Cyclocross bikes
Discussion
I know this is a bit of an open ended question, but how much of a compromise are CCross bikes vs hybrids/on road.
Basically I'm looking for a bike that'll be used for onroad/towpaths/maybe a bit of offroad but nothing remotely serious. Firstly it'll be commuting a few miles each way. My previous hybrid was OK (although I could have done with front sus) but if I wanted to ride more on roads than tow paths is there an advantage to a CCross bike? Or are they more Offroad?
A hybrid would appear to be best but this has piqued my interest a little...
Basically I'm looking for a bike that'll be used for onroad/towpaths/maybe a bit of offroad but nothing remotely serious. Firstly it'll be commuting a few miles each way. My previous hybrid was OK (although I could have done with front sus) but if I wanted to ride more on roads than tow paths is there an advantage to a CCross bike? Or are they more Offroad?
A hybrid would appear to be best but this has piqued my interest a little...
I thought Cyclocross was a crazy sport for people who thought it was fun to try an navigate an MTB course on a road bike?
If you need front suspension then your already so far away from a cyclocross spec it's not worth bothering.
Seriously though, my only comment or experience on cyclo-cross is an old friend who did it in the 80's. He maintained that cyclocross was a mud event not an off road event. Basically the bikes were configured to have maximum brake clearance with largest tires available that would work in the mud. Not negotiating rocks and roots on a rough trail.
Cannondale Badboy Ultra would seem to suit this spec (disc brakes + front sus) The tires on a cyclo would be crap on road as well
If you need front suspension then your already so far away from a cyclocross spec it's not worth bothering.
Seriously though, my only comment or experience on cyclo-cross is an old friend who did it in the 80's. He maintained that cyclocross was a mud event not an off road event. Basically the bikes were configured to have maximum brake clearance with largest tires available that would work in the mud. Not negotiating rocks and roots on a rough trail.
Cannondale Badboy Ultra would seem to suit this spec (disc brakes + front sus) The tires on a cyclo would be crap on road as well
Edited by OneDs on Tuesday 20th April 12:37
i would hunt for a classic steel kona as the geometry is so suited to comfort and commuting. its a really nice upright position but with a good length top tube that suits almost anything. you should get away with rigid forks, again on a kona the project 2 forks just seemed ot have a tiny degree of flex in them that made off road riding fun. something similar from GT would be a good alternative.
crossers are built for cyclo-cross and using it for anything else is a compromise, if you dont plan on racing in cyclocross, buy somehting that is designed for what you want but capable of other stuff rather than ride something doesigned for a purpose that you are not using it or (does that make sense?!)
cc bikes are quite twitchy and riding one off road is a real challenge due to the tyres and the width of the bars. you need reactions of a ninja and a lot of stamina. cc races are in all sense, an hour(ish) long sprint and the terrain is normally far worse than tow paths. think bridlepaths and mud, there is a reason why the national championhips are held in march!.....
crossers are built for cyclo-cross and using it for anything else is a compromise, if you dont plan on racing in cyclocross, buy somehting that is designed for what you want but capable of other stuff rather than ride something doesigned for a purpose that you are not using it or (does that make sense?!)
cc bikes are quite twitchy and riding one off road is a real challenge due to the tyres and the width of the bars. you need reactions of a ninja and a lot of stamina. cc races are in all sense, an hour(ish) long sprint and the terrain is normally far worse than tow paths. think bridlepaths and mud, there is a reason why the national championhips are held in march!.....
Cheers to both of you, ironically, the bike I had stolen was a Kona Smoke 2 so that fits with what you suggest.
I did think that the front sus thing would immediately make CC a bit stupid but putting more thought into it, I think I found it OK.
I'll have a look at the Badboy...was also looking Boardman hybrid and Voodoo..
Cheers for the info guys!
I did think that the front sus thing would immediately make CC a bit stupid but putting more thought into it, I think I found it OK.
I'll have a look at the Badboy...was also looking Boardman hybrid and Voodoo..
Cheers for the info guys!
Word up dr tre 
I bought this last month.
What a laugh!
Use it everyday for my commute,8 miles each way (road)
I take it to sherwood pines trail cente,breezes over singletrack.
On sunday just gone i did 71 miles in the peaks,70% off road no trouble at all.
Only trouble with it is my voodoo tends to stay in the garage
It`s got me hooked on cx bikes.
I bought this last month.
What a laugh!
Use it everyday for my commute,8 miles each way (road)
I take it to sherwood pines trail cente,breezes over singletrack.
On sunday just gone i did 71 miles in the peaks,70% off road no trouble at all.
