Is a cyclo-cross bike for me?

[Boris Bike]

Hi All,

For the last 4 months I've been commuting on a 15 year-old mountain bike with slick tyres. My commute is just over 8 miles each way through central London.

I haven't bought a new bike yet as a) I wanted to make sure I was serious about it, and b) I was looking to move jobs to one which does a cycle to work scheme. But now the time has come to start looking.

I've been thinking that a cyclo-cross bike is the way to go for the following reasons:

- This will be my only bike for commuting all year-round.
- There are times when I may want to cycle along a tow path or similar. I haven't in the past year, but would be nice to have the option.
- I'm thinking of doing a triathlon next year so can't really do that on a hybrid.

Does that sound sensible?

 

[steve52]

sounds cool to me but most things do untill they go wrong hehe no help but it still sounds cool

 

[Boris Bike]

sounds cool to me but most things do untill they go wrong hehe no help but it still sounds cool

Hahaha - thanks for the help

 

[goody]

You don't really need a cyclocross bike to use tow paths. I used to commute from sutton to fulham going across wimbledon common approx 1mile of gravel track on a road bike with 23 tyres. Some of the 'sportive' type road bikes would be OK and wouldn't limit your choice as much. If you did go the cyclocross route it seems a bit ironic to go from an MTB with slicks to a road bike with knobblies!

 

[Crackle]

Why would it be your only bike, is it a space issue? I ask, because the 15 year old mtn bike sounds like it's doing the commute job well, so why not buy a non-commute bike for your triathlon and leisure riding.

If you do for a Cyclo x bike, look at them carefully because they come in different flavours from quite a sporty ride to a more relaxed one.

 

[Boris Bike]

Why would it be your only bike, is it a space issue? I ask, because the 15 year old mtn bike sounds like it's doing the commute job well, so why not buy a non-commute bike for your triathlon and leisure riding.

Mainly it's down to space. I'm perfectly happy keeping the mountain bike locked up outside my flat, but wouldn't feel comfortable with something a bit nicer looking. I can fit 1 bike in my room if I get one of those pole things.

But also the CX bike gives me the option to stick mudguards and racks on if I like.

 

[Boris Bike]

You don't really need a cyclocross bike to use tow paths. I used to commute from sutton to fulham going across wimbledon common approx 1mile of gravel track on a road bike with 23 tyres. Some of the 'sportive' type road bikes would be OK and wouldn't limit your choice as much. If you did go the cyclocross route it seems a bit ironic to go from an MTB with slicks to a road bike with knobblies!

How do I find a more sporty road bike? What would I need to look out for?

The knobblies on the CXs I've seen don't look too bad big. OK they're not slick, but they're no where near the monsters I used to have on my MTB. Although CX tyres will come in handy when the weather turns worse.

 

[Norm]

I have a Tricross for commuting and general tomfoolery, and it's fantastic. Any roads, any weathers, good comfort, solid build, MTB gearing on the back driven by Tiagra shifters and a feeling of invulnerability - I love it.

 

[Boris Bike]

I have a Tricross for commuting and general tomfoolery, and it's fantastic. Any roads, any weathers, good comfort, solid build, MTB gearing on the back driven by Tiagra shifters and a feeling of invulnerability - I love it.

What type have you got? Standard, Sport or Comp?

I saw one in Evans the other day - I liked the extra set of brake levers in the top of the handlebars.

 

[Evil Rabbit]

I have a Boardman CX Team cyclo-cross bike, bought specifically for commuting and it works very well.

I have never worried about mudguards as I have always found a solution for all my bikes in the past - road, MTB or hybrid. I got the CX primarily as it would give me disk brakes, knobbly wider tyres and drop down bars (which I find very comfortable); plus should be a bit more robust than a road bike.

It works well for me, as I commute on a mixture of road and really crappy gravel/canal path. The big win has been the disk brakes in the wet - but only a few CX bikes have disk brakes, which IMO are worth considering if you are commuting all year round.

 

[Boris Bike]

I have a Boardman CX Team cyclo-cross bike, bought specifically for commuting and it works very well.

That was number one on my list, but I don't think the company I'm moving to uses the Halfords scheme. It ticked all my boxes (road-bike type gearing, disc breaks, 2 sets of break levers, holes for mudguards, etc).

From what I've been reading, disc breaks weren't allowed under official Cyclo-Cross rules which is why there were very rare on the bikes. The rules have now been changed to allow them so we'll probably see discs coming out on newer models.

 

[Norm]

What type have you got? Standard, Sport or Comp?

I saw one in Evans the other day - I liked the extra set of brake levers in the top of the handlebars.

I've got the Sport. It's monthly mileage is about twice as much as any of my other bikes, which probably says everything that needs saying.

However, if there had been a cx option with discs when I was buying, I'd have thought very hard about getting one.

The cross top levers are fantastic too, I've fitted them to my other road bike.

 

[Boris Bike]

I've got the Sport. It's monthly mileage is about twice as much as any of my other bikes, which probably says everything that needs saying.

However, if there had been a cx option with discs when I was buying, I'd have thought very hard about getting one.

The cross top levers are fantastic too, I've fitted them to my other road bike.

Is the sport one the triple?

Second on my list is the Cannondale CAADX 105 but that only has a 36/46 chainring, so the tricross sport seems to be getting higher up the list It does have the slightly cheaper Tiagras instead of the 105s, but I don't think I'll notice any difference coming from my old MTB. Plus the parts should be cheaper to replace.

 

[Norm]

Tiagra triple at the front and Tiagra shifters with... oh, Deore LX at the back, I think.

 

[al-fresco]

Cyclo cross bikes are a good general purpose choice imo. My Surly Cross Check does me for shopping trips, local roads, forestry tracks, tow paths, going to the pub and long day trips. It's 100+ miles comfortable, looks good and never fails to put a smile on my face. There may be a better all-round bike but it'll do for me.