Hybrid or cyclocross
Discussion
Good morning, I've been looking around for a new bike for my commute to work for some time. Initially I was looking for a road bike but my route takes me along towpaths as well as roads, I do about 10 miles each way with some hills. I currently have an old mountain bike.
I then thought of a hybrid but lots of people say they don't do anything well and are too much of a compromise. I was talking to a salesman at a cycle shop and he suggested a Cyclocross bike as being ideal.
Does anybody use these on a commute and how do you find them. There are a couple I am watching on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220898186010?ssPageName=...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250936187758?ssPageName=...
Many thanks,
Phil
I then thought of a hybrid but lots of people say they don't do anything well and are too much of a compromise. I was talking to a salesman at a cycle shop and he suggested a Cyclocross bike as being ideal.
Does anybody use these on a commute and how do you find them. There are a couple I am watching on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220898186010?ssPageName=...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250936187758?ssPageName=...
Many thanks,
Phil
I'm not familiar with the bikes you mention, but I use the Gents version of Kona Jake CX 2010:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kona-Jake-Ladies-Cyclo-C...
My commute is also road & track. The bike is great, space for mudguards & very comfortable. Tyre choice is tricky, CX tyres wear pretty quickly on the road. I get away with Schwalbe Marathon tyres, just enough grip for light trail use. Its my bike of choice, I often use it for 50+ miles in the Chilterns rather than full road bike, as the higher bar position makes it a very comfortable...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kona-Jake-Ladies-Cyclo-C...
My commute is also road & track. The bike is great, space for mudguards & very comfortable. Tyre choice is tricky, CX tyres wear pretty quickly on the road. I get away with Schwalbe Marathon tyres, just enough grip for light trail use. Its my bike of choice, I often use it for 50+ miles in the Chilterns rather than full road bike, as the higher bar position makes it a very comfortable...
For what you say your intended use is I'd say a CX bike over a hybrid. I've used both for a similar commute although mine's ony 6miles each way and involves some proper offroad. I'd suggest a couple of things to consider:
- full guards are essential
- full guards on a CX bike can exasperate any toe-overlap issues (I destroyed a couple of front mudguards by catching my toe on them)
- disc brakes are a major benefit if you've got a very muddy commute like me
- drop bars on a CX will be faster than flat bars on a hybrid, and are perfectly fine for moderate offroading
I started off years ago with a road bike but replaced it with a CX following a change in commuting route. I got fed up with the braking performance (due to mud) and forever catching my toes on the front wheel/guard, so I replaced that with a flat-barred Cotic Roadrat. It's hard to categorise this bike as it's far quicker than a hybrid, but because it's not got drops it's not a CX bike either! Mine's the "long" frame option (they do a short option for use with drops) hence has no tow overlap but is still a very stretched out position. Mine's built with 2x9 Deore gearing, flat bars, Shimano hydraulic discs, full guards, and proper CX tyres (Schwalbe CX Comp). More versatile than a CX bike, not quite as quick on road but quicker/more comfortable offroad.
- full guards are essential
- full guards on a CX bike can exasperate any toe-overlap issues (I destroyed a couple of front mudguards by catching my toe on them)
- disc brakes are a major benefit if you've got a very muddy commute like me
- drop bars on a CX will be faster than flat bars on a hybrid, and are perfectly fine for moderate offroading
I started off years ago with a road bike but replaced it with a CX following a change in commuting route. I got fed up with the braking performance (due to mud) and forever catching my toes on the front wheel/guard, so I replaced that with a flat-barred Cotic Roadrat. It's hard to categorise this bike as it's far quicker than a hybrid, but because it's not got drops it's not a CX bike either! Mine's the "long" frame option (they do a short option for use with drops) hence has no tow overlap but is still a very stretched out position. Mine's built with 2x9 Deore gearing, flat bars, Shimano hydraulic discs, full guards, and proper CX tyres (Schwalbe CX Comp). More versatile than a CX bike, not quite as quick on road but quicker/more comfortable offroad.
Mr Gear said:
I would recommend a hybrid over a road bike for a pure-road commute in traffic, but ANY kind of off-road action and it's going to be horrible.
Not sure I totally agree - my Scott hybrid is perfectly happy skimming along unmade paths and tracks in the forest. Of course it's not suited for any serious DH (or serious uphill either, due to gearing).Some hybrids are closer to road bikes than others however...
Gizmo! said:
Not sure I totally agree - my Scott hybrid is perfectly happy skimming along unmade paths and tracks in the forest. Of course it's not suited for any serious DH (or serious uphill either, due to gearing).
Some hybrids are closer to road bikes than others however...
Of course. There are different shades of hybrids, and it depends what tyres you put on etc.Some hybrids are closer to road bikes than others however...
another vote for cx here.
i started communting in september - 7.5 miles of road, path, bridle way, muddy uphills (downhills on the way home though!). i bought a genesis vapour and am very please with it. put mudguards and a rack on it and it's pretty much perfect. i replaced the tyres (conti speed kings) as i kept getting punctures and they were wearing out fast. I put on some reinforced tyre bontrager jobbies that haven't let me down since.
i had a hybrid some time ago that got me into cycling, but i wouldn't have fancied do my particular commute on that.
i started communting in september - 7.5 miles of road, path, bridle way, muddy uphills (downhills on the way home though!). i bought a genesis vapour and am very please with it. put mudguards and a rack on it and it's pretty much perfect. i replaced the tyres (conti speed kings) as i kept getting punctures and they were wearing out fast. I put on some reinforced tyre bontrager jobbies that haven't let me down since.
