New to Cyclocross/Cosmic Stallion or Macho King
07-19-18, 06:05 AM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
New to Cyclocross/Cosmic Stallion or Macho King
Hi everyone,
I come from a BMX background and as I get older I’m finding myself becoming more interested in other types of cycling. The world of geared bikes is very new to me, but I am very interested in getting into cyclocross racing, with some long distance rides thrown in and potentially a road race or 2. I know that’s asking a lot from 1 bike, and if my budget allowed I’d get one for every occasion.
I have found 2 bikes from All-City that I really like; the Macho King and the Cosmic Stallion.
I was originally interested in finding a bike that I can race cyclocross with and switch out the wheels if I ever wanted to race road. This scenario sounds appropriate for the Macho King.
But then I began looking into the Cosmic Stallion. Looks like it would be fine for racing cross and doing long distance trail rides. Probably not best suited for road racing, but a better do-it-all kind of bike.
I’d like to try to test ride both, but having a hard time finding shops near me that have either in stock.
As I mentioned, this is an entirely new world for me, so please feel free to point out that I am overthinking things or haven’t considered other important things. Anybody have experience on either or both of these, or even other bike suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
I come from a BMX background and as I get older I’m finding myself becoming more interested in other types of cycling. The world of geared bikes is very new to me, but I am very interested in getting into cyclocross racing, with some long distance rides thrown in and potentially a road race or 2. I know that’s asking a lot from 1 bike, and if my budget allowed I’d get one for every occasion.
I have found 2 bikes from All-City that I really like; the Macho King and the Cosmic Stallion.
I was originally interested in finding a bike that I can race cyclocross with and switch out the wheels if I ever wanted to race road. This scenario sounds appropriate for the Macho King.
But then I began looking into the Cosmic Stallion. Looks like it would be fine for racing cross and doing long distance trail rides. Probably not best suited for road racing, but a better do-it-all kind of bike.
I’d like to try to test ride both, but having a hard time finding shops near me that have either in stock.
As I mentioned, this is an entirely new world for me, so please feel free to point out that I am overthinking things or haven’t considered other important things. Anybody have experience on either or both of these, or even other bike suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
07-19-18, 06:28 AM
#2
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I think your sense of the two bikes is about right...The Macho King will be a great 'cross bike, a decent gravel bike, and (with skinnier tires and perhaps lighter wheels) a passable road racer; the Cosmic Stallion will be a great gravel bike, a decent trail rider, a good 'cross bike, but it will probably not work well as a road racer.
So you just need to decide which cycling genre most attracts you, and then choose a bike. Or look at some other brands.
So you just need to decide which cycling genre most attracts you, and then choose a bike. Or look at some other brands.
07-20-18, 08:49 AM
#3
Newbie
Thread Starter
Thank you for your input!
One other thing I really like about the Cosmic Stallion is the thru-axle in the frame, which I’m sure makes chain and disc brake alignment a ton easier. But with that being said, I’m kind of thinking the Macho King might be better suited for what I’m looking for.
I am still going to take a look around to see what else is available.
One other thing I really like about the Cosmic Stallion is the thru-axle in the frame, which I’m sure makes chain and disc brake alignment a ton easier. But with that being said, I’m kind of thinking the Macho King might be better suited for what I’m looking for.
I am still going to take a look around to see what else is available.
07-20-18, 09:50 AM
#4
Full Member
Everything should be thru axle IMO, but on bikes where you're not SENDING IT with 203mm rotors a nice precise QR dropout does the job good.
07-20-18, 12:09 PM
#5
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Hi everyone,
I come from a BMX background and as I get older I’m finding myself becoming more interested in other types of cycling. The world of geared bikes is very new to me, but I am very interested in getting into cyclocross racing, with some long distance rides thrown in and potentially a road race or 2. I know that’s asking a lot from 1 bike, and if my budget allowed I’d get one for every occasion.
I have found 2 bikes from All-City that I really like; the Macho King and the Cosmic Stallion.
I was originally interested in finding a bike that I can race cyclocross with and switch out the wheels if I ever wanted to race road. This scenario sounds appropriate for the Macho King.
But then I began looking into the Cosmic Stallion. Looks like it would be fine for racing cross and doing long distance trail rides. Probably not best suited for road racing, but a better do-it-all kind of bike.
I’d like to try to test ride both, but having a hard time finding shops near me that have either in stock.
