new to riding & looking for bike number 2.

geordiefella

so, I need a road bike. I've got a 700c hybrid. Its fairly fast. i think a cyclocross would suit me year round because of being able to use winter stud / knobbly tyres too. (hybrid is limited to 700c as i have a rohloff on the back so i couldn't swap it for 26" easily for wintery riding. (i ride every day to work 30miles)

would this be poor sportive geometry or should it be for short / rough riding only. it's just that a regular road bike would be less robust for my regular riding which sometimes includes paths.

I've signed up for the ride across britain though. i guess a road bike would be faster. could i just switch the wheels though?

experienced advice very welcome. probably only have enough money for one or the other.

thanks roadies...

Dave

Chirg

The 700c rims you have on the Bad Boy should be good for tyre widths from 28 - 47mm, but is there something else that means you can't use wide tyres on the bike (e.g. the frame)?

Bearing in mind 700c studded winter tyres are around 32-35mm, how wide a tyre do you want to go for?

geordiefella

Well, the clearance for cx 35mm tyres isn't enough for the top of the fork. Wheel won't roll. I'd need to put a set of 26" on the bike, but the rear wheel has rohloff internal hub, which would cost 900 quid for a 26in second wheel. May as well have a new bike for that, or a twice yearly rebuild.

I need a road bike of sorts anyway for 2010 training for the 9 day back to back sportives. Its just weather to get cx or road.

I'll keep toot for a used rohloff anyway in the meantime.

geordiefella

Well, the clearance for cx 35mm tyres isn't enough for the top of the fork. Wheel won't roll. I'd need to put a set of 26" on the bike, but the rear wheel has rohloff internal hub, which would cost 900 quid for a 26in second wheel. May as well have a new bike for that, or a twice yearly rebuild.

I need a road bike of sorts anyway for 2010 training for the 9 day back to back sportives. Its just weather to get cx or road.

I'll keep toot for a used rohloff anyway in the meantime. I wonder if I could run the rear as a single speed?

Chirg

Typical differences between a cyclocross (CX) and road bike are:
- Weight (CX bike is heavier)
- Bottle mounts (most CX bikes don't have any)
- Gearing (CX bike has lower gearing)
- Frame geometry (CX bikes have higher bottom brackets and more upright positions. CX bikes aren't 'compact geometry' unlike many road bikes)
- Wheels clearance (as you state you can run wider tyres on a CX bike)
- Brakes (cantilever verse V)
- Choice (many more road bikes than CX bikes)

Of course there are exceptions to all of the above!