Specialized tricross vs crosstrail

ChickyChick

Hi all, I'm looking for some advice. I'm looking to buy a cyclocross bike for a spot of winter road training with the odd sustrans gravel track type thing thrown in for good measure. I think I'll be getting the tri cross or a boardman cx but what I really want to know,is are cyclocross bikes down geared from Road bikes? Is the specialized crosstrail geared more like a roadie/cx bike or more like an mtb. My husband wants to get a bike to join me but he isn't so keen on the dropped bars of a cx bike so maybe the crosstrail is the one but he is worried its geared more like an mtb and I'll be pulling away on the road with superior gearing while he is spinning away like a loon to keep up. So advice and suggestions on the gearing of these things please!!!

carrock

Specialized Tricross isnt a cyclocross bike- or at least the 2013 one isnt. It's listed as a tourer/freeroad.

They do however, do a cyclocross bike- I have just bought a Crux Elite disc. It weighs a lot less than a tricross, and has typical 36/46 cross gearing, with a 11/28 cassette.

http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/ ... tediscapex

I have bought my wife one the same. Advantage of dropped bars is you can move hand positions, whereas on the cross trail you'd be stuck with one position. Gearing for crosstrail and crux is similar but a cyclocross bike will be quicker and nicer to ride than a crosstrail

ChickyChick

Thanks for your reply. The Crux looks good! I hadnt considered that. I'm definitely looking for the dropped bars though so thats something to think about. I doubt I'll get him on drops though so he is still after something hybrid style with similar gearing to keep pace with me :0)

passout

Have a look at the Boardman hybrids for him.