IcySmooth52

Exacto-ly! I could've gone to a carbon cross bike, but intentionally didn't because I was getting it to be my bad-weather/winter bike in addition to dirt roads.

Andy_K 

Well, I'm judging this by "hot or not" standards. The components on the Simoncini may be great functionally, but I think they're kind of ugly. I especially dislike the look of the shifters and brake levers. I'm not even willing to grant a "period correct" exception for those. The XT derailleur reminds me of a "Mountain LX" derailleur that came on an '89 RockHopper I used to have. It worked well enough that I eventually used it on another bike, but it looks old without being retro cool.

Frankly, I didn't even notice the hubs. On first glance they look kind of like the ubiquitous single speed Formula hubs, and paired with those rims they didn't get a second glance. Since you've pointed out their quality, I have to deduct even more points for mixing Campy and Shimano components. With that frame, you really should go full Campy.

I do like the crank.

The Pedal Force components may be mid-grade but they look nice and perform well, which I think makes them well paired with the frame.

Andy_K 

I like it. Matte black bikes are everywhere, but they generally look good. The brake cable looks a bit sloppy going across the top tube. The top tube-head tube junction is also a bit odd.

The biggest problem I see with this bike is the general lack of something to be excited about.

jsigone

my Altamira CX1.3

Andy_K 

Too many color splashes. And who thought "Oval" was a good name for a wheel brand? Oval chainrings? Maybe. Oval wheels? No.

I haven't used SRAM components, but they definitely look nice.

IcySmooth52

It's HOT in my book!

Makes me think of my Altamira road bike. I often wonder, was the Fuji Altamira (Raven) or Lapierre Xelius (Layla) better under me?

DrIsotope

First to admit the CX tires spend far more time hanging on the rack in the shop than they do on the bike, but road tires or not, it's still a CX bike.

BigC_82

Fuji bike is hot as I like pops of color

jsigone

This looks like the same frame mold my Fuji and Broadman uses and same internal routing with di2 options. I'm sure each use different carbon types and layup. My Fuji is pretty awesome in stiffness and dampening. IMO would be better with Celeste logos on the UD carbon...

justin1138

some fresh photos of mine, all stripped down and ready for cross season.

BenPS

HOT! - wouldn't normally think that of an aluminum raleigh, but I like the 1x, nice wheels, functional electrical tape, and great photos. coming out of left field on that one, but way to earn that thing a Hot.

jsigone

Nicely done with hotness

Andy_K 

Have you raced on those tires yet? How wide do they come out at on those rims?

gomango

Simoncini is clearly hot.

Nature Boy is also hot.

I would gleefully own either.

IcySmooth52

Nice, but not hot. So like the Kona, it's a perfect balance of cool and unafraid to ride HARD!

BTW: To keep things/H2O out of the holes better than tape, put the bolts back in. But put thread sealant in as well. Doesn't lock the bolts in, acts as an anti-lock (not ideal for torqued in pieces like BB) and also keep liquids out.

justin1138

Thanks both.

I've got a handful of races with these tires. I rode them last year for all the early season dry races + I sometimes raced this bike for the STXC series at PIR this summer. The tires work well enough for racing. They're considerably heavier than a standard sized cross tire, but they soak up a lot of the bumps, work well in grass, obviously are going to do well on hardpack, etc. Once it gets muddy though, they're no good. They measure out to ~39mm on these rims.

The bolts came out because I kept catching my elbow on them when shouldering the bike. As good as your tip is, I'd rather not bloody my elbow up everytime I throw the bike on my shoulder. The electrical tape was a place holder until I found something else but it turns out it works just fine for keeping everything out and it adds to the bike's overall hardness

fietsbob

5mm stainless steel or even plastic setscrews will fill the holes . I have some behind my frame pump on the seat tube.

IcySmooth52

Was going through Felt's 2016 lineup, and I think this cross's color scheme is a HOT ONE!


Might even look better with mud...

Barrettscv 

Andy, you need to take the Poll: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...cd-ar-you.html

Most knowledgeable vintage bike users, including gomango, would disagree with you opinions, because they misrepresent reality. My Simoncini was originally built in 1995 with Japanese components. This was also the case for most Italian road bikes sold after 1990. Campagnolo shifters and derailleurs are an especially bad choice on a Cyclocross bike during this time.

You confuse a Campagnolo hubs fitted with a freewheel with a Formula single speed hub, and we should accept your opinion? Deore XT is attractive, especially on a black bike and it functions perfectly. Check the prices on eBay for vintage Deore XT in excellent condition and get in touch with the facts.

gomango

Vintage XT is always a great choice.

I wouldn't even argue this point.

Andy_K 

I think you misunderstand. I wasn't claiming even moderate vintage bike knowledge. I was just saying what I thought didn't look good and why.

I stand corrected on which group set the frame should have had. I guess you should have gone all Shimano. You do understand that bit (and really all of this) was tongue-in-cheek though, right?

I also stand by my statement that on first glance this:



looks like this:



But, yeah, I'm fairly OCD.

fietsbob

Top Campag One, is HF road front Hub.

Black wallnut 

Like a firecracker! I'd race that!

curtiseddie

How do you like your RX? I am looking at the RX and the Willard. I'm new to the road/gravel bike area.

xjustice09x

I know i am breaking a few rules of bike photography (non drive side, no white garage door.....) but here is my cross/commuter bike. The photo is slightly overexposed the blue is a little darker than the picture shows. The bike now has yellow bar tape.