Anyone commute on a cyclo-cross bike?
FranMartin
Posts: 21
I'm thinking of commuting on a cyclo-cross bike . Has anyone experience of riding a cyclo-cross bike on a similar commute - 15 miles of muddy tow-path, 1 mile of green lane and then 16 miles of country roads with some hillls? I'm probably going to do this 2 or 3 times a week.
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Yes
I use a Felt F1x, works great.
There are no braze ons for mudguards and rack on the Felt, but other manufacturers do make CXers with braze ons.
My commute is 17miles round trip, this has been extended as far as 40miles when the weathers good
Terrain is a mixture of road, cyclepaths, forest fireroads, & MTB singletrack if the fancy takes me. 0 -
see my reply to your question of yesterday0
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Thanks Dirk and Patrick, sounds promising. Just to be sure - a cyclo-cross will cope with a tow-path that will get very muddy at times and then it won't leave me struggling with the hills?
I'm presuming that whilst it won't be as quick as a road bike on the road it'll be far superior to an MTB or hybrid?0 -
Hi Fran, yes certainly the Tricross will take anything I have done some quite serious off roading with it. All the guys in my LBS ride Kona Jakes or Jake the Snakes (Kona Dealer!), off road, up hills and we have some pretty steep ones round here in Bath. My tricross is the sport version with a triple on the front and a 12-25 on the rear though as supplied I think it comes with an MTB style rear cassette - should be able to get up anything!0
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Sorry Fran forgot to say I also have done some 30-40 mile road rides which it was very comfortable and reasonbly quick. I do change the tyres to 23's (ten minute job) for any longish road ride.0
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I'd love to.
A Kona Jake-the-Snake would be perfect (I have ridden one belonging to a fellow commuter - it was as smooth as my mountain bike on the dodgy paths and quicker than my cheap racer on the flat bits).
But no.
A cyclocross bike sounds like the ideal machine for that commute though0 -
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12536578&start=120
Mine takes a beating, as I also ride it on singletrack, and it works great.
I have had my fair share of pun(+ures, so go for some failrly resilient tyres.
A lot of CX tyres are really aimed at racing, and not everyday use.
I now have these http://wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360035183&N=Vittoria%20Cross%20XN%20Pro%20Tyre
First impressions are that they are tough, but only time will tell.0 -
Dirk Van Gently wrote:http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12536578&start=120
Mine takes a beating, as I also ride it on singletrack, and it works great.
I have had my fair share of pun(+ures, so go for some failrly resilient tyres.
A lot of CX tyres are really aimed at racing, and not everyday use.
I now have these http://wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360035183&N=Vittoria%20Cross%20XN%20Pro%20Tyre
First impressions are that they are tough, but only time will tell.
I commute on a cross bike mainly because I only have space for one bike and a cross makes a good all rounder.
Dirk - I was looking at some of those tyres. Any first impressions of how are they on the road?0 -
Dirk Van Gently wrote:http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12536578&start=120
Mine takes a beating, as I also ride it on singletrack, and it works great.
I have had my fair share of pun(+ures, so go for some failrly resilient tyres.
A lot of CX tyres are really aimed at racing, and not everyday use.
I now have these http://wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360035183&N=Vittoria%20Cross%20XN%20Pro%20Tyre
First impressions are that they are tough, but only time will tell.
I commute on a cross bike mainly because I only have space for one bike and a cross makes a good all rounder.
Dirk - I was looking at some of those tyres. Any first impressions of how are they on the road?0 -
I use a Tricross. Difficult to imagine a better commuter from my point of view.0
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GEPC
I was looking at some of those tyres. Any first impressions of how are they on the road?
Fast! Bloody fast!
And for the first time in months I have just passed a whole week without an unscheduled innertube change.
I am really impressed with them so far, work surprisingly well in mud, so long as it's not knee deep of course, and work great on any sandy or hardpacked surface. The ride is a Lot firmer than the Houfalize tyres I was using.
I have beaten my best to work PB twice this week, knocking a minute and half off my best time (8.5miles). I would like to think that this is due to my great power and strength, but of course it's the tyres :?0 -
Dirk Van Gently wrote:GEPC
I was looking at some of those tyres. Any first impressions of how are they on the road?
Fast! Bloody fast!
And for the first time in months I have just passed a whole week without an unscheduled innertube change.
I am really impressed with them so far, work surprisingly well in mud, so long as it's not knee deep of course, and work great on any sandy or hardpacked surface. The ride is a Lot firmer than the Houfalize tyres I was using.
I have beaten my best to work PB twice this week, knocking a minute and half off my best time (8.5miles). I would like to think that this is due to my great power and strength, but of course it's the tyres :?
Just the answer I was looking for. Thanks0
