Top tested cyclo-cross bikes so far this year

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The best cyclocross bikes of 2016-17 (Image credit: Immediate Media)

This article originally appeared on BikeRadar

The Trek Boone, Cannondale SuperX and Focus Mares are the best cyclo-cross bikes of the 2016-17 season. As with any type of bike, you can buy at a number of price ranges, but here we've focused on high-end cyclo-cross race bikes. For about £3,200 / US$4,000, you can get a top steed with hydraulic discs and usually a SRAM Force CX1 or Shimano Ultegra drivetrain. Many brands also offer the same frames as below with more affordable groups as well.

While hydraulic brakes for road bikes remains a debated issue, it's really a no-brainer for cyclo-cross. Compared to 'cross cantilever brakes in dry conditions, the huge difference in power and modulation is laughable. And in wet conditions, comparing hydraulic disc to cantilevers is like comparing air travel to walking; it's not really fair. So with that considered, discs are the standard for 'cross bikes; it's just a question of your preference for Shimano or SRAM.

SRAM's Force CX1 groupset is great for 'cross, primarily because of the clutch derailleur on the 1x system. Imported from mountain biking, a clutch derailleur pulls back forcefully on the chain, keeping it taut and greatly reducing chain slap and the chance of dropping your chain. Focus also borrowed another trick from MTB — the Mares uses ISCG-05 mounts to hold a guard that provides 360-degree protection against a dropped chain wrapping around the frame.

As for RAT (Rapid Axle Technology), what this means is a thru-axle design that just requires a quarter turn to engage or release in the frame or fork. (It works with any thru-axle compatible wheels, so don't worry about wheel changes.) While not as svelte as the flush-mount design that requires an Allen key to service, it is so much easier to live with. Just flip open, turn 90 degrees, and pull out.

Foundry's titanium Flyover has a different take on the typical cyclocross race bike. While the standard for high-zoot racing today is swoopy carbon frames, and the Minnesota-based company has a few, it differentiates with a full line of svelte titanium frames and bikes built for going fast and hard to the finish line. Even though the Flyover is Foundry's cyclocross competition bike, it has a few touches that give a nod to everyday practicality.

While some bike brands have made their names in titanium, such as Litespeed, Seven and Moots, Foundry is a relative newcomer on the scene. What's interesting (and refreshing) is that the complete Flyover at US$4,695 comes in at a price close to a frame alone from more boutique builders. In contrast to its modest (for titanium) price tag, the construction and finish look impeccable and sophisticated, with clean, stacked welds and a gorgeous sky blue paint job that partners with just the right amount of the brushed titanium's illustrious beauty.

While titanium may or may not get the wrongful rap of being overly flexy, the Flyover is anything but. Stomping on the pedals is rewarded with quick, purposeful response. Wrenching on the Zipp handlebars and leveraging all my weight trying to sway the bottom bracket proved fruitless with zero rubbing or unwarranted movement. Granted there's a load of clearance between the stays and the 33mm Clement tires. Also, the chainstays are pretty tidy at 425mm, which encourages aggressive riding and steering from the hips through your feet.

There were a couple things that had me wondering about the TCX. First was the 1x drivetrain. My curiosity wasn't about the gearing but rather the inclusion of the front Di2 shifter. While Shimano doesn't currently offer a front hydraulic brake-only lever the way SRAM does, here you are effectively paying for something you don't need or get to use. I do acknowledge that you could throw a front derailleur and second ring on the bike, so I guess it's good to have options. But unlike SRAM's Force CX1 drivetrain that has a clutch derailleur to keep the chain taut, here you just have a normal Di2 derailleur, so chainslap is the same as a regular bike.