700C or 29" "cyclocross?"

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

I think my MTB has had it, and since its 17 yrs. old and doesn't fit
properly, its time to move on. At least 90% of my riding is on the
road -- partially because I'm too much of a klutz for the technical
stuff. Therefore, since I don't really do the rough stuff -- and I
just prefer the fit of a road bar -- I decided to go for a cyclocross
bike. Thing I'm still debating is if it would be better to get a
regular cross bike, or get a 29er MTB frame and build it up with a
road bar/components. Since there's no suspension, I'd prefer the
larger tires of a 29er. Also, I definately need the granny gears.
(The cross bikes I've seen seem to all have something like 38/48
chainrings. Do any of them have lower gearing?)Since I'll only be
using it a few times a month, I don't want to -- nor can I afford to --
spend a whole lot. Any suggestions . . . ?

Do the 29er, baby!

--
http://homepage.mac.com/cuthulu/blog/blog1.html
Vegan Reich!
http://www.meetyourmeat.com/

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I think my MTB has had it, and since its 17 yrs. old and doesn't fit
properly, its time to move on. At least 90% of my riding is on the
road -- partially because I'm too much of a klutz for the technical
stuff. Therefore, since I don't really do the rough stuff -- and I
just prefer the fit of a road bar -- I decided to go for a cyclocross
bike. Thing I'm still debating is if it would be better to get a
regular cross bike, or get a 29er MTB frame and build it up with a
road bar/components. Since there's no suspension, I'd prefer the
larger tires of a 29er. Also, I definately need the granny gears.
(The cross bikes I've seen seem to all have something like 38/48
chainrings. Do any of them have lower gearing?)Since I'll only be
using it a few times a month, I don't want to -- nor can I afford to --
spend a whole lot. Any suggestions . . . ?

Are you handy enough to set up a new bike---tune the derailleurs and such?
Then there are some deals to be had in cyclocross bikes.

Motobecane Fantom Cross---$795 from Bikes Direct
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_cross_preorder100.htm

Ibex X-Ray Sport----$499 plus shipping from Ibexbikes.com
http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/X-RAY-SPT-Details.html

The Ibex has a triple, while the Motobecane has a double. I like the looks
of the Ibex better, because the wheels are sturdier. They appear to be 36h,
while the Motobecane has low spoke count. Either bike should be good for
your intended purpose. Unless, of course, you want to build up a Surly
Karate Monkey with a drop bar:

http://www.surlybikes.com/karatemonkey.html

I think a KM with discs, fenders, and a drop bar would make a heck of a foul
weather commuter.

On Sat, 27 Jan 2007 23:51:43 -0500, Gooserider typed:

Quoted message said:

Ibex X-Ray Sport----$499 plus shipping from Ibexbikes.com
http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/X-RAY-SPT-Details.html

Hot damn! If I'd known about that deal in August, I'd likely not be riding
my Redline 925 fixie as my city hucker--and I just love my 925. Add some
Freddy Fenders and that's a brilliant do everything bike. Two fork eyelets
on each side, now we're talking. Non fussy 8spd drivetrain with stupid
cheap spares for when they get trashed over the winter. Nice. Oryx cantis.
Mmmmm. I love cantis. Even the tires are a smart spec. Ritchey Speedmax
isn't my first choice, but it's at least fairly quiet on the road and you
can do fire roads on it if you're careful. :-D

Looks good!

In article <[email hidden]>,

Gooserider said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I think my MTB has had it, and since its 17 yrs. old and doesn't fit
properly, its time to move on. At least 90% of my riding is on the
road -- partially because I'm too much of a klutz for the technical
stuff. Therefore, since I don't really do the rough stuff -- and I
just prefer the fit of a road bar -- I decided to go for a cyclocross
bike. Thing I'm still debating is if it would be better to get a
regular cross bike, or get a 29er MTB frame and build it up with a
road bar/components. Since there's no suspension, I'd prefer the
larger tires of a 29er. Also, I definately need the granny gears.
(The cross bikes I've seen seem to all have something like 38/48
chainrings. Do any of them have lower gearing?)Since I'll only be
using it a few times a month, I don't want to -- nor can I afford to --
spend a whole lot. Any suggestions . . . ?

Are you handy enough to set up a new bike---tune the derailleurs and such?
Then there are some deals to be had in cyclocross bikes.

Motobecane Fantom Cross---$795 from Bikes Direct
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_cross_preorder100.htm

Ibex X-Ray Sport----$499 plus shipping from Ibexbikes.com
http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/X-RAY-SPT-Details.html

The Ibex has a triple, while the Motobecane has a double.

That Ibex looks like a smokin deal, though the Motobecane does come with
a 9-speed Tiagra setup.

For my money, the Ibex is surely the better value, and with the triple
will satisfy your granny needs. That looks to be an indestructible
little machine.

It's not certain, but most 'cross bikes can run pretty fat _slick_
tires. If you're really doing 90% of your riding on the road, then a
'cross bike with slicks (or very un-knobby knobbies) is likely the best
choice. It's hard to ride a truly slick-tired bike on a muddy path, but
slick tires work acceptably well on gravel, and I think you should bias
your tires to work really well on the surface you do 90% of your riding
on.

Given your needs, I think that unless there's a really cheap 29er out
there you have your eye on, that this Ibex is about the best route.

It isn't the only CX triple: many low-end or do-all CX bikes also have
triples. The Kona Jake, for example, is a close match to the Ibex in
spec, right down to the triple.

However, if you move up to the racier Jake the Snake, you get two rings
up front.

But dang, that Ibex is cheap!

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos

Quoted message said:

I think my MTB has had it, and since its 17 yrs. old and doesn't fit
properly, its time to move on. At least 90% of my riding is on the
road -- partially because I'm too much of a klutz for the technical
stuff. Therefore, since I don't really do the rough stuff -- and I
just prefer the fit of a road bar -- I decided to go for a cyclocross
bike. Thing I'm still debating is if it would be better to get a
regular cross bike, or get a 29er MTB frame and build it up with a
road bar/components. Since there's no suspension, I'd prefer the
larger tires of a 29er. Also, I definately need the granny gears.
(The cross bikes I've seen seem to all have something like 38/48
chainrings. Do any of them have lower gearing?)Since I'll only be
using it a few times a month, I don't want to -- nor can I afford to --
spend a whole lot. Any suggestions . . . ?

You'd be a lot better going with a bike designed for drop bars than
trying to force a MTB to work with them. Perhaps you'd get lucky and
the geometry would work for your particular fit issues - but maybe
not. There are plenty of places that'll build up a 'cross bikes to
the specs you want, including MTB gearing, though doing so will no
doubt cost more than some of the suggestions you've gotten from
others.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame