Cross bike for commuting

[scouserinlondon]

I'm months off the C2W rolling around again, but read an article on cross bikes which got me thinking. I bought a Trek Valencia as my first C2W bike and I love it, it's fast, agile, comfy etc. And by and large I've ridden in all weathers (apart from wussing out today).

For my next bike I'm thinking of getting a cross bike. Partly so I can kit it out to carry panniers, and partly because I may be moving to an area where I can do more trail/off road riding.

Does anybody else use one and what should I look out for? Will it be faster than my 32x700 hybrid bike?

 

[Tynan]

you don't have to get an out and out cross bike to carry panniers, or indeed ride off road

plenty others know far more than me about actual frames etc but I'd say yes to the second question

shame to compromise the road commute with a 'may', perhaps weigh up the time you'l spend riding on road relative to off road?

a good hybrid is good but a road bike is sooo much more fun and faster

 

[Cranky]

I use a cross bike most of the time, for day rides with a rack pack, on and off-road light touring with rear panniers, and general use. It's a Kinesis Crosslight 4t frame which I had built up with flat bars/bar ends, Deore XT drivetrain and V brakes, carbon cross fork, 700x32 Schwalbe Marathons and 45mm mudguards. It weighs 28lbs inc rack and pedals. If I could only have one bike, this would be it. It's not as fast as a road bike, obviously, but is no slouch either and has a very wide gear range. Whether something similar would be faster than your hybrid I wouldn't like to say, hybrids vary a lot.

 

[RedBike]

Does anybody else use one and what should I look out for? Will it be faster than my 32x700 hybrid bike?

The only real difference between most hybrids and the sort of CX bikes you're taking about (The ones with braze-ons for everything) is the type of handlebar used. Drop bars are more areodynamic and therefore the bike will be quicker; but realistically unless you're racing around you're not going to notice a difference.


If you want off-road ability then go for a MTB. A 29er might suit? You can still set it up just like a hybrid when you need to.
However, if you want a bike thats quicker on the road then get a road bike. Most audax / winter bike can take panniers and mud-guards and will be quicker than a CX bike.

 

[beancounter]

I use a Cannondale Cross bike to commute on, but only because I have an entirely irrational hatred of flat bar bikes.

Most bikes advertised as cross bikes these days are not real cross bikes at all, as Redbike says just so-called hybrid bikes with drop bars.

bc

 

[beancounter]

I use a Cannondale Cross bike to commute on, but only because I have an entirely irrational hatred of flat bar bikes.

Most bikes advertised as cross bikes these days are not real cross bikes at all, as Redbike says just so-called hybrid bikes with drop bars.

bc

 

[IanWood]

I use a 2009 Specialized Tricross Comp - with those 700/35 Winter ice stud tyres atm. I think its a brilliant bike, quick, light and comfy.

Normally I use GatorSkin 25s and it goes pretty quick. Also done two races with it and it worked well there too.

I am not sure all 'cross bikes can take mudguards and racks so I would check before buying.

 

[wafflycat]

WCMnr has a Kinesis Crosslight Pro set up as a tourer (mudguards & rear rack) which he uses as a tourer/commuter bike. Take of the rack & mudguards & he can (and has done a bit of) cyclocross. Dropbars - not flatbars on his. The only bike he has with flatbars is is cruddy & basic MTB he uses for his university campus commute (cruddy & basic so it doesn't matter too much if it gets nicked by scrotes). MrWC has a Kinesis RacelightT set up as a tourer and it's our experience that Kinesis make very good-for-the-money framesets.

 

[johnr]

I use a 2009 Specialized Tricross Comp - with those 700/35 Winter ice stud tyres atm. I think its a brilliant bike, quick, light and comfy.

Normally I use GatorSkin 25s and it goes pretty quick. Also done two races with it and it worked well there too.

I am not sure all 'cross bikes can take mudguards and racks so I would check before buying.

+ 1 for Tricross Comp.

Wheredja get ice stud tyres?

 

[scouserinlondon]

thanks for all the recommendations and advice, C2W is a few months off, but rather than just rushing into it like I did this time I want to choose more carefully. That said, i was very lucky with my rushed choice I love the trek.

 

[eldudino]

I'd be careful when looking at cross bikes, the gearing is usually quite low as they're really offroad machines, you may have to look at putting on a compact or similar, I think most 'serious' crossers such as the ones reviewed in this months C+ mag have a 46t top ring which would spin out quite quickly on the flats. The Tricross Comp features a 48t top ring which is the same as a standard MTB chainset.

 

[MacB]

I'd be careful when looking at cross bikes, the gearing is usually quite low as they're really offroad machines, you may have to look at putting on a compact or similar, I think most 'serious' crossers such as the ones reviewed in this months C+ mag have a 46t top ring which would spin out quite quickly on the flats. The Tricross Comp features a 48t top ring which is the same as a standard MTB chainset.

Are you sure on that? by consulting with Sheldon I see that a 46t ring will give 110 gear inches with an 11t cog and 101 with a 12t, using 23mm tyres, bit higher with bigger tyres. Sheldon translates this for mph, using the 11t, as 31mph at 90rpm, 35mph at 100rpm and 41mph at 120rpm. Looking at road gearing with 53x11 as a big gear then you get 45mph at 120rpm, you can probably extrapolate out the rest.

I can verify that his figures seem to be accurate for the lower RPMs but I haven't yet spun out exceeding 40mph on the flat. To be truthful I am a big woose and haven't actually reached 40mph in any situation yet

 

[eldudino]

Are you sure on that? by consulting with Sheldon I see that a 46t ring will give 110 gear inches with an 11t cog and 101 with a 12t, using 23mm tyres, bit higher with bigger tyres. Sheldon translates this for mph, using the 11t, as 31mph at 90rpm, 35mph at 100rpm and 41mph at 120rpm. Looking at road gearing with 53x11 as a big gear then you get 45mph at 120rpm, you can probably extrapolate out the rest.

I can verify that his figures seem to be accurate for the lower RPMs but I haven't yet spun out exceeding 40mph on the flat. To be truthful I am a big woose and haven't actually reached 40mph in any situation yet

I think it's because I'm more of a masher than a spinner - my legs don't seem to work well at a high pace so I find higher geared bikes easier to ride comfortably. On the flat on my 48-11 (not sure of gearing inches) with 26" 1.25 tyres I'm normally cruising at 22-25mph. Spinning is something I need to work on for the coming season! :-D

 

[MacB]

On the OP re a CX bike for commuting, I use a Surly Crosscheck frameset and find it very good. However I suspect that it's much closer to an allrounder than a full on cross bike. People warn of a lack of comfort on longer rides with a cross bike, I haven't had any of that. But the Surly has brazeons for everything and quite relaxed geometry. I also sized up where I often see sizing down recommended for CX for handling.

 

[buddha]

I've been looking at getting a Planet-X Kaffenback (or Uncle John) for commuting/shopping. The Kaffenback has a bombproof but 'light' steel frame. Only problem is the nasty sand frame colour.