cyclocoss or road?

1229 said:

Only room for one bike. A cyclocross bike will allow me to use local offroad tracks but do these type of bikes have any downside for road use? Only ever had a mountain bike.

My opinion from looking at them and talking to people - they might not be as sporty as a full-on road bike, but with the right tires, pretty darn close.

If I only had room for one bike that is what I would have, but I'd probably invest in a pretty decent quality bike. I'd also probably have two sets of wheels - one with the cyclocross tires and another, lighter, more aero, "roadie" set with smooth treaded 25 or 28 width tires. You can get awfully decent wheels for recreational use for $200 or less.

Camilo said:

My opinion from looking at them and talking to people - they might not be as sporty as a full-on road bike, but with the right tires, pretty darn close.

If I only had room for one bike that is what I would have, but I'd probably invest in a pretty decent quality bike. I'd also probably have two sets of wheels - one with the cyclocross tires and another, lighter, more aero, "roadie" set with smooth treaded 25 or 28 width tires. You can get awfully decent wheels for recreational use for $200 or less.

Unless you plan to race competitively on the road, get a decent cyclocross bike, and two wheelsets. I ride an Eddy Merckx Alu Cross. When I'm knocking out the miles with my roadie friends, I have the Aero Campagnolo Vento Wheelset with nice Vittoria Open Corsa CX tires at 700 by 23. (Maximum Speed Descending during a recent metric Century: 46.4 mph)

When I'm loaded touring or off-roading, I switch the wheelset to my Mavic Open Pro Rims with 700 by 35 Touring Tires or 700 by 32 Knobby Cross tires.

The cyclocross bike is the Swiss Army knife of bikes. I can't recommend one enough.
I have never had a problem on the road because of the bike.

strummer_fan said:

Unless you plan to race competitively on the road, get a decent cyclocross bike, and two wheelsets. I ride an Eddy Merckx Alu Cross. When I'm knocking out the miles with my roadie friends, I have the Aero Campagnolo Vento Wheelset with nice Vittoria Open Corsa CX tires at 700 by 23. (Maximum Speed Descending during a recent metric Century: 46.4 mph)

When I'm loaded touring or off-roading, I switch the wheelset to my Mavic Open Pro Rims with 700 by 35 Touring Tires or 700 by 32 Knobby Cross tires.

The cyclocross bike is the Swiss Army knife of bikes. I can't recommend one enough.
I have never had a problem on the road because of the bike.

Hi

On the Mavic website i believe the Open Pro Rims are suggested with max 700 x 28 tires ? Is that so ?

Thanks

youhaditcoming said:

Hi

On the Mavic website i believe the Open Pro Rims are suggested with max 700 x 28 tires ? Is that so ?

Thanks

Last Fall, I completed a loaded tour of 650KM off-road in 5 days using Panaracer Pasela TourGuards at 700 by 35 on my Mavic Open Pros.

Not a single flat. Not a single problem. I plead ignorance to the Factory recommendations.

The Specialized Tri Cross Comp has 3 chainrings if you need help on the hills. I'
ve had mine since October and love it. I use it as a road bike.

See my new thread... JUST ORDERED MY TRICROSS COMP for use on road and somem light trails. Can't wait to it to arrive!

Thanks to all for your advice. I am sure now that a cyclocross bike is for me. So this weekend it will be down to a lbs to see whats available.🙂

Cyclecross bike that fits!