Cx bike for commuting (and sportive rides eventually)

[theloafer]

I think I saw one of these in Halfords yesterday, looked amazing in the flesh. Does yours have the extra set of brake levers on the middle of the handlebars?

yes Andrew... and I have changed tyres to 28 m+

 

[jamin100]

I've had the top leavers taken off my boardman cx team and have fitted conti gp4000s 25c

It's a brilliant bike

 

[PlymSlimCyclist]

There is a 'fad' for having a CX bike for the commute. It's generally down to the disc brakes folk are going for these.

Either a road bike or a CX will do, personally I have a road bike (3), and an MTB for off road. If you've got a mix or surfaces then a CX bike is quite good. If it's 100% tarmac, then get a road bike.

@fossyant , I'm only considering the CX, due to it's hybrid (correct me if I'm wrong) of MTB and Road/Racer. Which I believe would give me the strength of the MTB and the speed / agility of the Road/Racing bike.

Basically, I'm 149kg (give or take), and although I'm not looking at getting one this side of the year (at the minute), I'd like to be able to pick up speed on the roads for my commute and anything else I do, but it is predominantly all road cycling I do. The only "offroad" cycling I've done since being back in the saddle, was riding the Camel Trail last year, that's pretty much loose gravel, and then Coast to Coast (Ilfracombe to Plymouth) where some of it was dirt / mud, but so little of it we were soon back on the roads.

The thing I'm dubious about road bikes, is purely their build. Plymouth (along with everywhere else) is plagued with potholes and neglected roads. I'd hate to get caught in one and have a bike wr

 

[sazzaa]

Cx bikes are built for winter, so it makes sense for a winter commute, especially if you're on mixed terrain. Roads round here are pretty rubbish too, I have no desire for a road bike tbh.

 

[PlymSlimCyclist]

I'd probably make it a year-round commuter to be honest, but we'll see.
I know once I get it, I'll be buying some slicks for the beast

 

[SquareDaff]

Cx bikes are built for winter, so it makes sense for a winter commute, especially if you're on mixed terrain. Roads round here are pretty rubbish too.......

Precisely what I use mine for. My Boardman CX soaks up all the pothole strewn roads and the winter weather.
Have just given mine it's half yearly clean and brought the roadie out of hibernation. The CX will now work as a wet weather bike as it has mudguards fitted all year round.

 

[SquareDaff]

Have just given mine it's half yearly clean

That makes me sound like a right minger - by that I mean a strip, removal of build up crud, regrease and put it all back together type clean. I wash the salt, mud and stuff off my bike every week!!

 

[PlymSlimCyclist]

That makes me sound like a right minger - by that I mean a strip, removal of build up crud, regrease and put it all back together type clean. I wash the salt, mud and stuff off my bike every week!!

...minger... haha!

I wish I were brave enough to strip my bike down and clean it like that. For now I do light stuff and just regrease it (although it does need cleaned and greased up again now).

 

[SquareDaff]

...minger... haha!

I wish I were brave enough to strip my bike down and clean it like that. For now I do light stuff and just regrease it (although it does need cleaned and greased up again now).

I started like that - just have a go at fixing things yourself when they go wrong and you'll be surprised how quickly you gain experience! Lots of knowledgeable people in the "Know How" section of this forum if you get stuck too.

 

[PlymSlimCyclist]

I started like that - just have a go at fixing things yourself when they go wrong and you'll be surprised how quickly you gain experience! Lots of knowledgeable people in the "Know How" section of this forum if you get stuck too.

Haha, I just use my LBS. As I've a naff shoulder, it saves the pain and annoyance at myself when I can't do it. (changing a simple tyre was not a simple task).

 

[Harv]

I'd go for a road bike over cx if your purely on tarmac.

The bikes are very sturdy nowadays.

If i went for cx I'd miss the speed loss and always be thinking I could have got something faster. If I want a slower more leisurely ride I'll go out on my hybrid or the Brompton.

 

[BSRU]

I'd go for a road bike over cx if your purely on tarmac.

The bikes are very sturdy nowadays.

If i went for cx I'd miss the speed loss and always be thinking I could have got something faster. If I want a slower more leisurely ride I'll go out on my hybrid or the Brompton.

CX bikes aren't slow, why would they be since they are just road bikes with bigger clearance for wider tyres.

 

[Harv]

I thought you'd loose speed with the thicker tyres and extra weight.

 

[PlymSlimCyclist]

I thought you'd loose speed with the thicker tyres and extra weight.

I'd be riding with slicks anyway, as I do with my MTB, only additional weight to the bike would be full mudguards and a pannier rack (ok, and my fat arse too).

 

[BSRU]

I thought you'd loose speed with the thicker tyres and extra weight.

Thicker tyres and an extra kilo or two make no real difference to most. The engine is the most important part.