Twelve cross bikes were brought together for the test - so don't let anyone say that the market doesn't offer anything to emulate the cross cracks in Sankt Wendel. The suppliers were told to keep the price as far below 2,000 euros as possible - which suited them. Oliver Corpus, a bike dealer specialising in cross bikes from Merzig in Saarland, says: "I have no problem selling a cross frame for 1,000 euros. But I hardly ever sell a complete cross bike for 2,000 euros." Possible explanation for customers' self-restraint: Because cross bikes are taken hard off-road, they don't necessarily have to have the most sophisticated equipment. Shimano 105 or Campa Veloce components or even used parts that have been discarded from the road bike are also sufficient.
Short & sweet
The cross bike is well on the way to becoming a sporty all-rounder. Thanks to improved technology and an expanded range, the former racing bike is opening up new perspectives for road riders, and not just for winter training. The best thing about it: off-road fun starts at just over 1,000 euros, apart from the special case of the 2Danger.
You can find these cross bikes in the PDF download:
Cannondale Cyclocross, Empella Bonfire SL, Felt F1X, Focus Mares Cross, Nozumi Cross Titan, OCCP Team Issue, Poison Opium Cross, Red Bull Multi-Cross, Ridley Crossbow, Rowona Cyclocross Pro, Stevens Cyclocross, 2Danger Crossroads
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