I would add the following.
It is a fine comfortable bike mostly, but it is heavy (13.5kg).
A lot of gearing options on it (11-34) should get you up every hill around.
I have done very long spins on it (Ring of Kerry and Sean Kelly 160 & 100km).
It is not good on descents IMO compared to my road bikes as position is pretty upright. However that makes it a very comfy commuting bike.
It is like a tank (with a couch on top).
1100 is pricey for the Tricross when you consider what else you could get for that money.

blorg

The weight does make a big difference. My tourer is a bit under that, I think around 12.5 with rack and mudguards but on a group spin with it I find it fine on the flat but significantly harder to keep up with people on the hills (my road bikes are around 7.5kg, but even entry level road bikes you can get in around 9kg, significantly below the Tricross.)

Orion

Thanks all. Food for thought there. Speed isn't a major issue for me - just finishing these events will be a success for me this year. The Sirrus is versatile as regards racks, mudguards etc also. A road bike just isn't for me - not at this stage anyway. I don't need the speed and I'd prefer the resiliency of a larger tyre.

I'll have a think - won't be purchasing for a couple of weeks at least anyway.

Thanks for the advice.

blorg

Macros42 wrote: »

Thanks all. Food for thought there. Speed isn't a major issue for me - just finishing these events will be a success for me this year. The Sirrus is versatile as regards racks, mudguards etc also. A road bike just isn't for me - not at this stage anyway. I don't need the speed and I'd prefer the resiliency of a larger tyre.

The Tricross will be maximally versatile and substantially faster (with slicks) and more suitable for longer distances with the extra hand positions. I would go for it above the Sirrus my self. A lot of the reason drop-bar bikes are more expensive is in the shifters which are very pricey compared to flat-bar shifters. Drop bars are just so much better once you start doing any distance.

Consider though why exactly is a road bike "not for you"- you only really need the "resiliency" of a wider tyre if you are going to be taking the bike off-road or you are doing loaded touring on unpaved roads, that sort of thing. If cycling on road (and Gaelforce is almost all on road) a road bike is fine. Many will even take up to 700x28c tyres although 700x25 is more than enough. I have everything from 700x22 up to 700x37 BTW, I am am a fan of wide tyres in their place, but you don't need them for general road riding.

Having said all that the likes of the Tricross which gives you the option of the wider tyres, plus rack and proper mudguards, and drop bars, is a good all-rounder.

If you are determined to go flat bar the Sirrus Elite has a good spec with Deore and Deore LX components that are quite high end for a hybrid and should be very reliable.