Cycling to work on cyclocross bike - advice needed
Discussion
Wondering if anybody out there might be able to give me some advice!!
I cycle to work most days which is a 26 mile round trip, mostly on the road, with 6 or so miles of it over wooded tracks that get quite wet/muddy in the winter. Earlier this year I bought a Genesis Croix De Fer which is great. In the summer I decided I wanted to get into work more quickly so I bought a Bianchi C2C carbon road bike which is fantastic. However, I don't want to use this through the winter as the bridle tracks will kill it. I've started to use the Genesis again but in comparison to the Bianchi it is so heavy and slow.
What I am wondering is, does anybody know have any experience of a dedicated cyclocross bike that might be lighter and a bit faster than the Genesis? The idea being that I would keep the Bianchi for the summer and stick a set of mudguards and slicker tyres on a cyclocross bike and flog the Genesis. I've already put slicks on the Genesis but it is still too heavy and slow. Perhaps I am asking for something that doesn't exist!?
Any advice greatly received.
I cycle to work most days which is a 26 mile round trip, mostly on the road, with 6 or so miles of it over wooded tracks that get quite wet/muddy in the winter. Earlier this year I bought a Genesis Croix De Fer which is great. In the summer I decided I wanted to get into work more quickly so I bought a Bianchi C2C carbon road bike which is fantastic. However, I don't want to use this through the winter as the bridle tracks will kill it. I've started to use the Genesis again but in comparison to the Bianchi it is so heavy and slow.
What I am wondering is, does anybody know have any experience of a dedicated cyclocross bike that might be lighter and a bit faster than the Genesis? The idea being that I would keep the Bianchi for the summer and stick a set of mudguards and slicker tyres on a cyclocross bike and flog the Genesis. I've already put slicks on the Genesis but it is still too heavy and slow. Perhaps I am asking for something that doesn't exist!?
Any advice greatly received.
There seems to be two different cross camps these days. There's the traditional Cyclo Cross camp which is light, race orientated but with studded tyres, lower gears, clearence, cantilever brakes etc. Then there seems to be the newer take on Cross bikes which is amimed more at a do it all machince, sort of a hybrid with dropped bars.
I like the look of the Genesis, but was suprised at my LBS by the weight of it too.
I think that if you take a good look around and get a more race focus cross bike you'll find it may suit the bill more. It'll be like your road bike but capable on the tracks too. The kenesis crosslight is a good call as it's designed to be a cross race frame. I've been looking recently and for a great price I liked the idea of the Giant TCX2. Looks like a good spec and weight for the money.
Like any bike though, go and take a look, check the weight and try to ride it.
HTH
I like the look of the Genesis, but was suprised at my LBS by the weight of it too.
I think that if you take a good look around and get a more race focus cross bike you'll find it may suit the bill more. It'll be like your road bike but capable on the tracks too. The kenesis crosslight is a good call as it's designed to be a cross race frame. I've been looking recently and for a great price I liked the idea of the Giant TCX2. Looks like a good spec and weight for the money.
Like any bike though, go and take a look, check the weight and try to ride it.
HTH
Keeping it in the Genesis family, what about a Vapour? Unsure it it'd save much weight but I'd guess simply being aluminium instead of steel would make it lighter.
I previously commuted on a Genesis Vapour and found it almost perfect. Only punted it on in favour of my current Cotic Roadrat as I wanted disc brakes due to the muddiness of some sections of my commute (and cycling into work through proper snow/ice...). The Cotic is probably slower but on the other hand is far more comfortable, which is something to consider if you're used to the way yout Croix de Fer rides...
I previously commuted on a Genesis Vapour and found it almost perfect. Only punted it on in favour of my current Cotic Roadrat as I wanted disc brakes due to the muddiness of some sections of my commute (and cycling into work through proper snow/ice...). The Cotic is probably slower but on the other hand is far more comfortable, which is something to consider if you're used to the way yout Croix de Fer rides...
Rob_T said:
I bought a vapour a couple of months ago for my commute. 8 miles each way on road, paths, bridleways and hills. Slapped on mudguards, rack and it's perfect. Alu frame plus carbon forks. Highly recommended apart from conti speed kings which I changed as I kept getting flats.
have you tried slime inners, with extra slime guards inside the tyres. i commuted 10 miles on broken glass, rough canal paths and never had a problem.The Spruce goose said:
have you tried slime inners, with extra slime guards inside the tyres. i commuted 10 miles on broken glass, rough canal paths and never had a problem.
I went back to the shop and complained the tyres weren't fit for purpose. To the shops credit they were very understanding and gave me half price on a pair of bontrager tyres with some sort of reinforcement. They haven't had a single puncture since. Also on closer inspection the contis had worn down unbelievably quickly. The bobbled were about 1/3worn after a month!To get a light Cross bike or any light bike you will need to spend high. I have a Crosslight with Dur-ace, Easton wheels and carbon bars, seat post etc, lighter than many road bikes, love it. I use it for commuting, but obviously put a lot of miles on it and wear out out expensive running gear. Too good to commute on really. So the bike you want does exist at a price. Keep the "heavy" Genesis and think of it a training bike. You'll feel the difference when you jump on your Bianchi.
