The Cross 0’s matt black Strongman 7005 aluminium alloy frameAdam Gasson
Tektro RX-1 Mini V-brakesAdam Gasson
There’s a pretty tidy finish for a budget frameAdam Gasson
The DDK comfort saddleAdam Gasson
Bikes don’t come much simpler than the Revolution Cross 0. This elemental steed is the handiwork of retailer Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative and features a single gear — a 46/18 combination as you’re asking — that provides a good ratio for the majority of urban routes. Bikes don’t come much more affordable than the Cross 0, either.
Weight: 11.3kg based (55cm Revolution Cross 0 without pedals)
The Revolution Cross 0Adam Gasson
Revolution Cross 0 ride impression
The Cross 0 is designed to be as simple as possible, right down to the tough matt black paint job and distinct lack of overbearing decals. But that minimalist facial masks a surprisingly impressive ride.
The wheels are built around box-section aluminium Strongman rims, which are nicely finished with flat-machined brake surfaces
Yes, you can feel the excess of the budget aluminum frame when you begin heading toward the stars, but that ascending blemish is more than compensated by the relaxed fork that aids stability when venturing off-road onto a river path. It’s also ideal shaping to bounce up and over kerbs, speed bumps and, what the hell, even flights of steps.
Accessories are more than acceptable, too. Take the contact points. The squishy, compliant saddle won’t give you grief when riding in civvy attire and the quality silicone-gel bar tape is comfortable upfront. But it’s the brakes that are a real highlight, providing plenty of stopping power alongside appreciated feel.
Tektro RX-1 Mini V-brakesAdam Gasson
The wheels are built around box-section aluminium Strongman rims, which are nicely finished with flat-machined brake surfaces (with a brakewear marking line). They’re part of a solid wheelset that includes simple-bolted axle Formula hubs and a sensible 32 spokes at each end.
The K-Guard tyres are tough and surprisingly good on dirt, albeit they’re hefty numbers. But that’s a minor moot point on a bike at this price point. In fact, the frugal nature only expresses itself with the mediocre Prowheel chainset, but a double chainguard goes some way to rectifying those flaws.
Finally, the frame can accommodate mudguards and a rack, and that’s the final cherry on the affordable cake that makes the Cross 0 exactly what we look for in a great and cheap commuter.
DNP 18t. 3/32 inch freewheelAdam Gasson
Revolution Cross 0 pricing and availability
The bike retails for £299 and Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative will deliver internationally via courier.
Warren Rossiter is BikeRadar and Cycling Plus magazine’s senior technical editor for road and gravel. Having been testing bikes for more than 20 years, Warren has an encyclopedic knowledge of road cycling and has been the mastermind behind our Road Bike of the Year test for more than a decade. He’s also a regular presenter on the BikeRadar Podcast and on BikeRadar’s YouTube channel. In his time as a cycling journalist, Warren has written for Mountain Biking UK, What Mountain Bike, Urban Cyclist, Procycling, Cyclingnews, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike and T3. Over the years, Warren has written about thousands of bikes and tested more than 2,500 – from budget road bikes to five-figure superbikes. He has covered all the major innovations in cycling this century, and reported from launches, trade shows and industry events in Europe, Asia, Australia, North American and Africa. While Warren loves fast road bikes and the latest gravel bikes, he also believes electric bikes are the future of transport. You’ll regularly find him commuting on an ebike and he longs for the day when everyone else follows suit. You will find snaps of Warren’s daily rides on the Instagram account of our sister publication, Cycling Plus (@cyclingplus).
