What bike? Cyclocross v road

SpinningJenny

Aaaaaaaagghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :?

I did have my sights firmly on 'some sort of' road bike. Now I've been doing some more reading and managed to get totally confused. I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure!

So, what I won't be doing is sprinting, time-trialling, entering into competitions, races, mountain biking, etc.

What I will be doing is (eventually) long distance, where it could be a combination of country roads, trails, normal roads (for the in and out of town bit), canal towpaths etc.

Can somebody please help me - do I want a road bike or a cyclocross bike? I'd like something that will go fast, that can cope with a bit of rough terrain, that is comfortable, that I can take out in all weathers and isn't like a pedigree dog (ie, needs constant care and attention) although of course I will look after it properly.

So, if you have thoughts, they are welcome AND specific bike recommendations would also be great...

Thanks!

keef66

What kind of budget? Does it need to take proper mudguards? Will you need it to carry luggage, or are you talking about credit card type touring?

From your description I'd say you want a road rather than a cyclocross bike, but the ability to run fatter tyres and guards.

I have a racelight TK which is described as a winter trainer, so it takes full mudguards and 25mm tyres, and even has bosses should you wish to attach a (light) rack. Alu frame and carbon fork, seems pretty light and nippy to me; managed to ride it through the winter in all weathers.
Can't comment on all-day comfort yet; longest ride to date has been 30 miles!

Kinesis also do a more expensive Gran Fondo frame with carbon rear end aimed squarely at the sportive / audax type rider; think that also takes mudguards.

The Giant Defy range will take Giant's own specific mudguards, but they have a bit missing where clearance is tight at the brakes.

Pearson do a carbon audax bike for about 2 grand

I'm sure there are other, cheaper audax offreings out there

pottssteve

I'm sure there are some posts on this topic already, if you do a search..

Barrie_G

I'd try looking for some sort of touring bike, something that will take a rack, full mudguards etc. A bike that will take tyres up to ~28mm will give enough air to allow trails, towpaths to be ridden without too much bother.

Cyclo-cross bikes don't tend to have provision for mudguards etc. and as cyclo-cross races usually last around an hour or so the bikes tend not to be built for long distance / all day comfort.

Crapaud

SpinningJenny wrote:

... What I will be doing is (eventually) long distance, where it could be a combination of country roads, trails, normal roads (for the in and out of town bit), canal towpaths etc. ...

What do you mean by 'distance', SJ? I read this as, eventually, doing audax, but might not be what you mean as you've included 'trails' in your list. Trails would be more MTB territory, so a cyclocross (CX) bike would be my choice. CXs are great all-rounders: put slicks on for on-road and knobblies for days with trails. Or compromise with semi-slicks. It'll also, I'm told, take 25 mm tyres if you want to go that wee bit faster.

Audax bikes'll happily do everything you want except 'trails', but'll be faster than a CX and are designed for comfort over long distances.

If I'd to pick a CX, I'd go for a 09 TRICROSS SPORT 27 V good VFM. I've yet to hear of an unhappy Thorn owner.

For audax I'd need to check what's available these days, but a Thorn Mk 3 gets a good write-up and VFM rating.

SpinningJenny

Thanks all...

pottssteve - yes, I'm sure there are, I've looked at a few in fact. But I'm selfish and wanted some personal assistance for me

So, a little more info from me -

Budget - £1,500 max(ish) - as in I can be persuaded upwards, but downwards is nicer.

Trails - hmm, I didn't really mean mountain bike type trails, with loads of tree roots and the like to have arguments with. But on the other hand, a little light off-road stuff is good every now and again!

Panniers etc - not really. A light rack is a possibility (although I'm happy with a rucksack).

Distance - weeeell - I'm doing a 60 miler in June and would be looking to go for 100 miles in the future, assuming i can hack it (don't see why not, I'm a strong lass!).

I'm going to look at your suggestions - any more are welcome!

Thanks

pottssteve

I have a Specialized Tricross Sport and am very happy with it. It's about 750 quid. They do a Comp Sport for 1000 pounds plus with better components, seeing as you're rich!

Got mudguard and pannier bosses, clearance for 32mm tyres, 2 sets of cantilever brakes. Granted, it's not as fast as a road bike but I'm hoping that it will give VFM.

SpinningJenny

Rich - nooooo. Just saved up!

And thanks for your comments!

And if you're really in HongKong, shouldn't you in be in bed now? :P

HonestAl

I'll throw my five p's worth in. In my teeny bike stable got a Trek XO2. If you looked at it with an uneducated eye like mine, you'd think you were looking at a road bike. It's got a bit more clearance at the BB and other cyclocross features like more clearance at the forks, but barring that it's a fine road bike.

It's this model
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 2-08-28378

I wanted something that I could predominantly ride on the road but occasionally go off the beaten track - farm tracks, through woods (though no death defying stuff) and my LBS pointed me at one of these. I've done 60 plus mile rides on it comfortably. Put a wide set of tyres on and you can take it off road with confidence, or a nice skinny set to lower your rolling resistance. The XO1 is about half the price and is the very similar. The SRAM gears and these very cool light wheels are nice though.

