Reach - CX vs Road Bike

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old bell

Well-Known Member
Only recently taking up cycling I have been riding a cyclocross bike on the road using road tyres. I am now looking at a proper road bike and noticing tthat the reach on the road bike is further(ie top tube + stem), the chap selling it says the riding position on a cx bike is generally more upright, so the reach on the road bike will be further. The difference being an inch or two. I didn't want to doubt him but can anyone confirm whether this is the case. Thanks.
 

Norm

Guest
That all depends on the frame size. Naturally.

My road bike is a 52, the cx is a 54. Whatever works for you and your shape on your rides at your speeds and fitness.

If anything, though, I'd say that he was wrong. Road bikes, if for speed rather than distance, are generally more compact because that hunched body position allows you to use your core muscles for power, as well as your legs.
 

PaulSecteur

No longer a Specialized fanboy
I have a Secteur, which is one of the more upright road bike, and just got a tricross, both in 56.

The tricross was more of a stretch, not helped by the 120mm stem. I have just change it to a 90mm and more upright stem and its better now, when a trail gets a bit rough I can grab it and put it where I want, where as when its was stretched out I didnt have the leverage over it. Most of my riding with the tricross is raod and smooth towpaths, If I was using it for proper cyclo cross I think I would need a size or 2 smaller so I could really man-handle it.

As everm the only way is to get yer but on one!
 
OP
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old bell

Well-Known Member
That's funny. My CX is 52 and the road bike I'm looking at is 54. All the guides seem to suggest that someone who is 5' 9'' should go for a 54 bike, but the cx at 52 seems to fit well. I put this down to the fact that a cx had different geometry.

The chap who is selling the road bike is fraction shorter than me, so it would tend to suggest the road bike is OK, but the bike although 2nd hand is expensive and I don't want to make a mistake. My difficulty is that because I am fairly new to cycling I don't have the experience to guide me, so need to seek advice.
 
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