Crosstrail 2012 or Rockhopper 2011

[PatG]

I am new to the forum so apologies if this is the wrong section but I wasn't sure which one would be best.

So, here is the question....

I am a heavy guy (18-20stone) and I am looking for a bike to use for family bike rides and fitness work. I already have a half decent MTB but I find it hard work on the road to get any speed up and it seems hard work to maintain speed once achieved. Hence it doesn't make longer fitness rides much fun. I have assumed that this is because it is set up for off-road use.

So I started the search for a good bike that I can use for mainly road use but with the odd bit of trail riding with the family (they all have MTB's). I discounted road bikes as I think I will look a right plum at my size on one. That pushed me towards a hybrid and after loads of research I made the decision to get the Specialized Crosstrail 2012. But, just before I placed the order I spoke to a couple of shops who suggested a Specialized Rockhopper with road tires and now I am confused!

So, I am hoping someone on here can give me some advice as to the pro's and con's of a MTB with road tires compared to a hybrid.

 

[Oldbloke]

Try them both before you decide is the best advice I can give.

Personally I'd go for the Crosstrail, more versatile, plus I'd look less of a prat than on a MTB

 

[PatG]

Try them both before you decide is the best advice I can give.

Personally I'd go for the Crosstrail, more versatile, plus I'd look less of a prat than on a MTB

The prat factor is definately a concern....I don't want to look like I am having a mid-life crisis

 

[Oldbloke]

The prat factor is definately a concern....I don't want to look like I am having a mid-life crisis

I rode an MTB until I was 55 and never really felt self conscious about it until I had a big "off" jumping some big steps in a steep downhill in the woods. Was more concerned about anyone seeing me than my injuries & bike damage


Still miss riding the rough stuff but now feel a bit more dignified on a crosser

 

[Norm]

Both the Crosstrail and the Rockhopper have front suspension, so I wouldn't have either for "mostly road" riding. The Rockhopper, particularly, is another MTB and you've already discounted those for longer rides, so that would be a waste.

I'd go with the Sirrus Sport and stick 32mm cyclo-cross tyres on it.

Or go with a Tricross and leave it standard.

Or get a proper road bike (you will not look a plum and, if you do, so what?) and use the MTB for the family rides.

 

[PatG]

Both the Crosstrail and the Rockhopper have front suspension, so I wouldn't have either for "mostly road" riding. The Rockhopper, particularly, is another MTB and you've already discounted those for longer rides, so that would be a waste.

I'd go with the Sirrus Sport and stick 32mm cyclo-cross tyres on it.

Or go with a Tricross and leave it standard.

Or get a proper road bike (you will not look a plum and, if you do, so what?) and use the MTB for the family rides.

I did think about the Sirrus but the general advice seemed to be that the Crosstrail was a more durable and practicable bike. Plus putting aside the extra weight of the forks they do have lock-out so when on the smooth black stuff I can turn them into fixed forks as required.

I hadn't even seen the Tricross but I guess it is a cyclocross bike...I know precisely nothing about about those! Are they a cross between a road racer and a hybrid??

 

[Norm]

Tell me what a hybrid is and I'll tell you how the Tricross differs.

It's a road bike (drop bars) with greater beef (more strength in the design and build), more "relaxed" geometry (higher handlebars, for instance), cassette (the rear gears) from an MTB for lower ratios, tyres which work well off and on roads, canti brakes (to give good braking whilst still leaving room for mud) and a character which will have you following your nose, wherever it points whether on tarmac, gravel, grass or mud.

I'm the same weight as you and I guess I have similar requirements as I did about 15 miles today off-roading with the kids, followed by about 20 on the tarmac solo. In the past 2 years, I've done 1,200 miles on my MTB (a Giant Talon), 1,100 miles on my roadbike (Specialized Secteur) and 1,400 on my cx (the previously mentioned Tricross) and there are no issues whatsoever with my weight on any of these bikes.

If I was to have just one bike, it would be the Tricross. If I was to have one to go with the MTB, though, it would be the road bike.

Please don't get another bike with front suspension! You've already got that in your MTB. Get something that is going to be different enough to notice the difference.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Norm has said all that needs to be said.

 

[TheBoyBilly]

+1 with Norm. Suspension will sap your energy more and will very likely add weight for no discernible benefit. Knobbly MTB tyres don't roll well on road either. As I read your post I had an idea Norm would mention the Sirrus and he is giving you good advice if you like flat bars. Others to consider are the Trek FX series which come at all manner of budgets but are all worthy. If you would consider a road bike but don't want it to focused there is always the Specialized Secteur. Watch out for bargains as the 2012 models are coming out meaning decent discounts on 2011 bikes (there are even 'new' 2010 bikes about if you look hard enough), often for just the difference of a colour scheme.

