Hybrid V's Cyclocross V's Road

[Wigsie]

Hi All,

I am returning to cycling after about 12 years as my company are doing the cycle scheme and I have to spec a bike out in January, my budget will be around £1K and I have started to do a bit of research but varying LBS's give me different advice as to whether a hybrid, cyclocross or road bike will suit my need which areas follows;

I am 6ft 4 and around 17.5 stone, the commute to work is a wonderfull 18.5 miles (each way) with some rather steep sections and its mostly busy but bad conditioned A roads, Some sections are quite narrow and fast for cars/buses and Foreign lorry's so I would like the ability to choose to go up on the curb/pavement if need be.

Realistically I aim to initially ride half the time (2.5 journeys a week) So I need something robust enough for the roads + my size and strength. I will also be using it at weekends on fun rides/trails with my son (nothing too demanding yet though he is 8).

I have been recommended and looked at the Trek 7.6FX, Trek 1.7 Road Bike and either the Spesh Tricross Sport or a Trek XO1 all of which are amazing when you are coming back into the sport after 12 years out but even the guys in the LBS are split as to what I need.

Any help/advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated?

 

[Ravenz]

Hi All,

Spesh Tricross Sport or a Trek XO1 all of which are amazing when you are coming back into the sport after 12 years out but even the guys in the LBS are split as to what I need.

I have the Tri sport triple..
"My name is Rav and I use a triple on the road"
just thought I'd get that out in the open first of all

I have had no issues with it mechanically.. have changed to 25m gators to get rolling that bit easier on the tarmac.. I like its 'stealth' colour i.e. black and really quite dull looking compared to shinier alternatives... seat and riding position comfy for 3+ hour rideouts..
again its all down to personal taste . you will have change left over for riiding kit etc etc or does the CTW money have to be spent entirely on the bike..?

 

[MePower]

I use a cyclocross for all my day to day stuff, Sunday club rides, off road, towing the babies trailer, shopping etc. and its great knowing you can give all that abuse to it and it still be ok. Plus you could use some lightweight road wheels and even race the thing if you were so inclined. They also have good clearance for mudgaurds, whereas on a road bike you may struggle with the tighter angles. Its a bike for every occasion. I have 3 bikes, but i dont need them all as the cyclocross does everything. Hope that helps!

 

[Wigsie]

Great help cheers, I think I am possibly leaning toward the Cyclocross bikes. I can use some of the money to buy some new kit too which makes the tricross that little bit more appealing! I have heard the Tricross is prone to fork judder with the larger frames (I will be needing one of the largest) have you got any experience of this Ravenz?

 

[Ravenz]

heard the Tricross is prone to fork judder

.. thus far.. judder free.. (58cm)

 

[John the Monkey]

I have a Giant SCR2.0. Fits mudguards, can take a rack, takes tyres to 25mm with guards fitted. I ride from Wilmslow to Manchester centre on a mixture of roads and cycle lanes, and the Giant has coped well with the poor surfaces in Wilmslow, for what that's worth.

The 'cross bike (or a tourer) is probably a good bet if you need to fit wider tyres, or intend to give the bike some serious abuse - however, it's worth considering that not all road bikes are airy carbon fibre wonders designed for super smooth tarmac and nowt else...

 

[iwf]

I can give a huge thumbs up for the trek 7.6.

I've had one for coming up to a year and it's dealt with everything I could have thrown at it except complete off road.

It's really a road bike but with flat bars and the capacity for guards, racks etc. The cross bike will offer the same but will be heavier and so slower on the road.

I looked very carefully at the 1.7 recently too, but in the end bought a steel framed bike. The 1.7 is even lighter than the 7.6 will take guards and liightweight rack. Lighter means faster but not so hot off road.

All three will suffice for what you want. The cross is intended for off road, the 1.7 only for the road and the 7.6 somewhere in between. Much will depend on the tires you fit. Big noberly ones will be slow, thin roads tires fast but less comfortable. The brakes are different as well. The cross bike need plently of clearance for big tires, so use the older simple brakes. The 7.6 uses v brakes, very good and considered to provide the best stopping power. the 1.7 uses race brakes.

For a returning cyclist I'd take the 7.6 with 28mm p___cture resistant tires. Great balance between road and cross and no disadvantages. Fast but up to the job

However you should try all three, then make a decision on what is most comfortable.

Good luck

 

[Dave5N]

Just put a rack, cages etc etc on a Kinesis Crosslight 4T. A pretty good allrounder for the price.

