3 into 1 - Do Cyclocross bikes work?

huggis
huggis Posts: 9
edited August 2008 in Commuting chat
Having just had my mountain bikes stolen for the 2nd time in a year I'm thinking about not replacing the hard tail, selling my road bike and getting a cyclocross bike instead. I have a full suspension MTB for proper off road duties, the bike I'm looking will be used for (in order of priority)

1. Commuting once or twice per week (18 miles, option to go down rough tracks)
2. Sunday morning road bash (1-2 hours) - nothing serious - other guys ride a mixture of hybrids and road bikes.
3. Family trips -round forest tracks, sometimes towing a trailer or tag-along. most weekends.
4 Touring - 2 or 3 days, 100 - 150 miles perhaps twice a year.

So, is it a good idea to get a bike which seems to do the roles of 3 bikes (i.e. an MTB, Road and Hybrid) or should I keep the road bike and get somethings else?

Comments

  • El Gordo
    El Gordo Posts: 394
    It'll work fine. It won't be the lightest road bike on the Sunday run but is probably fast enough. It won't be the most comfortable, stable tourer either but it will lug the load well enough. It all depends how much you're seeking perfection. If you can accept a few little compromises then it'll be a good choice.

    I've a mate who got a Tricross a while ago for pretty much the same mix as you describe and he loves it.
  • Alan P B
    Alan P B Posts: 1
    Have a cross bike as my winter bike on the road, occasional shopping trips and with a spare set of wheels take it on gentle off road.
    Works fine, although getting one with all the right mountings for mudguards and racks, etc, was difficult.
    I have 24 spoke wheels for the road and 36 spoke for off road - seems to be fine.
  • huggis
    huggis Posts: 9
    anyone any thoughts on sizing a cyclocross bike. measured my road bike, it's 55cm crank centre to top of seat tube. I'm 180cm (5'9).
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    huggis wrote:
    anyone any thoughts on sizing a cyclocross bike. measured my road bike, it's 55cm crank centre to top of seat tube. I'm 180cm (5'9).

    Hi there.

    cx bikes usually have a slightly more upright position, compared to road race geometry. This translates into a slightly taller head tube, and slightly shorter top tube (1-2cm shorter).

    The seat angle and length will be about the same as your road bike - so if you're happy with a 55cm road bike, then order a cx bike the same. you can always use a slightly longer stem if the reach is too short.

    Cheers, Andy
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    huggis wrote:
    anyone any thoughts on sizing a cyclocross bike. measured my road bike, it's 55cm crank centre to top of seat tube. I'm 180cm (5'9).

    ps Are you 5'9" or 180cm - they're not the same. If you are 180cm that's 5'11" - same as me. In which case a 55cm sounds about right. If you're 5'9" then a 55cm bike sounds too big for you... This is assuming that your seat tube is horizontal.
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • huggis
    huggis Posts: 9
    Andy, apologies yes I am 180cm which is 5'11! you don't get 55cm bikes. I would say I have a short inside leg and long body. I don't find my road bike comfy (but I'm as flexible as a sky scraper) so can't use the drop bars for more than a few minutes without being in pain.
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    huggis wrote:
    Andy, apologies yes I am 180cm which is 5'11! you don't get 55cm bikes. I would say I have a short inside leg and long body. I don't find my road bike comfy (but I'm as flexible as a sky scraper) so can't use the drop bars for more than a few minutes without being in pain.

    Hi there.

    <--- See the bike on the left here. That's a 55cm bike!

    If you are halfway between sizes, you're probably better going for the smaller one (e.g. 54cm versus 56cm). Having said that, my cx bike is a 56cm.

    Moral: Try and get a test ride if you can.

    Cheers, Andy
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • huggis
    huggis Posts: 9
    do you know craig brown (or Mhari)? they live in Doune
  • dirk_van_gently
    dirk_van_gently Posts: 826
    Yes, do it, they are great bikes, will do everything you ask. I have a Felt F1x, I use it as a commuter, and as an off-road bike, usually taking in some MTB type singletrack. It's 20moths old had the bejeezers ridden out of it, and nothing more than normal wear and tear.
    The Felt has one fault and that is there are no rack or mudguard "braze ons".
    CX bikes don't have the same cache nickability factor that MTBs do, the Chavs will just ignore a CX bike.
    If you see the candle as flame, the meal is already cooked.
    Photography, Google Earth, Route 30
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    huggis wrote:
    do you know craig brown (or Mhari)? they live in Doune

    Hi there.

    I think so... I used to do a bit of fell running for the Ochil Runners, I'm sure Craig and Mhari did too. Not seen them for about 5 years though.

    Cheers, Andy
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • huggis
    huggis Posts: 9
    yeah they've got kids now!
  • Harveytile
    Harveytile Posts: 227
    I just got a Kona Jake, it's got all the braze ons for mud guards and rear rack (no low rider braze ons tho'). I have only had it for a couple of weeks but am already seriously wondering when I'll be taking the MTB out for a spin. The CX just seems to do it all so easily. (PS I'm 6'2" and ride a 60cmC-T about 58cm C-C) Just blag a test ride and see what works. :wink:
    .
    Beep Beep Richie.
    .

    FCN +7 (Hanzo Fixed. Simple - for the commute)
    FCN +10 (Loud and proud PA)
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    You could do the same stuff on a touring bike really. Remember there are two types of CX bikes. Bikes designed to do cyclocross racing, and bikes designed as all rounders. A lot of those are simply bikes that used to be marketed as touring bikes relabeled. Make sure you can fit mudguards and have cage bosses. Some frames don't have those.
  • GEPC
    GEPC Posts: 123
    I have a cross bike (on one ticross) and love its versatility. In an ideal world I would have have several bikes to cater for all conditions but I only have room for one and its works as a good commuter and weeked bike. On the roads its only oveaken by decent road bikes riden by decent riders and its very happy on tracks etc. Living in London its off road capability hasn't been tested extensively but if you want a bike that does a decent job on and off road I think you can't go wrong. Yes its a compromise for the purist but its a much better compromise to make than a hybrid.
  • dango90
    dango90 Posts: 5
    I bought the Kona Jake, after a long long process. Personally I didn't get on with the Tricross, but I absolutely love the Jake, all the mounts you need, a really fun ride and will do all sorts. Took it out on a group road run on saturday morning, and took the kids in the bike trailer along the cycle path to the paddling pool on sunday, then back to the weekday comute on monday. Cycling Plus rated it pretty highly as a light-weight tourer, and they are rated highly at the C+ offices as an all round good value utility bike. They also have a load of sizes. The only issue is availability -there doesn't seem to be that many '08 models left. hope this helps.
  • huggis
    huggis Posts: 9
    thanks for your thoughts all. Heard some thoughts that a CX might not be best for towing tag-a-longs / trailers due to being a bit less stable than an MTB. confused again!

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