Any thoughts on the Specialized Tri-Cross?

[Rotaree]

Hi folks - first time in this forum so I hope you can help me out! I'm just getting back into commuting to work by bike again. It's about 15 miles each way over Cornish back lanes, very scenic but prone to pot holes, mucky roads, standing water and a couple of pretty steep hills. I used to do the journey a few years ago on a very old road bike or a fairly old mountain bike; the road bike was too high geared for one of the hills and the mountain bike was bit low geared for the faster sections. Having been to my local bike shop the very helpful chap there has suggested a Specialized Tri-Cross but, knowing pretty much nothing about bikes, I have no idea whether or not it would be any good or whether there might be something more suitable. Can anybody help me out - I guess I should add that I'm 43, 5' 11", reasonably fit (although expecting to get fitter!) Any thoughts on other essential equipment or about commuting in general also gratefully accepted.

[Rotaree]

I'll take that as a 'no' then!

[mat205125]

I left this for someone more in the know to reply to to be honest.

If I lived in the kind of hilly cornish region that it sounds like you do, I'd be shopping for an MTB every time. Then again, I am a recreational cyclist only .... I'd love to be able to commute, but 40 miles each way kind of takes the p!ss a little every day.

Is the bike you write about one of them hybid things? If it's for commuting and nothing else then that seems sensible, however if you might want the occasional off road day out, I'd get an MTB and a pair of slicks for commuting.

[Rotaree]

Thanks Matt THIS is the bike I'm talking about - it does look as though as it's a good all-rounder but I was just seeing if anyone knew better.

[wildoliver]

I like that bike!!!

[mat205125]

That does look quite cool to be honest as a compomise between road and off road.

[pdV6]

Rotaree said:

Thanks Matt THIS is the bike I'm talking about - it does look as though as it's a good all-rounder but I was just seeing if anyone knew better.

It looks just about perfect for the use you describe; not a huge amount of use in winter off-road conditions but that's not what you want it for.

[g_stacey]

I commute on my Crosslight (cyclo cross) bike 17 miles each way. Have a choice of using my Specialized Allez Comp road bike or Specialized M5 MTB with 700c wheels. I never use the road bike. My journey from south london into the centre of London has many potholed roads, the road bikes tyres are too hard and skinny for this journey. The cross bike is as light as the road bike and fitted with fatter tyres is more comfortable. Lots of people commute on crossers, there tougher than road bikes, more comfortable, a good choice. Plus if you see an interesting bridle way or path you can use that. Last autumn rode from St Ives to Lands End, Penzance and back round to St Ives nice loop, very hilly, liked it, wish my commute was that.



PS Occassionly when I'm feeling masochistic I'll use my singlespeed.

[g_stacey]

name said:

not a huge amount of use in winter off-road conditions but that's not what you want it for

Thats what Cross bikes are designed for. Winter racing. Love whooping mtb boys off road! Plus whooping road bikes on the road!

G

[pdV6]

g_stacey said:

pdV6 said:

not a huge amount of use in winter off-road conditions but that's not what you want it for

Thats what Cross bikes are designed for. Winter racing. Love whooping mtb boys off road! Plus whooping road bikes on the road!

G

On the right sort of course I suppose

[Neil_Bolton]

g_stacey said:

name said:

not a huge amount of use in winter off-road conditions but that's not what you want it for

Thats what Cross bikes are designed for. Winter racing. Love whooping mtb boys off road! Plus whooping road bikes on the road!

G

Riiiiight. Your the one doing MegaAvalanche on your cross-bike this year then, seeing as your bike is so killer?

Honestly, you lot don't help youselves sometimes - the only reason why you beat a lot of XC and DHers is that they are not as fit. I've lost count of the amount of XC races won just by being super fit, yet point those super-fit XC winning riders down even the slightest of gnarly track, and they get off and walk.

I remember being moaned at in a Cheddar Challenge for riding too fast past all the XCers on the XC race downhill through Witches wood and the Devils drop - You what? its a ferking race for gawds sake - if you can't make it down, get off the track, likewise, I'll move over when you want to get past on the uphill...

Edited by Neil_Bolton on Tuesday 27th March 14:21

[Nick_F]

Cornish roads aren't that bad, are they?

A road or cyclocross bike with a triple chainset should do you just fine - why push fat tyres around and restrict yourself to 30mph just for the sake of it?

[snotrag]

The Tricross is a great bike, sold a few in my time. It aint an off-road bike, more a triple hard, ultra usable road bike. Really good to ride, can hammer along but without the fragility of a road racer.

For commuting on rough roads and gravelly paths then its brilliant. I'd love something similar soon, as a Mtb'er theres a high chance I would smash a regular road bike to bits.

Neil - right with you there! Sometimes I wish I could show these roadies what 'off-road' really means!

(Calm down roadies, I'm only jibing, I'm not one of these anti-road bike nazi's!)

[Rotaree]

Thanks for the replies - it looks as though the guy in the shop was right and the Tri-cross is the way to go.

Nick_F said:

Cornish roads aren't that bad, are they?

They're not always that bad but they do become more like mud tracks in the spring during the daffodil picking season which certainly made for some interesting riding on my old road bike!