As I mentioned, this is an entirely new world for me, so please feel free to point out that I am overthinking things or haven’t considered other important things. Anybody have experience on either or both of these, or even other bike suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
I come from a BMX background and as I get older I’m finding myself becoming more interested in other types of cycling. The world of geared bikes is very new to me, but I am very interested in getting into cyclocross racing, with some long distance rides thrown in and potentially a road race or 2. I know that’s asking a lot from 1 bike, and if my budget allowed I’d get one for every occasion.
I have found 2 bikes from All-City that I really like; the Macho King and the Cosmic Stallion.
I was originally interested in finding a bike that I can race cyclocross with and switch out the wheels if I ever wanted to race road. This scenario sounds appropriate for the Macho King.
But then I began looking into the Cosmic Stallion. Looks like it would be fine for racing cross and doing long distance trail rides. Probably not best suited for road racing, but a better do-it-all kind of bike.
I’d like to try to test ride both, but having a hard time finding shops near me that have either in stock.
As I mentioned, this is an entirely new world for me, so please feel free to point out that I am overthinking things or haven’t considered other important things. Anybody have experience on either or both of these, or even other bike suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
The second thought is that you need to pick which of those disciplines is more important to you and make concessions on the others. CX, road, and gravel all have fairly different requirements.
If it were me I'd get a SuperX with an extra wheelset and maybe an extra chainring to switch between.
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Last edited by shoota; 07-20-18 at 12:15 PM.
07-20-18, 12:52 PM
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+1 to thru-axles. I've got a Space Horse Disc with QR and mechanical disc brakes, and I wish it had thru-axles. I can get things lined up just fine, but I get tired of fooling around with it.
04-03-19, 01:49 PM
#7
Newbie
Thread Starter
So, much time has passed and I still have not picked up a bike.
I was sold on the Cosmic Stallion and was ready to make a purchase, but I could not find one anywhere, as the supplier was sold out of all but the smaller sizes. I decided to hold out for some time with the hopes that when the new CS is released it would have some minor upgrades. Well, I was pretty disappointed to see that the new version downgraded to mechanical brakes and still costs the same. I am a fan of the new paint job, but I just don't feel as strongly as I did prior.
So now I am thinking of going a new route, buy a frameset and build one up myself.
I plan on going with a Shimano 105 hydro groupset.
I already have a Fizik Aliante seat on my fixed gear that I will transfer over and a Thomson seat post.
Undecided on stem and bars.
For the rest of the build, I am thinking:
I was sold on the Cosmic Stallion and was ready to make a purchase, but I could not find one anywhere, as the supplier was sold out of all but the smaller sizes. I decided to hold out for some time with the hopes that when the new CS is released it would have some minor upgrades. Well, I was pretty disappointed to see that the new version downgraded to mechanical brakes and still costs the same. I am a fan of the new paint job, but I just don't feel as strongly as I did prior.
So now I am thinking of going a new route, buy a frameset and build one up myself.
I plan on going with a Shimano 105 hydro groupset.
I already have a Fizik Aliante seat on my fixed gear that I will transfer over and a Thomson seat post.
Undecided on stem and bars.
For the rest of the build, I am thinking:
- Rodeo Labs Flannimal 4.1 frameset
- Does anyone have experience with any version of these framesets?
It seems very versatile. The only thing I am not stoked on is the coupler on the seat stay. I sort of feel like this would be a weak point on the frame. Thoughts?
rodeo-labs. com/flaanimal4/ (I added a space before the.com because I am not allowed to post links with my minimal post count)
- Does anyone have experience with any version of these framesets?
- Hunt Wheelset
- I only just came across this company, so I don't have much knowledge on them, but I am reading good reviews.
Anybody have experience/thoughts on a set of these?
huntbikewheels .cc/collections/gravel-wheels/products/mason-x-hunt-four-season-disc-brake-road-bike-wheelset-tubeless-ready (I added a space before the.cc because I am not allowed to post links with my minimal post count)
- I only just came across this company, so I don't have much knowledge on them, but I am reading good reviews.
04-03-19, 01:58 PM
#8
Senior Member
Building is usually much more expensive unless you buy second hand, just something to think about. I'd buy the frame set that you want already want, then replace things as you see fit after riding it but that's just me. What's your budget like?
04-03-19, 08:48 PM
#9
Senior Member
Hunt Wheelset
- I only just came across this company, so I don't have much knowledge on them, but I am reading good reviews.
Anybody have experience/thoughts on a set of these?
huntbikewheels .cc/collections/gravel-wheels/products/mason-x-hunt-four-season-disc-brake-road-bike-wheelset-tubeless-ready (I added a space before the.cc because I am not allowed to post links with my minimal post count)
04-04-19, 11:05 AM
#10
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
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So, much time has passed and I still have not picked up a bike.