i had a hybrid some time ago that got me into cycling, but i wouldn't have fancied do my particular commute on that.
cx bikes seem to be a salesmens favourite at the moment. people who think hybrids are a bit wet but dont want a full on road bike get swayed by the "go anywhere" look of a cx bike so i'm sure some are little more than the bicycle equivilent of a BMW X3, it looks the part but dont take it off road.... the manufacturers spot a gap in their range and just thrown something from out at the market safe in the knowledge that it wont really get abused. just check out some you tube footage of a continental cx race, they are tough courses.
carbon forks and bars will give you loads of comfort, tiagra being less reifned than 105 etc is perfect for a cx bike it still works in really poor conditions, cantis are fine. enjoy it but get out there, once you are used to the narrow bars go harass mountain bikers on forest trails, they hate it!....and the bike will be in its element.
carbon forks and bars will give you loads of comfort, tiagra being less reifned than 105 etc is perfect for a cx bike it still works in really poor conditions, cantis are fine. enjoy it but get out there, once you are used to the narrow bars go harass mountain bikers on forest trails, they hate it!....and the bike will be in its element.
pablo said:
cx bikes seem to be a salesmens favourite at the moment. people who think hybrids are a bit wet but dont want a full on road bike get swayed by the "go anywhere" look of a cx bike so i'm sure some are little more than the bicycle equivilent of a BMW X3, it looks the part but dont take it off road.... the manufacturers spot a gap in their range and just thrown something from out at the market safe in the knowledge that it wont really get abused. just check out some you tube footage of a continental cx race, they are tough courses.
carbon forks and bars will give you loads of comfort, tiagra being less reifned than 105 etc is perfect for a cx bike it still works in really poor conditions, cantis are fine. enjoy it but get out there, once you are used to the narrow bars go harass mountain bikers on forest trails, they hate it!....and the bike will be in its element.
This...carbon forks and bars will give you loads of comfort, tiagra being less reifned than 105 etc is perfect for a cx bike it still works in really poor conditions, cantis are fine. enjoy it but get out there, once you are used to the narrow bars go harass mountain bikers on forest trails, they hate it!....and the bike will be in its element.
I race CX in the winter but sometimes take the CX bike onto the trails in the summer and love it when you hear people saying "Look at that bloke on the racer!!"
It's not as much fun to chuck about as the FSR but certainly allows you to let rip on the fire roads!!
Can't wait to finish my CX project. It's based on a Kinesis CX frame and carbon forks. It's at the poncey end of the spectrum because it will be equipped with a Campag triple. I want it for towpaths, Sustrans type stuff - old railway lines and the inevitable bad roads. It has an option for 'guards, I may fit them in winter, but I already have a wet/winter/Audax bike which fits that bill.
Kinesis have been waiting three months for their top end carbon forks to arrive, somebody needs reaming a new rear end.
Kinesis have been waiting three months for their top end carbon forks to arrive, somebody needs reaming a new rear end.
Go on then, you've twisted my arm
Done over 1000km on it since the beginning of the month. The 35mm tyres weigh 500g each, so it's a bit of a bus, but my commute is very rural and the roads are grotty, so they work well. My first experience of fixed wheel, and reallly enjoying it so far. Toe overlap isn't a problem, but it's a 61cm frame so YMMV.
Done over 1000km on it since the beginning of the month. The 35mm tyres weigh 500g each, so it's a bit of a bus, but my commute is very rural and the roads are grotty, so they work well. My first experience of fixed wheel, and reallly enjoying it so far. Toe overlap isn't a problem, but it's a 61cm frame so YMMV.
Theoldfm said:
This...
I race CX in the winter but sometimes take the CX bike onto the trails in the summer and love it when you hear people saying "Look at that bloke on the racer!!"
It's not as much fun to chuck about as the FSR but certainly allows you to let rip on the fire roads!!
Question: how is that different to a normal roadie, other than the wheels(?) and tyres?I race CX in the winter but sometimes take the CX bike onto the trails in the summer and love it when you hear people saying "Look at that bloke on the racer!!"
It's not as much fun to chuck about as the FSR but certainly allows you to let rip on the fire roads!!
Rob_T said:
i am liking your saddle and your bag.
what are they and where did you get them from? i now need them.
Seat is a Brooks B17 in Honey. Treat yourself to the champion version, it's much nicer than the standard (I have both, and the steel rivets look ugly compared to the fat copper ones).what are they and where did you get them from? i now need them.
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/saddles-brooks-unsprung...
Saddle bag is a Carradice Nelson - good for commuting and touring, but a Carradice Barley is better for day rides. It's supported by a Carradice QR Expedition Bagman. The Nelson needs the expedition Bagman, the barley can use either version.
http://www.carradice.co.uk/
Antony Moxey said:
Theoldfm said:
This...
I race CX in the winter but sometimes take the CX bike onto the trails in the summer and love it when you hear people saying "Look at that bloke on the racer!!"
It's not as much fun to chuck about as the FSR but certainly allows you to let rip on the fire roads!!
Question: how is that different to a normal roadie, other than the wheels(?) and tyres?I race CX in the winter but sometimes take the CX bike onto the trails in the summer and love it when you hear people saying "Look at that bloke on the racer!!"
It's not as much fun to chuck about as the FSR but certainly allows you to let rip on the fire roads!!
- Much more clearance between the forks / stays and the tyres
- Cantilever brakes (like MTB ones)
- Bigger range of gears at the back
- Smaller range of gear ratios at the front
- Hidden cables within the top tube
- Flattened underside of top tube for shouldering
- Slacker geometry
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