New and impressionable cycler (Advice wanted)

Cyclocross bikes have you much "lower" than a standard hybrid bike (the position is more like a road bike position, rather than fairly upright). The wheels on a cyclocross might be a little narrower than a hybrid.

I'll admit that I'm nowhere near an expert on (the nuances of) different bike frames (contrary to what my post count may suggest), and maybe someone else will help you more.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com might help.

keydates said:

sheldonbrown.comsheldonbrown.comOpen ↗ might help.

It did. Lots of interesting links and illuminating articles. For my specific needs ATM it didn't resolve all, but thanks anyway.

I found this site, reviews pretty much everything. I find it handy and hope it helps you with some of your questions. I'm thinking you can use it to find different brands and compare prices while looking at some reviews (for those bikes that have reviews). Here it is roadbikereview.comdefaultcrx.aspxOpen ↗

Lord Chambers said:

Hiyo. I'm preparing to make my first real bike purchase to commute to campus and work, and I've been doing tons of research to find out what bike is right for me.

<snip>

(a)I will mostly be riding on streets ....
(b)I don't want to be completely limited from riding [ ] trails with a street bike
(c)I'm thinking a cyclocross style bike would best fit the bill.

For (a) : I do a similar 10 mile each way commute. Suggest any comfortable bike of the right size, with room and fittings for a rack and fenders. ( You may not ride in the rain, but if it rains even briefly while you are work, you'll want to ride back without getting wet from the road surface ). The rack, of course, for whatever you are going to carry. If you have strong feelings about not having a rack, a saddlebag works too, especially on smaller wheeled bikes ( mountain bikes ) where the saddle/wheel clearance is a little higher. Carradice and others make saddlebags. You could use a rucksack if you dont mind carrying the weight on your body - and perhaps a sweaty back - but a rack or saddlebag will really make the commute more relaxing. Good for quick shopping errands too.

"Comfortable bike of the right size" with the appropriate fittings can be had in either road, "cross", or mountain bike types. For casual use as you describe, something with a more upright riding position may be more comfortable and allow you to see the scenery. As a rule of thumb, any type of bike sized so that the handlebars are at least level with the seat when correctly adjusted for you would fit this.

(b) Unless you intend to get airborn on your bike, you can ride park trails on any bike... even a road one. It wont break. Okay, if you choose a custom lighweight road bike intended for one race and built like a Ming vase, maybe ... But if you chose a bike ( even a road bike ) with clearance for wide treaded tyres|tires ( say, 28-38mm wide ) you'll find it comfortable and fast on the road, and fine on park trails. Really. Road bikes that have this clearance are pretty rare now, catering to the Lance wannabe crowd, but "cross" bikes seem to continue the tradition.

It might also be a little lighter than a similar priced mountain bike ( due to not having suspension / heavy rims and tyres / heavy frame, and perhaps easier to service ( simpler ).

(c) I would go try a few bikes out if you can, rather than decide in theory then hunt down on the web a bike thats fits the theory... its more work than browsing but I think the result can be better. If you have been led to believe something "meatier" than a normal bike is necessary to ride off a road, I think you may have been misled. It may be fun, different, exciting, but not, definitely not, necessary !!

I guess you can tell I think that for someone "mostly riding on streets" maybe a cyclocross bike is a bit much 🙂

enough, and have fun chosing,

JJ

I have to agree with the last poster- cyclo bikes are expensive and there are not many out there to choose from.

I didn't see if the question "what is the difference between a hybrid and a cyclocross bike" was answered, so I guess I can help there- A hybrid is generally compact frame geometry (sloped top tube) where as the cross is never (it is intended to be carried on the shoulder for part of the event). Hybrids have flat bars and cross bikes have drops. Hybrids have 32-38 c tires, typically with a light tread, and the cross tires are typically the same sizes but treaded like a mountain bike. Most of the cross bikes I know of do not have V-brakes, which makes the addition of fenders or racks (for winter) more difficult. Hybrids are also less expensive with lower end componentry...but they do the job. I have a Giant Cypress hybrid that is the bottom of the line- It cost about $250 and I have ridden the hell out of it since I got it-probably like 2000 miles or more. It is heavy and I don't really like the gearing, but I have used it on every imaginable terrain (It now even has cyclocross tires on it)- It climbs in dirt like a goat, and if I break something it is inexpensive to fix... Best part, If someone cut the lock while I am in class, I'm, not heartbroken. Course, this first bike got me into cycling, and I have a roadie that I never lock up, which cost a lot more, which I have to adjust all the time (shes a fickle beast). Anyway- get a point a to b bike first and ride the hell out of it- if you like it, then get the $1600+ cyclocross bike...who knows, you may even want to race it
Last- ride everything you can, and do not get a mountain bike for commuting (gawd they are heavy- I see so many of them out on the road with people just DYING on em), don't let them talk you into a suspension front end, and no, you don't need disk breaks- v-brakes modulate better anyway
Cheers, and happy riding