I was sold on the Cosmic Stallion and was ready to make a purchase, but I could not find one anywhere, as the supplier was sold out of all but the smaller sizes. I decided to hold out for some time with the hopes that when the new CS is released it would have some minor upgrades. Well, I was pretty disappointed to see that the new version downgraded to mechanical brakes and still costs the same. I am a fan of the new paint job, but I just don't feel as strongly as I did prior.
So now I am thinking of going a new route, buy a frameset and build one up myself.
I plan on going with a Shimano 105 hydro groupset.
I already have a Fizik Aliante seat on my fixed gear that I will transfer over and a Thomson seat post.
Undecided on stem and bars.
For the rest of the build, I am thinking:
I was sold on the Cosmic Stallion and was ready to make a purchase, but I could not find one anywhere, as the supplier was sold out of all but the smaller sizes. I decided to hold out for some time with the hopes that when the new CS is released it would have some minor upgrades. Well, I was pretty disappointed to see that the new version downgraded to mechanical brakes and still costs the same. I am a fan of the new paint job, but I just don't feel as strongly as I did prior.
So now I am thinking of going a new route, buy a frameset and build one up myself.
I plan on going with a Shimano 105 hydro groupset.
I already have a Fizik Aliante seat on my fixed gear that I will transfer over and a Thomson seat post.
Undecided on stem and bars.
For the rest of the build, I am thinking:
- Rodeo Labs Flannimal 4.1 frameset
- Does anyone have experience with any version of these framesets?
It seems very versatile. The only thing I am not stoked on is the coupler on the seat stay. I sort of feel like this would be a weak point on the frame. Thoughts?
rodeo-labs. com/flaanimal4/ (I added a space before the.com because I am not allowed to post links with my minimal post count)
- Does anyone have experience with any version of these framesets?
- Hunt Wheelset
- I only just came across this company, so I don't have much knowledge on them, but I am reading good reviews.
Anybody have experience/thoughts on a set of these?
huntbikewheels .cc/collections/gravel-wheels/products/mason-x-hunt-four-season-disc-brake-road-bike-wheelset-tubeless-ready (I added a space before the.cc because I am not allowed to post links with my minimal post count)
- I only just came across this company, so I don't have much knowledge on them, but I am reading good reviews.
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
04-07-19, 07:35 PM
#11
Newbie
Thread Starter
Lots of bikes use a coupler like this for their belt break. I would imagine Rodeo Labs has done due diligence on their particular iteration of it.
No direct experience, but a friend has ordered these as an upgrade on his Fairlight Strael (you should probably also check out the Strael and Secan if you haven't already, they might be what you're looking for). Bike arrives in a week or so, so I'll have a look at them then. I've also read nothing but good things about Hunt.
No direct experience, but a friend has ordered these as an upgrade on his Fairlight Strael (you should probably also check out the Strael and Secan if you haven't already, they might be what you're looking for). Bike arrives in a week or so, so I'll have a look at them then. I've also read nothing but good things about Hunt.
Thanks for the info! I’ll look into the Strael and Secan as well.
That would be awesome if you do! I’m pretty certain I’d be a 55 on an All City.
04-08-19, 08:46 AM
#12
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04-09-19, 11:13 AM
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Don't worry about the Rodeo frame coupler. Those guys ride those bikes on enduro trails.
The Rodeo frames will definitely be nicer than any of the All City framesets. The QBP bikes (All City, Surly, etc...) are cool but way overpriced for their specs and frame features.
The Rodeo frames will definitely be nicer than any of the All City framesets. The QBP bikes (All City, Surly, etc...) are cool but way overpriced for their specs and frame features.
04-10-19, 12:38 PM
#14
Newbie
Thread Starter
Don't worry about the Rodeo frame coupler. Those guys ride those bikes on enduro trails.
The Rodeo frames will definitely be nicer than any of the All City framesets. The QBP bikes (All City, Surly, etc...) are cool but way overpriced for their specs and frame features.
The Rodeo frames will definitely be nicer than any of the All City framesets. The QBP bikes (All City, Surly, etc...) are cool but way overpriced for their specs and frame features.
04-19-19, 12:45 PM
#15
Newbie
Thread Starter
Not to make this thread any longer than it needs to be, but I just thought I'd post an update. I have been emailing with Rodeo Labs to come up with a build, and I think we landed on something that I will be very happy with. Within a few weeks I should have a new Flaanimal in my possession!
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