Bill

 

[MacB]

Just to add to the mix a bit, though I agree with the gist of Norms advice, there are frames with bigger clearances than Tricross/Sirrus. Not as widespread in the UK as in Europe and certainly way 'behind' the US. But a fully rigid 29er would fit the bill or you get get something like a Surly or a Salsa, or Singular do some nice bikes/frames. Something I have recently discovered, or realised, about a couple of bikes I've had/have. These are disc brake specific frames with clearance for up to a 700x44 tyre. There's nothing to stop you having a second wheelset in 26" size and you can fit a 2" tyre in the frame easily with that. The end result gives almost identical trail(as in fork trail) and BB height to running the bike with 700x23 tyres.

It might cost a few quid more but you can pick up a 26" disc wheelset pretty cheap second hand. Then, rather than faffing changing tyres for the type of riding, you can just swap the wheelset and cassette over. Keep the 26" wheels setup for offroad and the 700c for road.

By the way this would be feasible with the Crosstrail and you could also get some rigid forks for it if you felt the front suspension was holding you back. I got a Crosstrail Pro for my eldest and must say I've been impressed with the bike. It also has the rear disc brake caliper mounted on the chainstay which makes slinging a rack on easy.

 

[Norm]

Good suggestions from Mac there. The OP was looking at a pair of Spesh bikes, so I thought I'd go with the flow there, rather than broadening the search to include Surly etc. There are a gazillion good choices out there (Genesis Day 01 Flat Bar, as another idea, or the Cannondale Bad Boy, Bianchi Camaleonte, Forme Brute... etc)

Also, just to be clear, I'm not dissing either of the bikes in the original post, just that I don't think they'll be suitable. I'm also looking at a Crosstrail for Small #1.

 

[PatG]

Jeese choosing a bike is a complicated thing nowadays

I have had a look at the cyclo-cross bikes and maybe I am being a bit dumb (quite possible as my knowledge is very limited) but a cyclo-cross bike just looks like a solid fork Hybrid with drop bars fitted or maybe it is that hybrids are just cyclo-cross bikes with flat bars fitted. In fact I noticed that the same bike/s in one store are listed under CX in one and Hybrid in another so I guess they are very similar?

I have also looked at some of the bikes that have been suggested and to be honest in terms of spec they don't seem as good value as the Spesh CT and there seems to be a premium on calling a bike a cyclo-cross bike.

I understand the comment about having fixed forks (which having looked around seems a relatively cheap change if required) I cant see the difference between a hybrid and a CX...Same size wheels...geometry looks similar...only difference seems to be drop bars....Have I completely missed the point?

PS. Forgot to say, I am now off the idea of converting the MTB for road use and focused on getting the right multi-purpose road/trail ride.

 

[Norm]

From the frequent references to hybrid as if it means something, I'm disappointed to think that you aren't actually looking too deeply at the bike, just the tags.

Why are you looking at another bike with front suspension? You already have a "half decent MTB" and your first post said that it didn't work on the roads and rides you wanted to take. You will be, IMO, wasting your money.

 

[PatG]

From the frequent references to hybrid as if it means something, I'm disappointed to think that you aren't actually looking too deeply at the bike, just the tags.

Why are you looking at another bike with front suspension? You already have a "half decent MTB" and your first post said that it didn't work on the roads and rides you wanted to take. You will be, IMO, wasting your money.

I must be really missing the point......having trawled through my local cycle shops only to receive inconsistent advice, I have come onto a specialist forum and asked for some advice from the knowledgeable members. I have taken that advice on-board which has lead me to discount the converted MTB route but has pushed me towards looking at the cyclo-cross bikes. Now having looked at the CX bikes and compared specs in terms of components and geometry I am struggling to see any major differences between what the cycle industry call a "Hybrid" and what they call a "Cyclo-Cross". These are industry terms not mine! I completely get that fixed forks are better for road work but as I said in my last post, it seems a cheap conversion to fixed forks if the lock-out function on the suspension forks isn't much good. So what have I failed to do that is so disappointing?

 

[Oldbloke]

I must be really missing the point......having trawled through my local cycle shops only to receive inconsistent advice, I have come onto a specialist forum and asked for some advice from the knowledgeable members. I have taken that advice on-board which has lead me to discount the converted MTB route but has pushed me towards looking at the cyclo-cross bikes. Now having looked at the CX bikes and compared specs in terms of components and geometry I am struggling to see any major differences between what the cycle industry call a "Hybrid" and what they call a "Cyclo-Cross". These are industry terms not mine! I completely get that fixed forks are better for road work but as I said in my last post, it seems a cheap conversion to fixed forks if the lock-out function on the suspension forks isn't much good. So what have I failed to do that is so disappointing?

Generally cyclo-cross bikes will be tougher & more suitable for offroading with better capacity for fatter tyres than the so called "hybrid" but no doubt there will be others expand or contradict this.

I find my crosser perfect for forest tracks, canal paths etc & can change to road tyres easily to use as my winter road bike.

Only way to be sure is go & test ride a few.