Cyclocross bicycle

[HarmsWay]

I started a search for a fast yet comfortable road bike and seem to have ended up at cyclocross bikes. I'd been coveting a Cervelo RS at the local bike shop thinking that was the ticket (sloped top tube, longer head tube & springy thin seat tubes all in a wafer thin, light package). Then I saw somewhere that they have 1mm frame and fork clearance with a 25mm tire. So much for comfort. I was thinking 32 or 35mm - hence the cyclocross since that's the only segment that makes light weight racing bikes that can use big tires.

I know almost nothing about cyclocross bikes. I'd never heard of the sport until a week ago. Anyone have any experience with one of these bikes?

Bob

[JR]

I do not have any experience with cyclocross, except for the few articles I've read. It seems the big differences have to do with dealing with mud - more clearance around the brakes, maybe mounts for fenders, gusseted chain stays (for strength)etc. In the past you might have seen them with v-brakes. Nowadays I think good ones use disc brakes.

You might try looking at/for "hybrid" bikes. This category has 700c wheels, many of which are in the 28c to 35c range. They all have flat handlebars. Most of them have mountain bike groupos. Some have a seat shock and/or short-travel fork shocks. Trek, Cannondale, Giant all have models in this category. The low-end ones are really just comfort bikes. The high-end ones are =<20 lbs and look fast.

My BIL has a nice Trek one, without the shocks. He has had good success riding it on multi-hour mountain rides.

JR

[Tom Slick]

how much are you looking to spend?

[HarmsWay]

JR - All the qualities you listed about the cyclocross are good, although I probably won't need the extra frame strength and I'm not a fan of disc brakes on bicycles. I would ride it like any other road bike I've owned and I never broke any of them. I weigh under 145 and I don't plan go off road.

I saw a few nice 22 lbs carbon frame hybrids. I'd like to find a road bike though (no flat bars) that weighs 20 lbs or less and fits at least a 32mm tire. By comfortable, I meant in geometry and tires - no shocks, I have a full suspension bike. All the riding I've done for the past 10 years has been on the road on mountain bikes mostly on my own. I've ridden a few times with my old riding group who are on road bikes. Generally I can keep up but they kill me on the uphills. Partly because my bike weighs about 10 lbs more than theirs. They also have me on the flats at speed. I'm fine if I'm drafting but I just can't be aero and peddle at the same time. Not to mention my gearing sucks on the road. Anyway I really miss the group rides so that's why I'm looking for a new bike.

Tom Slick - Not really sure what the budget is yet. I'm definitely in the 'life's too short for cheap bikes' camp but I don't want to make the LOML angry either. I said I wouldn't spend more than $5k thinking that would be easy to achieve. I'd be happy and surprised if I found something for under $1k. I saw an S-Works TriCross that was very nice. As built it was over $5k so something less than that. Ridley makes nice cyclocross bikes. I don't think they have a local dealer. If I could find a suitable carbon frame and fork for under $2k I could build it up myself. I would prefer to go to the bikeshop and test ride a bike then buy it though.

[shoottx]

JR I've ridden a few times with my old riding group who are on road bikes. Generally I can keep up but they kill me on the uphills. Partly because my bike weighs about 10 lbs more than theirs. They also have me on the flats at speed. I'm fine if I'm drafting but I just can't be aero and peddle at the same time. Not to mention my gearing sucks on the road. Anyway I really miss the group rides so that's why I'm looking for a new bike.

If you are really interested in riding with the riding club, get a road bike. Get to a good shop that can set it up to your geometry and then have fun.

If you really are looking for a comfort, go buy a good cross get it set up well and enjoy. But a cross bike will not solve all of the problems in keeping up with the riding group.

I am several years out of date on bikes and equipment. Still riding a Columbus Tubing frame with a Campy Record group. But the set up and fit of a bike have a huge impact on comfort. Find a brand that is built to match your body geometry, get it set up well and go enjoy.

[eddy merckx]

Hey Bob

Cyclocross bikes are pretty cool. I have used various 'cross bikes as commuters over the years. They are definitely a nice way to get a performance bike which will accept big tires. I would not describe them as comfortable though. The frames are usually so beefed up that they don't absorb shock well. Also the geometry is kind of bizarre. The bottom bracket is much higher (for pedal clearance) so the cornering is comparatively unstable.

For comfort, I would look into full carbon or steel. I rode a Cannondale Supersix all summer. Unbelievably smooth. I think you'd get a similar experience from Cervelo. You can pretty much look at the diameter of the seatstays (the tubes going from the seatpost to the rear axle) and predict how comfortable the bike will be. The thinner the better.

There is also plenty of steel out there. Steel won't be as light, but it is plush.

Hope that helps,
Eddy

[JR]

I'd like to find a road bike though (no flat bars) that weighs 20 lbs or less and fits at least a 32mm tire. By comfortable, I meant in geometry and tires - no shocks, ...

I ride a steel Lemond bike on the road. I mention it because the Lemond frames are famous for their relaxed geometry. The steel frame with carbon forks makes for a pretty cushy ride, especially compared to my old C'dale aluminum "crit" frame - what a teeth chatterer that was!

Here is a Lemond 'cross bike in steel. It seems to have a lot of what you're looking for, althoug I might be a little leary of the 48T big ring when trying to keep up on the flats. The 38/27 low gear should be good enough for most any climbing chore. Note that it has a disc-brake version. I love the discs on my mountain bike, and would jump at the chance to have them on a road bike, particularly if I was subject to rainy weather.

I honestly don't know the availability of Lemond bikes since the divorce with Trek, but thought this might get the juices flowing.

JR

[andrew.r.w]

If fast and comfortable are your requirements, consider a recumbent. Fast and comfortable are the primary advantages of recumbents, and in those areas they are awesome.

Once you go 'bent you never go back.

[HarmsWay]

Thanks for all the great information. This is a lot more complicated than it used to be. There are an overwhelming number of options and there is a much wider variation in geometries. I hadn't even paid much attention to things like bottom bracket height. Although I ride a small frame so the BB has always been a bit higher. I don't understand that since cranks are going to be shorter already??? I just did a comparison of the geometries for four cyclocross bikes (LeMond Poprad - steel/carbon, Specialized Tricross Expert - steel/carbon, Ridley X-Fire carbon/carbon and Giant TCX 0 alum/carbon) and the numbers are all over the place. The Ridley does indeed put the BB up about 2cm, whereas the LeMond is pretty much standard road bike and the Specialized is close. They all stretch the wheelbase out but more so with the Specialized. I think something like the Specialized geometry would suit my body the best. The Poprad is good value though. Except for the Ridley, all have local dealers. I just got a message from a Ridley dealer in Edmonton that has stock. Long trip for a test ride.

With 32-35mm tires, how much difference to comfort will the frame & fork materials make? I seem to be okay on a steel mountain bike with 35mm slicks but I definitely feel it more after 3 hours compared to riding the same speed/distance on a full suspension bike.

Bob

[HarmsWay]

If fast and comfortable are your requirements, consider a recumbent. Fast and comfortable are the primary advantages of recumbents, and in those areas they are awesome.

Once you go 'bent you never go back.

I'm nervous even looking at recumbents. I'm sure they are very comfortable but I want all the vehicles to see me when I'm on the road. Plus I don't think a recumbent would go over big in the group ride.
Bob