2013 Trek CrossRip - Best CX/Touring/Commuter Under $1000

The CrossRip is a chugger, not a tight and twitchy ride.

 If you're looking for a disc-equipped, cyclocross-inspired do-it-all-bike, look no further than the 2013 Trek Crossrip. It's a great option as an "all-arounder" and works great as a commuter. 

It starts with Trek's Alpha 100 Aluminum frame, and the Crossrip is nicely built and finished. The carbon-bladed, alloy steerer fork is cyclocross length so that lifts the front of the bike over what you'd expect from a road fit. The resulting position is comfort-oriented; with the stem pointing down so you can flip for an even higher front. 

You can generally tell whether a company things a CX bike will actually be used for CX by looking at the gearing and tires. On the CrossRip, you find a road compact chainset (FSA Vero) and wide cassette, and Bontrager 32mm hardcase touring tires. Other touches mark this out as more of a town bike, for example the security-conscious skewers that open with an allen key, and the urban camo paint job.

(FSA Vero Crank pictured right)

So this disc-equipped commu-tourer is a bike for a bit of everything. It's very capable on the tarmac and it's perfect for unsurfaced paths too, as the beefy Bontrager tires can shed off flints and thorns easily. Another nice feature of the CrossRip Elite is the traditional bend drop bar, which some people find to be more comfortable than the ergonomic bends on the market.

The brakes are really, really good. They are Hayes CX5 mechanical discs that work superbly: lots of power and great modulation. This control and reliability makes downhilling lots of fun. This bike is good at speed, stable and reassuring with it's direct steering. 

(internal routing pictured right)

Shifting-wise, Shimano's Sora is massively better than it's previous incarnation. There's one more ratio, but the real change is from thumbshift to proper Dual Control with the downshift behind the brake lever. Much easier to use from multiple position and lighter too. The Sora's STI shifters create a nice and flat hand area and feel comfortable on the hands. They have a smooth action when shifting and pulling the brake lever. 

In the rear there is an 11-32 cassette coupled with a 50/34 compact up front. The CrossRip also comes with rack and low rider mounts too. Bontrager's Racelite IsoZone Handlebar is comfortable in all positions and the SSR stem is quite stiff.

Come to The Spoke Shop for all your 
CX, Mountain, Road, Commuting and Touring Bike Needs.

We are located at 1910 Broadwater Ave. in Billings, MT. You can reach us by phone at (406) 656-8342

www.spokeshop.com

2013 Trek Road Bikes Grab Three Spots In Bicycle Top 14

Bicycling Magazine 2013 List of Top 14 Entry Level Road Bikes Includes Three from Trek 

 

Bicycling Magazine's Review of Trek CrossRip Elite

The CrossRip is as utilitarian as it is playful. The rack mounts and powerful disc brakes make it ideal for grocery runs and daily commuting. But the carbon fork and wide Bontrager tires dare you to explore beyond your town’s boundaries, whether you’re cruising a rail-to-rail trail or maple-lined forest roads.

The Defy Composite 3 feels lively and responsive, with a measure of damping to muffle energy-sapping road vibrations thanks to Giant’s frame construction. The geometry also contributes to the crisp ride. The Defy shares frame angles with the pricier Defy Advanced SL. Both have well-balanced handling—stable at speed, snappy in tight S- turns. But don’t expect to cut underneath a race bike in a corner—that’s not in the Defy’s character. It’s best for long rides at a comfortable pace.

Bicycling Magazine's Review of Trek Domane 4.0

 

Engineers working on endurance road models have a difficult mission: to create a frame that is comfortable to ride but that doesn’t waste any pedaling power. Trek takes a novel approach to this dilemma. The Domane’s IsoSpeed system isolates the seat tube from the down tube and seatstays—effectively putting a leaf spring between the seatpost and frame without compromising chassis stiffness. The same technology is used on some of Trek’s WorldTour models, but this version comes with less expensive Shimano Tiagra components.

See Our complete review here. http://bestbikeshopinbillings.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013TrekDomane4.0.html

Bicycling Magazine's Review of Trek 1.5

Anyone who has recently caught the cycling bug should enjoy this versatile, spry model from Trek. The aluminum frame comes with proven Shimano Tiagra components that keep the weight down. The compact crank offers lower gears to help you summit any hills in your path, and the frame comes in eight sizes—making it easy to find a good fit. Mount fenders and a rack to turn this into a fast commuter.

To learn more about this exciting road bike, check out what we said here  http://blog.schellers.com/2013/02/2013Trek1.5.html