So I reckon a cross bike would be a good compromise and would do exactly what you'd describe

Get that money spent..

guilliano

Kinesis and Ribble do some VERY tasty cross bikes....... we had a customer order a Ribble and I have to say I fell in love with it!

billy whippet

I didn't like the geometry of the Trek X01/2 ... front end too high so never really felt like a road bike. I've got a Kona Major Jake that I love - a cross bike that I use on teh road for winter training/commuting etc but can also go off road where necessary.

SpinningJenny

Thank you all - HonestAl I love your, errr, honesty "you looked at it with an uneducated eye like mine" - it speaks to me!

That's also a tasty looking bike too. And given that my current bike is a Trek also (only a hybrid, but hey, you live and learn!) I have a soft spot for them. What you use yours for sounds just the kind of thing I'm looking at doing, as well.

I'll add them all to the list guys and do some more research. But at least it seems as if my instinct is taking me in the right direction - cyclo cross it seems to be

Now, where's my purse....

Hudster

Just be careful with buying a cyclocross bike. A pure cross bike may not have bosses for water bottles, never mind mud guards or racks. Cross races last an hour and they therefore don't even need the ability to carry water on them.
Having said that, there are a few which are designed to be a bit more all rounders, such as the Specalized TriCross or the Trek X0 mentioned above. I have such a Trek and it really is a good versatile machine. I race on it, but also commute on it in winter and often take the canal tow path to work. It can be used for touring also.
It's not as comfy as my dedicated road machine and doesn't handle as well, so as soon as the weather is good, I prefer my road bike but if it's only to be the one bike I'd probably have to chose the Trek as it's so versatile.
You should also think about maybe looking at an Audax bike or a tourer. They'll take he rough roads which I'm guessing you are calling trails.

star_rover

It's all well and good to say that cross bikes have big clearances, can take it off road, or ride it like a regular road bike long distance, etc, but ask yourself, are you willing to keep swapping tyres (or swapping wheelsets)? You put the cx knobblies on cos you want to take it off road a bit, but on the on tarmac you're stuck with fat, slow tyres. Only riding off road? After an hour you'll be wishing you were on a MTB. As someone already said, they are a compromise.

You will also hate the completely shee-it stopping power (or continual readjustment) of cantilever brakes, especially in the wet.

I'd say you would be better off with a touring bike. Having said that, Genesis have brought out a 'cross' bike with discs. Steel frame too.

Audax bike maybe, as you said you wanted something fast. Depends on whether you want to run bigger tyres. The Kinesis racelight as mentioned above is a great bike, but I wouldn't want to ride anywhere but tarmac on a 25c tyre, and the biggest it takes is 28c.

My wife has a Salsa Casseroll which sounds like it could be the sort of thing you're after. Versatile steel frame, comfy, big clearances, takes racks and guards. Not sure if you can buy it as a complete bike though.

PeteinSQ

My recommendation would be to get a cross bike and the one I think you should get is the Planet-X uncle john.

http://tinyurl.com/cle2jh

You can fit a rack and mudguards to it and you can get cross tyres that aren't full on knobblies.

Sure cantilever brakes are a pain in the bum but you will eventually get the hang of it.

ride_whenever

^^^

although i prefer full size v-brakes to canti's on my bikes.

maddog 2

I'd say it's a tossup between an audax bike and a crosser, as you say.

This is an except from an email I sent a mate who asked a very similar question

---

Steel is an obvious candidate for the material, as it's comfy and robust but maybe a tad weighty, if that's an issue, so maybe alu would be better in this case.

If you want steel crossers then also have a look at:

- Cotic (UK) Roadrat http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/roadrat
- Planet X Kaffenbsck http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... ck_38.html
- Genesis Croix de Fer http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/series/croix_de_fer
- Salsa La Cruz http://www.salsacycles.com/laCruzComp08.html
- Kona Sutra http://www.konaworld.com/09_sutra_uk.cfm

If you want alu crossers then there are loads of them – see Genesis Vapour, Kona Jake, Focus, Kinesis, Planet X Uncle John, Cannondale, Felt, Scott et al

then there is also ti..... - Van Nic Amazon http://vannicholas.com/WbmBikeHome.aspx ... 6a6w%3d%3d

---

My mate ended up buying a steel audax from paul hewitt.

SpinningJenny

Thank you, thank you all! I have lots of readnig to do - and more questios to ask myself.

Thing is, once I've made a decision and bought the bike AND started using it, I have this horrible feeling I'm going to want ... another bike!

Now I understand why all you more experienced lot seem to have photos of many bikes each!

Ah well, you can't take it with you!

HonestAl

Hah, SpinningJenny, you've hit the nail right on the head. The XO2 was the first bike I've bought in years, I think it's great. But buying it made me catch the bug, and since having it I've bought a TCR Advanced, cos I tried a carbon frame bike and loved it, hence the absolute NEED for one, and sometime I'll tell about the nice even newer toy that's just dropped through my letterbox.. well, OK, delivered by some poor chap in a box as big as him.