I commute on a bianchi volpe, it's somewhere between a cross bike and a touring bike and it's great. pretty affordable too. Might want to check it out.

I've pretty much decided to go with LeMond Poprad. It's the only cyclocross my LBS has in stock, and it coincidentally was the first one I fell in love with when starting to research.

As for riding on park trails, I'm not talking about a nice, smooth path that just happens to be dirt. I'm talking about some moderately craggy trails, and actually, the harder the stuff my bike can handle the more I'll be taking it into rougher areas, so there's little risk of getting too rugged a bike for my needs. I figure the steel frame of the Poprad would be a good catch-all in case I get too rough on it, even for a cyclocross bike.

Once I get the $950-okay from my dad, the only issues left to settle will be to get sized up ($35 charge at my LBS) and then get accesories. Lights, helmet, fenders, a seat that won't leave me impotent after ten years, and perhaps an extra set of tires so I can have slicks for the streets, and the little nobby ones for riding rails.

Would it even be worthwhile to get different tires, since the knobby cyclocross ones aren't actually even that knobby?

Lord Chambers said:

Would it even be worthwhile to get different tires, since the knobby cyclocross ones aren't actually even that knobby?

I wouldn't get them. Changing tires is not a spontaneous thing, it's work, and it sounds like you really haven't had enough experience to settle on your mix of road/trail riding yet. Ride what your bike came with and spend some time figuring out what kind of roads or trails you like, then maybe make a one time change in tires to accomodate your riding preferences.

It does sound like an mtb might be more what you want? Have you considered that? Cyclocross will obviously go off road, but you might find it easier and more fun with a proper mountain bike. Cheaper too - you could get a spare set of wheels with different tyres on then so save the hassle of changing tyres. And modern mtbs are fast and light, even the lower end ones.

Lord Chambers said:

I've pretty much decided to go with LeMond Poprad. It's the only cyclocross my LBS has in stock, and it coincidentally was the first one I fell in love with when starting to research.

As for riding on park trails, I'm not talking about a nice, smooth path that just happens to be dirt. I'm talking about some moderately craggy trails, and actually, the harder the stuff my bike can handle the more I'll be taking it into rougher areas, so there's little risk of getting too rugged a bike for my needs. I figure the steel frame of the Poprad would be a good catch-all in case I get too rough on it, even for a cyclocross bike.

Once I get the $950-okay from my dad, the only issues left to settle will be to get sized up ($35 charge at my LBS) and then get accesories. Lights, helmet, fenders, a seat that won't leave me impotent after ten years, and perhaps an extra set of tires so I can have slicks for the streets, and the little nobby ones for riding rails.

Would it even be worthwhile to get different tires, since the knobby cyclocross ones aren't actually even that knobby?

sheep_robby said:

It does sound like an mtb might be more what you want?

No, because the goal isn't to get something to go bouncing around in the hills with, it's to get something I may be using to commute for the next three years. The ability to take advantage of the scenery I have around me is added benefit that a cyclocross bike offers over a road bike.

I've got a couple more questions though. I would think that well before a frame actually wore out from bumps and other off-road experiences the wheels or something else would give out. Is that the case? If you were to take a road bike up into the hills and beat it up, what would be the first indication of misuse? What would break first?

Your LBS is charging you for sizing and your buying the bike from them??? I would tell them to kiss my ass, even if it is only $35

But why do you think a mountain bike is no good for commuting? I've done 7.5k miles commuting on mine now, and i think its perfect for the job. And i think you will find a cross bike is not the best thing in the world for bumpy trails, even if you only get out cross country occasionally. A mountain bike is a good cheap all round option in my opinion, especially if you are new to cycling.

