CX compared to Road

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jowwy

Can't spell, Can't Punctuate....Sue Me
That Focus CX bike was on my shortlist but in the end I stuck with Cannondale ...

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I'm sure that it would be almost as nippy as my CAAD5 road bike if it had narrower, slick tyres on it. If you wanted to run just one bike and could afford it, I'd suggest getting a CX bike and an identical second pair of wheels. Have CX tyres on one, and slicks on the other, then it would only take a couple of minutes to switch the bike between road and offroad modes by changing the wheels over.
Which is exactly what i do with me Ti......
 

DRHysted

Guru
Location
New Forest
I have an Allez 24 & Boardman CX.
The Boardman is at least 2 mph slower and takes a lot of effort to keep it going even putting 28mm 4 season tyres on.
The Boardman also has full mudguards, rack, and dynohub lighting. The Allez has clip on mudguards, rack and dynohub lighting.
The Boardmans components started wearing out at about 3000 miles. The Allez managed about 5000.
For 3/4 of the year the Allez is my go to commute bike, but when ice comes in the Boardman gets spiked tyres (this makes it more heavy and hard going mind) and goes through anything.

Saying all the above I have recently put Continental speed cross tyres on the Boardman and started using it as a gravel bike across the New Forest. Here it feels brilliant.
 

jowwy

Can't spell, Can't Punctuate....Sue Me
I have an Allez 24 & Boardman CX.
The Boardman is at least 2 mph slower and takes a lot of effort to keep it going even putting 28mm 4 season tyres on.
The Boardman also has full mudguards, rack, and dynohub lighting. The Allez has clip on mudguards, rack and dynohub lighting.
The Boardmans components started wearing out at about 3000 miles. The Allez managed about 5000.
For 3/4 of the year the Allez is my go to commute bike, but when ice comes in the Boardman gets spiked tyres (this makes it more heavy and hard going mind) and goes through anything.

Saying all the above I have recently put Continental speed cross tyres on the Boardman and started using it as a gravel bike across the New Forest. Here it feels brilliant.
maybe the wheels on the boardman are heavy with rubbish hubs............also tyres can make such a difference with rolling resistance
 

DRHysted

Guru
Location
New Forest
maybe the wheels on the boardman are heavy with rubbish hubs............also tyres can make such a difference with rolling resistance
Yes they were rubbish, I had no end of problems with the rear breaking spokes, and the freehub only lasted 2500 miles. So I had custom wheels made (needed it for the dynohub), which did little to improve her.

Don't get me wrong she's a good bike (well she is now that nearly all the components have been changed), but for road riding the Allez is better. Hence I've changed her to a gravel bike, she feels so planted doing 17 mph+ on the gravel tracks of the New Forest.
 
Without reading the whole thread, I have one of both and agree with DRHystedr. However the road bike is a lot more snappier and lighter so for short blats its great. However, come winter I much prefer the disc braked CX bike - fatter tires, more stable geometry etc

I think when the new breed of disc braked road bikes come out, and run say 30-32mm tires and guards then I would much prefer a lighter snappier bike and their geometry should be more stable than my racing crit bike.
 
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