Any cyclocross bike owners?

[atgcpaul]

I currently own a road and mountain bike. I've been thinking of selling both and getting a cyclocross bike. I don't MTB anymore and road riding around here isn't so pretty because of the lack of bike lanes and poorly maintained shoulders. A cyclocross bike would get me closer to the road geometry but still let me go "offroad" on places like the C&O canal trail. Just looking for opinions or recommendations in the $1200-$1800 range.

Thanks
Paul

[Black wallnut]

I have a Specialized Crux Elite, a 2012 model year I think, that I've had just over 13 months. I also happen to race CX so my opinions are related to that. I ride 6K miles plus on the road this year. Your price range will get you onto an entry level cx bike, which is what I have. CX bikes tend to be more expensive than road bikes with the same groupsets. CX bikes tend to be a bit stiffer and handle slightly different. I think the ride is somewhat harsher on the road when paired with road tires on a cx bike. Typical CX bike gearing is not as low on the slow end and not as high on the fast end as a road bike which may or may not be an issue depending on your speed and grades encountered. CX bikes are for the most part moving to disc brakes. FWIW road discs are also becoming popular so some endurance geometry road bikes with disc brakes can accommodate nearly as wide of tire as a cx bike and will give a more comfortable ride, for example the Specialized Secteur disc http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bik...ccompact#specs if you can find one in your size might fit a 30 mm tire.

My standard advice on new bike shopping is:

• ride a as many different brands as you can
• choose a lbs that treats you like a friend
• a large share of the new bike cost is the up front paying for after sale service and warranty
• If you do not need service or warranty buy used or online

[Black wallnut]

Another thought, I really enjoy riding my cx bike on a rails to trails gravel/dirt trail we have here and on forest service dirt roads. With the exception of the crankset my cx bike and road bike have the same groupset. Of the two the cx bike shifts better, always has. Both are 105. Happy shopping.

[tfischer]

Last month I picked up a Specialized Sirrus Pro which is essentially a flat-bar road bike. Before that I had a 2004 Trek 7500 cross bike... but my riding style has me about 90% on paved paths, so the extra weight and suspension, etc. of the 7500 really wasn't the right bike for me. So far I'm loving the new one. I've had Trek bikes since about 1990, so this is a new thing for me

[atgcpaul]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Tim, interesting about the flat bar. Even when I was riding seriously on my road bike, I rarely used the drops. I switched my first bike long ago from drops to cowhorns and liked those a lot better. It's been so long, though. I don't remember how I mounted the brake and shifter.

Next summer I have set a goal for myself to ride the Great Allegheny Passage (http://www.atatrail.org/) from Pittsburg down to DC. It connects to the C&O canal in Cumberland, MD. Amtrak is supposed to open up bike service from DC to Pittsburgh (http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/201...to-allow-bikes) on its northeast corridor route, so that will at least take some burden of planning that section of the trip. Only downside is the train arrives in Pittsburg around midnight so that's essentially a mandatory hotel stayover that first night.

[JR]

My brother-in-law did that ride last year. FWIW - he rides a Trek hybrid similar to the Spec mentioned by tfischer.

I'd think a hybrid like that would perfect for your needs. Fast enough, rugged enough, etc.