the difference between a road and cx

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

ok, i understand how the geometry is different between the bikes, but how does that relate to the real world for the average joe commuter / occasional long distance rider?

i have a cx bike, i love it, but what is the difference in comfort between a cx with 23mm tyres and a full roadie? for example 50 to 100 mile rides?

 

[Smokin Joe]

The road bike will have steeper frame angles, making it livelier, a bit twitchier and more responsive. Comfort, in my opinion, is down to your position on the bike and having decent tyres and saddle. Get the contact points and the ergonomics right and even the most full on race bike will be comfortable enough, after all the pros sit on them for over seven hours at a stretch and wouldn't put up with numb wrists and an aching back or neck because the bike was a pig to ride.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

cheers joe,

i'm just wondering if i'd notice a difference between my cx with narrow tyres and a road bike, or would i be just wasting money? my cx up to now is very comfy but, i've not done more than 2 hours in the saddle yet. currently i've got 32mm cx tyres on for winter but, i will be changing soon to gator skins or similar.

 

[Smokin Joe]

A CX bike is capable of taking you the length and breadth of the country at whatever speed your ability allows. You wouldn't ride it in a criterium, but then that's not why you bought it. If you love the bike and are happy with the way it rides then you've got the bike for you. By all means try narrower tyres, they will feel a lot livelier than the 32mm, but I would tend to go for 25mm rather than 23. Avoid making too big a change in one go, but tyres are always a cheap and effective upgrade on any bike.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

cheers joe,

i'll do as you suggest and see how it goes. i used to ride my brompton quite far 115 miles being the furthest. i didn't think there would be such a vast difference from a road bike, it wasn't until i got my cx, that i realized how wrong i was. i just don't to be making that mistake twice.

 

[GrasB]

The only real difference will be the height of the bike, CX bikes tend to have high BBs compared to road bikes, this means you sit higher off the ground, about 25-30mm typically, doesn't sound like a lot but you really do notice it when pushing hard into a set of tight corners.

 

[Zoiders]

A cross bike won't be more relaxed or have slacker angles than a club racing orientated road bike, as Gras said the BB will be a bit higher but the angles will be just as steep on the majority of cross bikes, a few manufacturers offer slightly dumbed down versions that are slightly less racey but they are a bit more utility orientated and not just aimed at pure cross riding.

With 23 slicks you could indeed ride in a crit on a crosser if you really wanted to (not sure if the rules allow cantis though), the higher BB would probably work better on a really tight crit course in fact as it reduces the chance of pedal strike.

If you want canti's and a less aggresive riding position you may be looking at a tourer or possible an audax bike with canti's.

 

[GrasB]

...the higher BB would probably work better on a really tight crit course in fact as it reduces the chance of pedal strike.

I ride on 177.5mm cranks & can't see how, considering how hard you have to be turning to risk a pedal strike I'd say that pedalling through a corner like that would get you into serious problems.

 

[buggi]

for average joe commuter i don't really see it would make that much difference. i'm just doing up a 2nd hand cross bike i bought and normally i commute on my road bike but i reckon, as the current tyres on the CX are road tyres, it'd be just as easy over the 25 miles. However, i am planning on putting cx tyres on so i have a choice to take it off road.

i reckon if you put 25mm tyres on it would make it a little comfier without you losing performance on the commute.

 

[Norm]

My CX and road bikes are similar in terms of the average speed over tarmac, but they do definitely feel different.

Oh, I should say that my roadie is a Secteur, which is probably not what you were meaning by a "full roadie" in the OP. I'm also comparing the Secteur with 25m tyres and the Tricross with 32s.

IMO, the roadie feels lighter, snappier, more responsive and it transfers much more of the road surface up through the saddle and bars. Whilst the saddle height is similar, I have the bars set a few cm lower and a few cm closer to the saddle. It certainly isn't uncomfortable, I've spent 5 hours in the saddle without a problem, but it isn't that relaxed either.

Conversely, the CX, on 32mm tyres, feels smoother, easier, less edgy, like it's had it's mug of Horlicks. The steering is still precise, it's just lost that twitch that you get from 100+psi. The drops are still low, but they are "I could ride here for hours" low rather than "Oooo, that twinged after 5 minutes" low.

Strangely, IMO, I've often ridden the two over the same course (commuting etc) and the times are within a gnat's whisker of each other. The larger tyres of the CX mean that I ride more consistently, I'm not watching out for dodgy surfaces, I'm not braking for speed humps, I just ride through the lot. That also means that the (minimal) extra weight of the CX isn't a factor over distances, as I'm not braking and pushing so often, I can maintain a cruising speed.

Other differences which may be more important than the BB height but which isn't strictly about the geometry, are that many CX bikes use a full or semi MTB gearing set up and the braking systems are likely to be different, with 32 teeth on the rear sprocket not unusual (rather than 25 on a road bike) and cantis or disks on the CX.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

thanks a lot guys. i do like my new cx and agree with the replies, i do have the constant option of going off road and the tyres do make more sense on the the current state of the roads. i might stick with larger volume tyres to make it smoother on road. norm answered one of my main worries, was i going slower on my cx than i would on a roadie and as there is not much in it, i'll save my money for another toy...mmmm....maybe a super duper garmin gps cycle computer.

cheers


guys

 

[buggi]

to be honest tho Brompton, you know in the end you will need that road bike anyway, as we all know the correct number of bikes is n+1 (when n is the number of bikes you already have) so you will need to start saving.

 

[potsy]

And if you're not getting another bike you can start drinking again

 

[jpembroke]

Buggi's right: it will eat away at you until, at some point, you give in and buy road bike. I own both a 'cross bike and road bike and much prefer riding the road bike on road. Riding a 'cross bike on road - even with the spare wheels with 23mm road tyres on - is a compromise (especially with the cr*p brakes). I think there are a lot of people who buy 'cross bikes as a do it all bike, thinking they'll take it on and off road but just end up riding them on road all the time. They soon realise that for road use a road bike is best, for off-road an MTB is best, for touring a touring bike is best. The one thing a 'cross bike excels in is 'cross racing. I reckon you should get a road bike for road cycling and take up 'cross racing next season.

 

[Norm]

In case it isn't clear from my earlier post, I disagree with the above.

Firstly, most "cross" bikes would not be very good at 'cross racing. IMO, it's a marketing term for a bike which sits somewhere between the sportive style and the tourer - it's relevant, for instance, that Specialized don't have a dedicated touring bike as they consider the Tricross meets that need too.

Secondly, "crap brakes" is not an opinion which I share.

Thirdly, my Tricross is a year old and is the most recent of the 6 bikes in my garage. I simply haven't tired to the pleasure of riding it where I want, when I want, without being too concerned about the surface. I have absolutely no interest in psycho-cross racing, I doubt I'd even make it out of the start gate but I'd be quite happy if the Tricross was the only drop-bar bike I had.