So yes, buying a bike and really enjoying it is definitely another example of caveat emptor, but for an entirely different reason than it was originally coined

Still the cross bike is probably the most versatile of the bike I have

I eagerly await seeing the conclusion of your ponderings

Monty Dog

To say that a cross bike is a compromise has clearly been written by someone whose never ridden one and spent their time wallowing around on an MTB. I've just acquired my second cross bike - a carbon Kuota and it's an absolute rocket - on and off road. On road, the front end and BB is a little higher and so handling is slightly different from a fast road bike - but still very stable and safe. Offroad, it's a blast - no power loss from bouncy suspension or wallowy fat tyres - apart from really technical downhills, it loses very little to MTBs and leaves them for dead on uphills and fire roads. I bought mine as an all-rounder - it will run 'guards and fat road tyres for training or 5 minutes later, it's an easy swap to some cross tyres. When the bridleways dry out over summer to hardpack, I can get out over the Hampshire downs and probably looks to do the South Downs Way in a 1-day blast. Most cross bikes these days come with bottle cage mounts, rack and mudguard bosses as many people appreciate their versatility. If I could have only one bike out of the 6, it would probably be this one.

billy whippet

agreed with monty dog... wanting to confront my prejudice head on I bought a mountain bike to supplement the 11 (road and cross) bikes I've got and every time I went off road on it wished I was on my cross bike which would have been so much quicker except on extreme rocky downhill. A cross bike isn't a compromise - but all you need for most of the time.

Note: the steel genesis is very heavy - can't see the point of a steel cross bike (and generally I ride steel road bikes) and you can't fix guards to the Trek X0s as there's no rear chainstay bridge (or wasnt last year)

SpinningJenny

HonestAl, montydog and billy whippet - thank you all. I first read that cross bikes were a rubbish compromise, but then thought about it a little and decided to disagree - firmly! Ass long as I have a list of things that I need, plus another list of what would be nice to have and think about it properly, I should be able to get hold of the bike that works for me.

Interesting that you mention the South Downs way, monty - living where I do, I am itching to attack that as my next big challenge, once I've done my 60 miler in June! I reckon a cross bike would be perfect for that kind of thing!

Right. Off to covet yet more bikes... 8)

star_rover

Monty Dog wrote:

To say that a cross bike is a compromise has clearly been written by someone whose never ridden one and spent their time wallowing around on an MTB. I've just acquired my second cross bike - a carbon Kuota and it's an absolute rocket - on and off road. On road, the front end and BB is a little higher and so handling is slightly different from a fast road bike - but still very stable and safe. Offroad, it's a blast - no power loss from bouncy suspension or wallowy fat tyres - apart from really technical downhills, it loses very little to MTBs and leaves them for dead on uphills and fire roads. I bought mine as an all-rounder - it will run 'guards and fat road tyres for training or 5 minutes later, it's an easy swap to some cross tyres. When the bridleways dry out over summer to hardpack, I can get out over the Hampshire downs and probably looks to do the South Downs Way in a 1-day blast. Most cross bikes these days come with bottle cage mounts, rack and mudguard bosses as many people appreciate their versatility. If I could have only one bike out of the 6, it would probably be this one.

I've ridden plenty of cross bikes, I just tend to think they are best used for what they are designed for, which is racing cyclocross. Though I agree they are pretty verstatile too. The OPs description read more like she'd be better off with a tourer/audax bike, but I suppose there are a lot more cross bikes readily available these days which is why so many folk are considering them.

SpinningJenny

And this is exactly why I'm picking all of your brains! I'm humming and haa-ing as we speak!

(Or write, even).

Bearing in mind that I am no expert, will most likely buy another bike at some point (oh yes!) and am not in the league of those of you who are ultra-competitive, I doubt right now that I will feel let-down if I buy a cross instead of a road/tourer/audax bike.

I will just be very happy and proud of my shiny, new girl (I mean bike)!

billy whippet

at the end of the day, the shortcomings of a cross bike (for your purposes) are FAR outweighed by their benefits, and frankly, don't think you'll even notice their supposed shortcomings on road for your purposes - which is basically 1 - they are slightly stiffer than road bikes. With 28c tyres (for touring etc) the stiffness becomes irrelevant. Weight? you can get one as light as a road/touring bike. Guards and Cage? You can get one with guards and bottle cage. Brakes? Cantis are absolutely fine for what you're suggesting.Position? The slightly more upright position is very comfortable for spending all day in the saddle if you wish...I do thousands and thousands of miles on cross bikes each year - commuting, winter training (in hilly places (use a fixie generally)), etc... and love the fact that I can run such a range of tyres and ride across such varied terrain, if I wish... or do the odd cross race. Just make sure you don't get a heavy one - I've got three, and each time i've bought another one, it's because i've wanted something lighter... went from Kona Jake to Jake the Snake to scandium framed Major Jake (which is just great)