What are the major differences between a Cyclocross bike and a true road bike?

[MMcG]

I'm shopping with my girlfriend to find a good deal on a used road bike and today I came across a really nice looking Trek Cyclocross bike for about $400 - the bike looks mint in the photos.

What are the major differences between a CX bike and a true road bike other than the obvious (knobby tires, mtb derailleurs and such) items?

Would/Could a CX bike make for a good firt time road bike for someone looking to get into road riding at a casual/recreational/charity ride level?

Here's a link to the bike in question: http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/66954798.html

Thanks.

Mark

[Heidi]

Yes, lots of people here in town have one bike for road and cyclocross...nothing wrong with that unless you are going to race. You can just use a less aggressive tire.

[douglas]

shorter top tubes

[-dustin]

bb height, tire clearance, and angles.

not sure if it'd make a good first time road bike, but i sure would like to do that; use a CX frame and build it up for road use. good commuter material, in my opinion.

that bar + brake hood position looks painful.

[Mackie]

What are the major differences between a CX bike and a true road bike other than the obvious (knobby tires, mtb derailleurs and such) items?

Generally:
1) a higher BB
2) Canti bosses, instead of road brake bosses
3) longer chainstays (not always though)
4) a bit beefier, so typically heavier.

I use my Cross bike as a road bike all the time, and I'll be doing a 40 mile ride and a 50 mile ride on it this season, so yeah, they work for charity stuff.

That Trek looks nice Mark, and lots of folks are happy with bar-end shifters, but if it's primary use is riad riding, i'd suggest an upgrade to some STI brifters.

[douglas]

click on geometry & compare the 2

http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Specialty_Bikes/Cyclocross/XO_1/index.php

http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Road/Comfort_Road/Alpha_Aluminum/1200C/index.php

[MMcG]

yeah those shifters don't look to user friendly for someone just getting into a road bike.

It would be cool as hell to get Laura a bike for her birthday on the 28th of this Month.

[Wumpus]

Actually, I think a Xbike would make an excellent first time road bike. The HT angle is more relaxed so it won't be quite as twitchy.

I just did a 56 mile road ride on mine. I don't really need or want to get a 'real' road bike.

[Wumpus]

that bar + brake hood position looks painful.

:stupid:

[MMcG]

so most cx bikes come with those funky shifters though? I don't understand those shifters? They look like a PITA to use.

[MMcG]

:stupid:


Can you guys elaborate? Are the bars too high or something?

[Heidi]

I don't see whats wrong with those shifters??????

[Wumpus]

Can you guys elaborate? Are the bars too high or something?


Ideally the bars should be nearly flat(15* or less) from the top bend to the top of the hood. The angle those bars are at are going to put the wrists in a funky, uncomfortable angle.

[Wumpus]

I don't see whats wrong with those shifters??????

A few rides to get used to them and they will be fine.

[Mackie]

so most cx bikes come with those funky shifters though? I don't understand those shifters? They look like a PITA to use.

Bar end shifters are cheap & super reliable. Lots of people use them & love them & they never break. This makes them useful for cross. But brifters really are the way to go on a road bike - it's nice to never have to come off of the hoods or ouit of the hooks just to shift. And now most new cross bikes come with brifters anyway. The thing is - they are not cheap to add later - even a set of 105s will set you back $140 or more.....

[MMcG]

gotcha. Man I don't know squat about road bikes. Can someone provide some links to some good reliable and durable road bikes we should keep our eyes out for? :help:

[Mackie]

gotcha. Man I don't know squat about road bikes. Can someone provide some links to some good reliable and durable road bikes we should keep our eyes out for? :help:

Well - it's the old question - what are you looking to spend?

[MMcG]

Well - it's the old question - what are you looking to spend?

I'd say about $500 max right about now give or take a few here and there.

[Heidi]

Giant has some great beginner road bikes. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for my first road bike, a Giant OCR1. I got it on a closeout sale and it was a great bike. It took so much of a beating, thousands of training mileage, thousands of commuting mileage....never a problem. I'm not sure what they are running $ wise these days, but check Performance for sales.

[MMcG]

Giant has some great beginner road bikes. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for my first road bike, a Giant OCR1. I got it on a closeout sale and it was a great bike. It took so much of a beating, thousands of training mileage, thousands of commuting mileage....never a problem. I'm not sure what they are running $ wise these days, but check Performance for sales.

We don't have any Performance shops near us.

[Mackie]

I'd say about $500 max right about now give or take a few here and there.

So used if you want to get reasonable components.
I like the Specialized bikes - a used Allez can be a nice ride and Giant TCR bikes are a good value new. A year or 2 old TCR should be in your budget.

I was looking hard at cheap used road bikes (but ended up with a cross bike). Basically, fit is the 100% most important thing, followed by componets. Look for 105 brifters & derailluers minimum.

Good luck!

[Heidi]

We don't have any Performance shops near us.

But if you can find any shop and try one out, you can order one online from Performance...just a suggestion.

[splat]

I don't see whats wrong with those shifters??????

there is nothing wrong with those shifters!!!

I have them on my tandem, there awesome

[MMcG]

But if you can find any shop and try one out, you can order one online from Performance...just a suggestion.


We've tried out some Treks and Specialized women's specific. On the Trek she fit a 52 really well and on the Specialized women's specific frame she fit a 54 really well - but those bikes were pretty damned pricey.

At least we have a size range to focus in on though.

I went to roadbikereview.com to look into their classifieds - but almost all of the used bikes there are still mucho denero.

[bigevilgrape]

I use bar end shifters on my heavy nasty weather, nasty road, comuter, hitting up the grocery store and gas is too expensive to drive bike... which is built on a cross frame. i love it, and they don't break unlike STI. my cross bike is a tank and will take anything i throw at it.


ohhh and i tend to have my hoods down lower on the bars then most males because its easier for my hands to reach the breaks from the drops that way. not *that* far down tho.

[douglas]

How's this look

http://www.tommasobikes.com/models_capri.htm

$500 at rscycles

[MMcG]

How's this look

http://www.tommasobikes.com/models_capri.htm

$500 at rscycles


When I click on that link it says either $800 or $900 :confused:

[douglas]

When I click on that link it says either $800 or $900 :confused:



http://www.rscycle.com/s.nl/sc.7/category.53/it.A/id.6481/.f

[elf 232]

mainly just the tires

[Wumpus]

mainly just the tires

So you dig up a two year old thread and contribute absolutely nothing. Brilliant.