Only trouble with it is my voodoo tends to stay in the garage
It`s got me hooked on cx bikes.
CX bikes are awesome. A mate of mine rides his around yer' usual Welsh trail centres (rocks, rocks, rocks!), and doesn't f*ck about. And then he'll go and bang in a good, fast road ride the following day...
For the useage you describe (roads, towpaths, eventually excursion of-road) they'll be ideal.
For the useage you describe (roads, towpaths, eventually excursion of-road) they'll be ideal.
thanks v much.. sort of... thats 2 against (kinda) and three pro! i'm indecisive at the best of times!
The cannondale is a bit pricey for me tbh but i take your point about riding position. not having ridden a c-cross bike i don't know...food for thought..might try and track down some people that have got one...
Genuine thanks to you all, this is much appreciated info for a newbie.
The cannondale is a bit pricey for me tbh but i take your point about riding position. not having ridden a c-cross bike i don't know...food for thought..might try and track down some people that have got one...
Genuine thanks to you all, this is much appreciated info for a newbie.
Well that's what internet forums are for, giving every possible answer and flavour to a question. In reality it's down to personal preference and how good you can be on a cyclo, if your good enough you could probably run a track focused single speed up TdF col, Hell I even saw a you tube vid of someone wheelie'ing up one. Anyone who can do a committed proper MTB trail on a cyclo-cross is seriously gifted.
Edited by OneDs on Tuesday 20th April 22:47
i'm, how can i put it... crap.
But was interested in the thoughts, like you say it's the benefit of the web.
Will put some thought into it, the more I think about it the less I'm inclined to go anywhere down teh MTB route and having read the road bike thread...hmm...
but again, I'm a newbie so the reality of me being able to ride a road bike to any degree of skill is unlikely..
But was interested in the thoughts, like you say it's the benefit of the web.
Will put some thought into it, the more I think about it the less I'm inclined to go anywhere down teh MTB route and having read the road bike thread...hmm...
but again, I'm a newbie so the reality of me being able to ride a road bike to any degree of skill is unlikely..
As has already been stated, running a cyclo cross bike is a compromise but that;s not necessarily bad, It isn't as good as a full blown road bike but the road bike can't do any off road and it isn't as capable off road as a mountain bike but it is so much faster on road. So kind of best thinking of it as a rather aggresive hybrid, besides they're good fun to ride.
Probably worth looking at a company called Ridley for cyclo cross bikes. Belgian company who specialise in road and cyclo cross bikes.
Probably worth looking at a company called Ridley for cyclo cross bikes. Belgian company who specialise in road and cyclo cross bikes.
DrTre said:
I know this is a bit of an open ended question, but how much of a compromise are CCross bikes vs hybrids/on road.
to help the OP, we really should answer the question! 
the answer, in my opinion, is not very...but.....at the risk of repeating myself though, to ride one off road is a skill and many people find the narrow bars a real issue. thus unless you are seriously planning to use a cx bike in the manner intended, i still say go for a nice hybrid or a rigid mtb. most commuters favour an upright position for traffic etc hence the numbers of hybrids on the road. i guess its like buying a dedicated track car like a radical, then just using it for the commute to work??!?!?!
Cheers pablo and polodding, that's very helpful "in a nutshell" summary for me. As it stands for me at the mo, hybrid it is...although I really do like the look of h4mufs bike.
I reckon hybrid for the moment, see how I get on for an onroad malarkey and then see if I get bitten by the bug..
Proper thanks to you all, how pleasant to find a corner of PH where different views, opinions and preferences are treated with respect by all...although it may be more accurate to say you lot simply enjoy cycling, in all its forms, so are less cantankerous than others about other things
I reckon hybrid for the moment, see how I get on for an onroad malarkey and then see if I get bitten by the bug..
Proper thanks to you all, how pleasant to find a corner of PH where different views, opinions and preferences are treated with respect by all...although it may be more accurate to say you lot simply enjoy cycling, in all its forms, so are less cantankerous than others about other things
Hybrids are for old women.
Get a crosser, thrash the knackers off it on the road, thrash the knackers off it off the road, crash it, learn some more skills, repeat, become a cyclist.
Or get a hybrid and some reflective ankle clips so you don't get your suit caught in the chain and become a comuter....
Get a CX, you'll look way cooler and that's really what matters.
Get a crosser, thrash the knackers off it on the road, thrash the knackers off it off the road, crash it, learn some more skills, repeat, become a cyclist.
Or get a hybrid and some reflective ankle clips so you don't get your suit caught in the chain and become a comuter....
Get a CX, you'll look way cooler and that's really what matters.
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