 

[DJ]

Hybrid for comfort on along commute, your arse will get sore!

hybrid for rides with your eight year old- you will want to carry drinks , coats etc.

Hybrid is still fast enough for the road and can be bumped up kerbs.

I don't ride one ,but in your case I am thinking Hybrid.

Oh and enjoy

 

[Soltydog]

Great help cheers, I think I am possibly leaning toward the Cyclocross bikes. I can use some of the money to buy some new kit too which makes the tricross that little bit more appealing! I have heard the Tricross is prone to fork judder with the larger frames (I will be needing one of the largest) have you got any experience of this Ravenz?

I got a tricross through the C2W scheme, along with a few extras about 3 weeks ago. It's certainly a great all round bike & tbh I havent been on any of my other bikes since getting it. I've still not found the sweet spot setting up wise, but not far off. It's certainly not as quick as my Allez Elite & it's not quite as comfortable as my hybrid, but it's great for commuting, part cycle track/part road & 16+ miles.
I have the 61cm frame & do get a little fork judder, but only if you really slam on the brakes & dont use the rear. I tend to use them both together & it's fine. I have mudguards & rack fitted & one thing to watch is toe overlap with the guards. Caught it a few times on my first ride, but soon adjusted to it.

I can't comment on the other bikes, but the Tricross would certainly be more than up to the job for you

 

[Randochap]

I think it's fair to reject a road bike right off the bat. You are looking for a commuting bike.

Now, in my opinion, I just can't understand the recent fad for "cross" bikes. This is just the industry, once again, avoiding giving the public what they need and instead flooding the market with inappropriate technology. Or, if the market does indeed respond to demand, then people are fooling themselves.

Cross bikes are a niche at best. Most have the wrong geometry and gearing for commuting or road -- too high bottom bracket and too high (in the ratio sense) gearing. Sure you can press some of them into commuting service, if they have braze ons and eyelets for racks and fenders, but they aren't ideal.

Personally, unless a customer insisted that's what they wanted (customers are often wrong, but their wallet is their own), I would direct them -- especially, if they were "coming back to cycling after 12 years" and were looking for a commuting bike -- to a so-called "hybrid."

A commuting bike needs lower gears, wider tyres and the ability to carry loads (rack, bags) and fit mudguards w/ clearance.

It's too bad that more LBSs don't carry decent utility bicycles. That's what most of us need to get back and forth to work. I'm surprised that these appear to be unavailable in the UK (going on discussions here), while they are built (designed) by several European companies and are ubiquitous there.

The Specialized product looks nice but I'd really shy away from anything that even slightly exhibits the dreaded fork shudder. There are many so-called cross bikes that do this. It's the stupid forks they build (carbon and -- ugh! -- aluminium) that initiate this dangerous dance, when combined with powerful cantilever brakes. Steer clear! Don't get me started on "integrated" headsets. They were designed by witches.

Why can't we get a simple, steel commuter bike for the masses? For £1000, we should be able to get a beautiful commuter. In fact you can. It's just that you'd have to build it yourself.

See my commuter pages for more ranting. Also, in my opinion, my Bleriot is an example of the ultimate commuter. I've got much more than £1000 into it, but I could have kept it close w/ more modest part kit. And, of course, could be built up w/ upright bars.

 

[MePower]

 

[Dave5N]

Mate you have a strange take on a 'cross bike!

Powerful brakes?

Can't take wide tyres?

No clearance?

Doesn't sound much like any I've seen.

 

[Randochap]

Mate you have a strange take on a 'cross bike!

Powerful brakes?

Can't take wide tyres?

No clearance?

Doesn't sound much like any I've seen.

If you are referring to me as "mate" and my post, I'm not following you either.

I've sold enough cross bikes to have more than a passing knowlwdge of what makes one (and there are a variety). I didn't say that they don't have clearance for bigger tyres and they do have relatively powerful (canti) brakes.

What I'm getting at is they usually have innapropriate gearing and geometry and often lack the braze ons preferred by most commuters.

 

[DJ]

Hybrid- you have been out of the saddle for 12 years!!!!!!!!!!!!, think about it you need comfort, for such along commute!!!!!!!!!!!
also it will be perfect for when you go out with your son, pootling about along tow paths and cycle lanes, your not going to want to go fast or along busy main roads on W/E out with an eight yr old.

once your fit and want to look abit more flash, get a faster bike, then you can actualy do proper cycle cross or fitness rides with a club!

Be sensible, think carefully.