CycloCross anyone?

SXIPro

SXIPro

JM781 Big Bore
Location
Here on the 'X' mostly
So I've been trying to decide which way to go on my next bike. I ride road and trails but nothing crazy like rock hopping or bombing down mountainsides. I was initially looking at hybrids, but my son said I am not old enough yet to go that direction and pointed me towards CycloCross, which in all honesty I had never even heard of.

I've been searching Craigslist, but I may just grab one of the Motobecane's off bikesdirect.com. They have some with pretty decent components that I can get for $499 shipped.

Anyone have a recommendation?
 
Big Kahuna

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
Are you going to race?
Are you going to ride dirt roads?
Are you going to ride flat trails?

For riding trails, they are not the best suited or comfortable.

What are you riding now? Kind?
 
SuperJETT

SuperJETT

So long and thanks for all the fish
Location
none
Most of our trails in Louisville are cx-friendly but you need to stand up a lot for rooty sections or your butt will pay the price. They are very versatile bikes though, you can put slicks on for road rides and knobbies for trails and as long as they have the attachment points, you can add racks/bags for touring as well.

If your trails are like our's, urban park trails, they'll be very smooth/worn in and rideable on a cyclocross bike.
 
SXIPro

SXIPro

JM781 Big Bore
Location
Here on the 'X' mostly
I am not going to race......yet.

Dirt roads... yes(I live on one). Paved roads and paved 'rail trails' as well.
Most dirt trails will be 'walking trails' through the woods with some decent hills. No rocks, roots or stuff like that. Of course I may broaden my horizon and try more technical stuff once I get bored.

Right now I ride a Retail Store quality Mountain Bike. It's a Mongoose, nothing special at all. About 5 years old from Sports authority. My wife has a Trek hybrid. I like Trek, but I think they are over-priced for the level of components they offer. In other words, I can get a bike on bikes direct for 700 bucks that would cost me 1200 from Trek for a bike with an equally matched set of components. I like the cyclo cross because they give you a bit more agressive riding stance than the hybrid and I am not a huge fan of flat bars.
 
Big Kahuna

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
SXIPro said:
I am not going to race......yet.

Dirt roads... yes(I live on one). Paved roads and paved 'rail trails' as well.
Most dirt trails will be 'walking trails' through the woods with some decent hills. No rocks, roots or stuff like that. Of course I may broaden my horizon and try more technical stuff once I get bored.

Right now I ride a Retail Store quality Mountain Bike. It's a Mongoose, nothing special at all. About 5 years old from Sports authority. My wife has a Trek hybrid. I like Trek, but I think they are over-priced for the level of components they offer. In other words, I can get a bike on bikes direct for 700 bucks that would cost me 1200 from Trek for a bike with an equally matched set of components. I like the cyclo cross because they give you a bit more agressive riding stance than the hybrid and I am not a huge fan of flat bars.
Click to expand...

Personally, I think with Trek's you get alot of bike for the money. Cannondale on the other hand, you get more frame than components (at least use to be that way), not a c-dale fan.

If your riding alot of Rails-Trails type trails, then yeah, a CX might be pretty good. If you want to start riding more singletrack, then I would look into upgrading to a good quality 29er Singles Speed or Geared. I sold my road bike last summer and picked up a Gary Fisher Rig 29er S.S. to go along with my Titus full suspension. Nice having a variety. In about a day I will have an older Kona hardtail up and running to add to the stable.
 
SXIPro

SXIPro

JM781 Big Bore
Location
Here on the 'X' mostly
Big Kahuna said:
Personally, I think with Trek's you get alot of bike for the money. Cannondale on the other hand, you get more frame than components (at least use to be that way), not a c-dale fan.

If your riding alot of Rails-Trails type trails, then yeah, a CX might be pretty good. If you want to start riding more singletrack, then I would look into upgrading to a good quality 29er Singles Speed or Geared. I sold my road bike last summer and picked up a Gary Fisher Rig 29er S.S. to go along with my Titus full suspension. Nice having a variety. In about a day I will have an older Kona hardtail up and running to add to the stable.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'll be riding probably 50% trails and 50% roads. My son is a single track guy. He does goldsprints to keep tuned up and is saving up for a new bike. He is thinking Felt or maybe even grabbing a Panasonic frame and building one up himself. Crazy money though.

I love the woods. I like hiking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing...so I figure why not tackle the trails with a bike. :)

Someday I'd love to do a triathalon. Only problem is I find root canals more enjoyable than running.


Oh, and thanks for the input everybody!
 
SuperJETT

SuperJETT

So long and thanks for all the fish
Location
none
My wife rides a Motobecane 29"er, great bike for the price. I'd say for 90% of riders their bikes are great, the rest want something higher end or are scared of the stigma from buying online, though they are opening stores in many cities now under Cycle Spectrum name I think.
 
Big Kahuna

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
Price Points house brand Sette has gone more mainstream now. You even see them in the magazines. As long as good material is used, the construction is good and the geometry is good and not all out of wack (Some Wallyworld bikes are like this) then Motobecane and some of the other house brand bikes are not bad.

Purchasing a bike has alot to do with what you plan to do with it and how often you plan to ride. Years ago (14), I spend about $1500.00 on a Kona hard tail. At the time Kona's were more exotic and not a big company like Specialized and Trek. Great bike, Years later I picked up a Gary Fisher Sugar (full suspension) for about $400.00 used. I basically traded my Kona for it. Upgrade? Downgrade? who knows, It was a good bike. It did the job for about 8 years. 2 years ago I started riding back really heavily. Decided I wanted a new bike. Enough so that I sold my SXR to pay for it. Yes, it cost me about $3000.00 for it. It is a high end boutique bike brand (Titus), not one you see in every bike shop or on the back of every car. I could have spent the same money or less for a Trek or Specialized and had almost or even a bike as equally as good. But I knew what I wanted out of it.

If you are going to ride them several times a week, make an investment on something that will last and you will not need to upgrade parts on. MTB's (Bikes) can be like Jetski's when it comes to upgrades. I did upgrade a few parts on my Titus, All the replacement parts were either sold or put on another bike. Not sitting around not getting used.
 
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