Should i buy a cyclocross bike?

marge602

Hi folks. During the winter months i currently ride a Giant FCR and my MTB(if it's really bad, snow and ice etc), which is an old-school carbon Trek. I'm wondering if it makes more sense to sell both and get an entry level 'crosser instead.

My thinking is this: when it's really slippery the skinny slicks on the FCR make me nervous, and i hardly ride off-road anymore and only on fast dirt tracks when i do. When the weather is better i can ride my summer road bike, and just using the Trek on the road seems a bit of a waste.

Does anyone use a CX bike for the conditions i've described? It seems to me to be an ideal bike to use, and i'd have one less bike to store/insure. I'm thinking about a Giant TCX(not the carbon one!), Kona Jake, Spesh Tricross, that sort of thing.

Regards

Marge

Monty Dog

I have two cross bikes - a 17lb carbon job for racing and a ti single speed with discs for everything else - I sold my MTB a few years ago but I didn't use it - it was sluggish & heavy and my crosser could go practically everywhere anyway, but a whole lot quicker - You'll also become a better bike-handler because you need to be more accurate with your lines, smoother with your pedalling and you'll be better at responding to slippery conditions. The downside is that if you're not fit, the higher gearing will make it harder - there's no 'granny gear' option, you have to get out the saddle and give it some welly or walk. A cross bike reminds me of the fun I used to have with my first MTB - unless you're into freeride or DH, suspension for most is superfluous anyway.

spasypaddy

having had mine a week now id say yes and no.

it will depend on the gearing you run and whether you have a secondary set of tyres/wheels for road use. Im currently running a cross chainset and 32mm knobblies and it is substantially harder and slower than my road bike.

when i take it into the fields and stuff it flies and is great fun though.

cooper.michael1

Cross bikes are fantastic, I've got a planet x uncle john, very versatile, can ride it in all conditions with 32c tyres, but put on a pair of 23c road tyres and it is nearly as quick as the pinarello dogma it replaced.

I'm looking at buying a cotic x to built up with basic equipment to use as a new commuter bike.

mortozola

Like you I have a summer bike but have used a CX for the last two winters (and occasional summer offroad rides). I have a hardtail MTB that hasnt moved since I got the CX!

During the winter the CX gets used on road with slick tyres and the same rear cassette as my summer road bike (athough note the chainrings will likely be smaller), or when conditions are snowy or icey on road I put the knobblies on and slightly bigger gearing for off road stuff. I certainly lose ground on the technical bits but generally the CX seems quicker for standard XC riding that I do and as others have said it certainly makes you concentrate on your lines.

The CX makes a good winter bike (with slicks on) as they seem more robust and dont offer too different a ride than a road bike. Slightly slower and a bit heavier but winter is supposed to be hard! It can also offer a winter night alternative training session in open fields or parks with no risk of meeting cars.

Frank the tank

I recently bought my first cross bike, a merida cross3 entry level job. I've been cycling for about 15years and can't understand why it's taken me so long given I used to race cross on an MTB.

Get one they're versatile, practical and FUN.

wiffachip

in a word, yes, yes, yes

just so versatile

can highly recommend the Bianchi ( cheap one )

AndyF16

Just to jump the thread, would the cross frame I have on order with Shorty 4 brakes and Fulcrum 7 wheels be ok with 25c tyres? Sorry if it's a divvy question but it won't arrive until late Spring so I was thinking of keeping the 32c cross tyres for autumn

harkmeadow

I got the 2010 Kona Jake couple of months ago and well chuffed with it. http://www.rutlandcycling.com/16533/Kon ... n=pid16533

Guards on with old Mavic Askiums great winter bike, and when you want to go off road still got the CX wheels. Do it!

marge602

Wow, so many replies and all positive. I thought it seemed like a good idea, and all of you agree. I've only ever ridden one CX bike and that was on the road, so i'm gonna try to find one i can test off road too, before i sell both bikes and end up kicking myself.

Thanks

Marge

FransJacques

From this and most threads I think we can all agree that they're extremely versatile. Best thing you can do is get two sets of wheels - one with your fave summer tyres for fast riding (PR3 or Conits) in 23mm or 25mm to make them more versatile.

Plus, to get the best out of the CX platform your obviously need some 35mm knobbies for off-road riding. I show up on mine for a fast XC MTB ride that takes place most Saturday's in the North Downs and I suffer a bit vis a vis the MTBs on the downhills but like it on the flats and up hills.

Don't worry too much about tyre sizes vs rim sizes. I know there's a lot of conventional wisdom around forcing us to worry about compatability but if you do some market research you'll find a lot of road wheels on CX bikes - Aksiums, Fulcrum 5s and 7s, Easton EA50s, etc. If you're worried about blow-off - when you first mount the tyres inflate them to 100psi (without riding them) and see if any of the bead is creeping over the rim wall.

All regular caveats about looking for the braze-ons for 2 water bottles and mudguards apply. CX bikes vary a lot more than road bikes in intent and set up.