Originally Posted by
ponchera
But can CX bike can take a hill a lot easier than a MTB correct (and by a lot i mean worlds of difference a lot)?? For those familiar to the DC/VA area, can I climb up rosslyn on a CX w/o a problem?
Depends on the bike, and you should test ride the one(s) you're interested in. My CX bike isn't a bad climber, better than the hybrids and mountain bikes I've had before. In general, cross bikes tend to have good power transfer and put you in a strong position, but they're heavy (compared to a road bike, light compared to a MTB). If your current bike has a suspension frame or fork, there's probably going to be no contest. Still, it varies quite a bit from bike to bike.
Also, don't hesitate to try your local Craigslist. There are a lot of basically new, but pre-owned bikes there. My girlfriend got a Cross Check with lots of upgrades for $700 on CL; they cost $1,050 new. Hers had about 150 miles on it.