Gnarlybluesurf said:
It makes me laugh to myself, As I had a Specialized Allez without mods, I used to take up Cannock Chase on MTB trails , the only problem was when it was wet and the tyres( slicks) sunk into the mud. Elsewhere it was a solid bike, and that cost £450.The Spruce goose said:
Gnarlybluesurf said:
It makes me laugh to myself, As I had a Specialized Allez without mods, I used to take up Cannock Chase on MTB trails , the only problem was when it was wet and the tyres( slicks) sunk into the mud. Elsewhere it was a solid bike, and that cost £450.Even IF the frame was compatible it'd still cost you more to upgrade your basic model today to a comparable.... Bike prices have gone up so not really sure what the point is other than you can take a road bike around a MTB track which is ok but not great in the wet... Hence the need for larger tyres and disc brakes / A Cyclocross Bike....
Gnarlybluesurf said:
So that'll be because it didn't have the clearance for bigger tyres and disc brakes..... That IS the main difference between a road and Cyclocross bike hence why there are Mods.... Specialized Allez is £800 now ( http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/al... )
Even IF the frame was compatible it'd still cost you more to upgrade your basic model today to a comparable.... Bike prices have gone up so not really sure what the point is other than you can take a road bike around a MTB track which is ok but not great in the wet... Hence the need for larger tyres and disc brakes / A Cyclocross Bike....
Mine was a Allez sport but I also had an elite. The point I make is really you could upgrade an existing bike pretty easily. Disk brakes not really needed, just fork and inners, tyres. I actually used my bike without mods for a long time. My MTB is also pretty loose in the wet, but that adds to the fun.Even IF the frame was compatible it'd still cost you more to upgrade your basic model today to a comparable.... Bike prices have gone up so not really sure what the point is other than you can take a road bike around a MTB track which is ok but not great in the wet... Hence the need for larger tyres and disc brakes / A Cyclocross Bike....
Cyclocross is just a marketing term. My point was I have been cyclocrossing for 15 + years before the term came about using existing bikes types with no major issues. But each to there own, I was just saying an existing bike could be an option, if you wanted to not waste money on niche product.
Cyclocross is pointless word as Sports SUV is to cars.
The Spruce goose said:
Mine was a Allez sport but I also had an elite. The point I make is really you could upgrade an existing bike pretty easily. Disk brakes not really needed, just fork and inners, tyres. I actually used my bike without mods for a long time. My MTB is also pretty loose in the wet, but that adds to the fun.
Cyclocross is just a marketing term. My point was I have been cyclocrossing for 15 + years before the term came about using existing bikes types with no major issues. But each to there own, I was just saying an existing bike could be an option, if you wanted to not waste money on niche product.
Cyclocross is pointless word as Sports SUV is to cars.
Even with a new fork that fits and new tyres you still wouldn't be able to get the rear wheel clearance for a larger tyre just the front... so you'd spend an extra £100+ for a bike that still isn't as good and it still wouldn't help the OP with reducing the weight of his Genesis...Cyclocross is just a marketing term. My point was I have been cyclocrossing for 15 + years before the term came about using existing bikes types with no major issues. But each to there own, I was just saying an existing bike could be an option, if you wanted to not waste money on niche product.
Cyclocross is pointless word as Sports SUV is to cars.
In terms of Cyclocross being pointless... I'd argue the opposite with the advent of full carbon MTB & Cyclocross frames with disc brakes together with road bikes already weighing in less than the UCI limit... it is the road bike in its current form that will become pointless.... Afterall why would you choose non-disc brakes if the weight made no difference... Would you choose inferior braking power on a car out of choice?
It must be said that modern racing bikes are way stiffer than even fairly-serious mountain bikes were ten to fifteen years ago. Example: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-Specialized-Stumpju... - would have been a decent chunk of money new and its owner would have been happy to bounce up over rocks and trails... but my Scott hybrid is built from girders by comparison (and is still probably lighter).
Thought I better update this...
After a lot of thought I decided to bite the bullet and bought a 2011 Cannondale SuperX Ultegra in Berserker Green. Blew my budget a bit but it should last me a long time. Managed to save a few quid and bought a bike from this year rather than a 2012 model.
My initial impressions are its very light - that's about it at the moment. It didn't come with any pedals and the saddle is very uncomfortable so I am waiting for new ones (105 pedals and a Charge spoon saddle) to arrive in the post. I've also swapped the stem for a shorter 80mm Ritchey one and stuck a Thompson 400mm inline seatpost on it.
All the bits I have swapped and the Genesis are going to be stuck on ebay to recoup some of my money. I'll stick some pics up of it when I've got it how I want it.
Cheers for all the replies and help!
After a lot of thought I decided to bite the bullet and bought a 2011 Cannondale SuperX Ultegra in Berserker Green. Blew my budget a bit but it should last me a long time. Managed to save a few quid and bought a bike from this year rather than a 2012 model.
My initial impressions are its very light - that's about it at the moment. It didn't come with any pedals and the saddle is very uncomfortable so I am waiting for new ones (105 pedals and a Charge spoon saddle) to arrive in the post. I've also swapped the stem for a shorter 80mm Ritchey one and stuck a Thompson 400mm inline seatpost on it.
All the bits I have swapped and the Genesis are going to be stuck on ebay to recoup some of my money. I'll stick some pics up of it when I've got it how I want it.
Cheers for all the replies and help!
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