Giant CRS SX versus Giant Cypress SX for confused school teacher



centralmail

centralmail

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Aug 26, 2004
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Following on from my previous threads and having just returned from a mouth-watering trip to my LBS, I have whittled things down to two bikes

1) Giant CRS SX

Picture: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/images/_upload_uk/bikes/models/zooms/2006/CRS_SX_400.jpg

Spec on:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/uk/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?model=10242
Weight: 11kg / 24.2lb

2) Giant Cypress SX

Picture: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/images/_upload_uk/bikes/models/zooms/2006/Cypress_SX_Gts_400.jpg

Spec on:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/uk/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?model=10239
Weight: 12.5kg / 27.5lb

My commute is 4 miles and is a combination of residential roads and bike paths... my final ascent to school is up a very steep hill :(

I would be grateful for insights from Giant fans...

Thank you
 
I'm not a Giant fan (am a teacher who commutes by bike though :) ), but I think the first bike you mention would probably be your preferred choice. The Deore LX stuff is much more durable than Alivio and you'll expecially like this in winter. On the other han I'd recommend you also take a look at bikes with a spedhub (Nexus or the like) because they involve far less maintenance than systems with a derailleur. Of course, if you want/like doing a lot of maintenance an 'open' system is fine as well.

Erik
 
Aziraphale said:
I'm not a Giant fan (am a teacher who commutes by bike though :) ), but I think the first bike you mention would probably be your preferred choice. The Deore LX stuff is much more durable than Alivio and you'll expecially like this in winter. On the other han I'd recommend you also take a look at bikes with a spedhub (Nexus or the like) because they involve far less maintenance than systems with a derailleur. Of course, if you want/like doing a lot of maintenance an 'open' system is fine as well.

Erik
Click to expand...
Thanks Erik for this information... I am not too technically minded, so this information provides some useful further insight...
 
CRS, but no kerb hopping!!! It has rigid front forks. The machanicals on the CRS are better, shame you cant buy the Aus models in the UK, we have the best of both here, Deore and suspension forks on a road bike. http://www.giant-bicycle.com/au/030.000.000/030.010.000.asp?year=2005&model=9896

There is a near new CRX2 for sale in Perth today for $650, about 220 pounds, http://www.triwa.org.au/discus//messages/6/3039.html?1117603832 that is a bargain: http://www.giant-bicycle.com/au/030.000.000/030.010.000.asp?year=2005&model=9872 a much better bike than both you are looking at.
 
gclark8 said:
CRS, but no kerb hopping!!! It has rigid front forks. The machanicals on the CRS are better, shame you cant buy the Aus models in the UK, we have the best of both here, Deore and suspension forks on a road bike. http://www.giant-bicycle.com/au/030.000.000/030.010.000.asp?year=2005&model=9896

There is a near new CRX2 for sale in Perth today for $650, about 220 pounds, http://www.triwa.org.au/discus//messages/6/3039.html?1117603832 that is a bargain: http://www.giant-bicycle.com/au/030.000.000/030.010.000.asp?year=2005&model=9872 a much better bike than both you are looking at.
Click to expand...
Re: curb hopping, yes, the LBS said so too!! They said to slow down before the kerbs and be gentle with the bike...

Dammit, those CRX bikes look really nice... it's a pity that I am on the totally opposite side of the world :(

If you have a look at http://www.giant-bicycle.com/uk/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?range=213

, you will see that the CRS SX retails for £450 ($AU 1088, $US $816)), the CRS SE for £375 ($AU 907, $US 680), and the CRS for £275 ($AU 665, $US 499)... the SX weighs 11kg and the other two weight 11.5kg, so there is no appreciable difference in weight... (looking at the prices, the cheapest CRS is the same Aussie $ price as the Aussie CRX2)...

In your opinion, is it worth going for the high-end CRS SX, given that I am commuting only 4 miles each way? Or is it OK to be a cheapskate and go for the lower end CRS ($AU 665), assuming its specs are OK?
 
centralmail said:
In your opinion, is it worth going for the high-end CRS SX, given that I am commuting only 4 miles each way? Or is it OK to be a cheapskate and go for the lower end CRS ($AU 665), assuming its specs are OK?
Click to expand...

For 4 miles any bike will do, assuming you carry out maintenance. Kerb hopping shouldn't be too much of a problem. I ride a Gazelle Primeur to school (Gazelle is Dutch (we make the best bikes ;) ) but available in the UK: http://www.cycle-heaven.co.uk/gazelle.html) which suits me just fine and I tend to 'mistreat' it a lot, as do my pupils who always come to school on bikes like this. Depending on how steep the climb is you probably won't need the 27 gears on the Giant. If you are, like you said, not very technical I'd really recommend you check out 'citybikes' like the comfort and city sport range from Gazelle.

Good luck choosing!

Erik
 
I only found your thread after I wanted reviews of this bike when I saw it for a very good price - & luckily you are in london
right on the outside edge but still inside the m25 - check out ash cycles in chingford (though i've never been there)
they have the CRS SX for £258 + free postage - i was thinking of calling for a haggle if i picked up myself.
Where in london are you? I cycle to teach, 5 1/2 miles but I do evenings too so i do it four times instead of twice, but mine is all flat.









centralmail said:
Following on from my previous threads and having just returned from a mouth-watering trip to my LBS, I have whittled things down to two bikes

1) Giant CRS SX

Picture: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/images/_upload_uk/bikes/models/zooms/2006/CRS_SX_400.jpg

Spec on:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/uk/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?model=10242
Weight: 11kg / 24.2lb

2) Giant Cypress SX

Picture: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/images/_upload_uk/bikes/models/zooms/2006/Cypress_SX_Gts_400.jpg

Spec on:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/uk/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?model=10239
Weight: 12.5kg / 27.5lb

My commute is 4 miles and is a combination of residential roads and bike paths... my final ascent to school is up a very steep hill :(

I would be grateful for insights from Giant fans...

Thank you
Click to expand...
 
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