Are road bikes suitable for use on trails?

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RhythMick

Über Member
Location
Barnsley
It is not a case of whether the frame will take the battering, but a case of whether the frame will provide enough clearence for the appropriate tyres on appropriate wheels.

Ok thanks very much all. Much clearer, and I agree I think many people would assume road bikes (carbon in particular) would be too fragile. Clearance is the key so that grippier tyres can be fitted.
 

Andrew_P

In between here and there
I have ridden my CF Roubaix on some duff surfaces, parks, grass, and trail like the Worth way etc.

Before you decide I would really consider how much trail riding you do vs road riding. When I first bought a bike it was with a view of a do it all (sold to me by marketing depts). The reality for me was 95% of my solo fast riding was road and the off road stuff mainly with my kids and family done at a sedate pace would have been as enjoyable on £150 Cycle King or Halfords MTB or cheap hybrid as it was not about cycling it was a more a ride through the woods with the kids.
 

MattHB

Proud Daddy
Fast responses and thanks. I'm leaning towards cross bikes too.

Lets ask the quests the other way then. Lets say I buy something like this ...

http://www.cannondale.com/2013/bikes/road/cyclocross/caadx/caadx-disc-ultegra-compact-crankset

I want to do my first century ride soon, which will be pure road and fairly flat too. Would I regret having gone for the CX and be wishing I had the super light carbon jobby?

That said, I'm 213 lbs so not sure the carbon jobby would ever suit me lol.

I bought my felt z6 when I was about 230lb's.. Never an issue.

I also have a caadx5, same bike as the ultegra but with canti's and 105. It's an amazingly lovely bike.
 
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RhythMick

Über Member
Location
Barnsley
The 56 CAADX frame geometry seems to suit me based on the results of the bike fit, though I'm not too sure which numbers are more important than others. Most seem very close. Head tube length is 160 vs 179 recommended by the fit, seems to be the biggest difference.

Anyone care to cross check the frame geometry against my fit results and comment on the fit ?

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/images/geo_caadx.gif
 

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RhythMick

Über Member
Location
Barnsley
I have ridden my CF Roubaix on some duff surfaces, parks, grass, and trail like the Worth way etc.

Before you decide I would really consider how much trail riding you do vs road riding. When I first bought a bike it was with a view of a do it all (sold to me by marketing depts). The reality for me was 95% of my solo fast riding was road and the off road stuff mainly with my kids and family done at a sedate pace would have been as enjoyable on £150 Cycle King or Halfords MTB or cheap hybrid as it was not about cycling it was a more a ride through the woods with the kids.

Good point. Most of my riding is road for sure. Family rides I can use my Yeti Arc.

If instead of going for a proper road bike I went for the CAADX Disc, what will be the downside when I do my longer distance road rides ?
 

aberal

Guru
Location
Midlothian
Good point. Most of my riding is road for sure. Family rides I can use my Yeti Arc.

If instead of going for a proper road bike I went for the CAADX Disc, what will be the downside when I do my longer distance road rides ?

Assuming the bike fits you - nothing. Assuming you fit road tyres (or preferably wheels) the only slight difference would be the smidgeon of extra weight compared to an equivalent road bike would slow you down a smidgeon. But you'd not even notice that.
 

Andrew_P

In between here and there
Good point. Most of my riding is road for sure. Family rides I can use my Yeti Arc.

If instead of going for a proper road bike I went for the CAADX Disc, what will be the downside when I do my longer distance road rides ?
Depends what you are looking for I have a Boardman CX and a Roubaix Comp. I much prefer the ride and feel of of the Roubaix and that gets ridden the most. Personal choice really, I would test ride both and weigh up how much you need a road bike for trails. Most people seem to convert the CXbike in to a road bike by fitting road tyres (I did) then the reality struck me I already had a road bike and the only benefit of the CX over the Road bike was it had disc brakes and mudguard mounts.

Luckily my daughter has taken to riding the CX so it does get used...
 

Cycleops

Legendary Member
Location
Accra, Ghana
You can read all the recomended sizing charts you like but at the end of the it's what you feel comfortable on. I like a frame which is on the big side, others have different preferances. You need to suck it and see. With regard to head tube size this will change in direct relation to the seat tube.
 
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RhythMick

Über Member
Location
Barnsley
eBay has a 56cm 2011 CAADX frameset (frame, carbon forks, headset, stem, bars, seatpost and clamp) on for £275 delivered.

Thinking of plumping for this and swapping the components off the Kaffenback. They are good spec components in the main, including SRAM RED shifters and derailleurs with SRAM Rival cranks and BB.

Any views ?
 

lb81

Senior Member
For what its worth, i got a Boardman CX in June to replace my cheap road bike and to be honest i have found it to be more than up to the task of both putting in high road miles with slicks and blazing up or indeed down some fairly tough trails with CX tyres.

To be fair, i probably spend more time off road at the moment and i also have a rigid ss mtb so the CX suits the way i like to ride but i find as an all rounder the CX is really very good. I am sure it would also be good for a sportive with maybe a few mods to shave the weight disadvantage of the discs.

I test rode several bikes before deciding on the CX including some 1k road bikes and the CX just kind of fit me best for my riding, which is what it all comes down to in the end, you and the way you like to ride.
 
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RhythMick

Über Member
Location
Barnsley
The CAADX frameset on eBay just seemed too perfect a fit for what I need so I've gone for it. I'll get the LBS to transfer all the components across from the Kaffenback if they don't charge too much, otherwise I'll have a go myself.
 
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