Lord Chambers said:

No, because the goal isn't to get something to go bouncing around in the hills with, it's to get something I may be using to commute for the next three years. The ability to take advantage of the scenery I have around me is added benefit that a cyclocross bike offers over a road bike.

I've got a couple more questions though. I would think that well before a frame actually wore out from bumps and other off-road experiences the wheels or something else would give out. Is that the case? If you were to take a road bike up into the hills and beat it up, what would be the first indication of misuse? What would break first?

7.5k miles? Are we talking Kilometers or miles here? Either way, it's a pretty short trip and weight would not be a factor. If you were talking 15-20 miles weight would be more important...and mountain bikes are not known for their lightness. They are great for rain, and lousy roads, so I guess it factors in- I periodically do a 35 miler on my 20 year old Marin Eldridge grade...it quickly reminds me of why I bought the roadie- but it is a good workout none-the-less. I think if you are new to cycling, the Poprad is a great choice- it is THE bike (I like the Bianchi Axis better...but oh well) for those who can have only one bike. I just can't seem to have just one

Lord Chambers said:

Hiyo. I'm preparing to make my first real bike purchase to commute to campus and work, and I've been doing tons of research to find out what bike is right for me.

I will mostly be riding on streets, no more than 10 miles a day (until I find that cycling is my new favorite hobby, I suspect), but I live in a very nice town where there are parks and paths aplenty. I don't want to be completely limited from riding these trails with a street bike, so I'm thinking a cyclocross style bike would best fit the bill. I just have a few more questions whose answers are tough to pin down.

Aside from the handlebars, is there really any difference between a "hybrid" and a "cyclocross" bike? So far it just seems to be a difference of "low-end" and "high-end."
My google searches for "cyclocross bikes" have been pretty unsuccessful on getting an overview of the market. If someone with the knowledge and experience could help frame that for me, I would really appreciate it. So far I really have only heard of a few makes and models (LeMond Poprad, Felt F1X, Marin Highway One) and without any experience, I'm not able to discern the differences between them. I'm also having a hard time finding rough prices for bikes, which makes pinning down exactly what bike I want more difficult.

And should someone be so inclined as to share a few of their bookmarked sites with reviews, glossaries, or other interesting reads, I would love to take advantage.

Thanks in advance, and I apologize for the semi do-the-work-for-me nature of this post (I dislike those kinds of posts on boards where I'm more of an expert [though I really understand the value of replies when someone is new to a field]).

check out bianchiusa.com I saw a nice cyclo cross for $850, Bianchi makes some very nice bikes.

Erm 7.5k miles = 7,500 miles. I do a 25 mile round trip commuting, on my mountain bike. It does the job nicely, and makes the road bike feel that much more nimble.

Telegram Sam said:

7.5k miles? Are we talking Kilometers or miles here? Either way, it's a pretty short trip and weight would not be a factor. If you were talking 15-20 miles weight would be more important...and mountain bikes are not known for their lightness. They are great for rain, and lousy roads, so I guess it factors in- I periodically do a 35 miler on my 20 year old Marin Eldridge grade...it quickly reminds me of why I bought the roadie- but it is a good workout none-the-less. I think if you are new to cycling, the Poprad is a great choice- it is THE bike (I like the Bianchi Axis better...but oh well) for those who can have only one bike. I just can't seem to have just one

So I'm not really sure how bike manufacturers operate, but my LBS doesn't have any idea when they'll be getting in new LeMond Poprads, Bianchi Volpes, or whatever. So I'm getting very desperate and am looking to ebay. My question is, are these two bikes good deals?

2002 Poprad for $550
2001 Poprad for $455

In particular I'm wondering about the components. I'm not knowledgable about them much beyond that Shimano is the best. Is there anything on either of these bikes that raises a red flag for anyone? Other than the 2001 being horribly horribly ugly?

Since I've been fitted at the bike shop, and know 55cm is an ideal size frame, I'm very interested in getting the 2002 Poprad, presuming no one here suggests strongly otherwise.

But somethings gotta be up right? For a new bike to be that cheap? Someone tell me what I'm missing! Explain why there are no bids!

Oh how I would love for anyone with more than zero cycling experience (me) to just give me their impression. It's really nerve racking to spend $550 on my first Ebay purchase when there are 0 bids and it seems like a really good deal.