Cyclocross - Do I need a cross bike?

I am looking at the Felt F1X. I currently have a 1997(?) Trek 750 hybrid which I ride on the hilly rough back roads around here, and sometimes light off-road. But it is rather heavy and sluggish, and I am looking to spice up my riding life. Will the Felt do it? My wife says that if I ride for exercise, then a heavy bike is perfect (she's not a rider). Will the difference in performance really be worth the cost of the bike when I have a perfectly functional, similarly versatile bike already? Any advice (and counter-arguments for my wife) is appreciated...

Yeah, the heavy bike is more exercise, so is sewing sacks of sand into your clothes. So what?

The best exercise is the one you'll do and the fun, fast bike is going to mean more fun and more exercise.

Ron

Looks like a sweet ride....... enjoy.

I used to work in a bike shop in the ninties and a few of the most awesome and beautiful cross bikes I've seen come in the shop for repairs and whatnot started out as hybrids since real cross bikes weren't readily available then like they are now.

Personally I would fix up the Trek with some cross stuff and it would make a really nice rig.

Yeah, the heavy bike is more exercise, so is sewing sacks of sand into your clothes. So what?

The best exercise is the one you'll do and the fun, fast bike is going to mean more fun and more exercise.

Ron

I agree with ron...people that ride for exercise will ride a few times, then the bike sits. people that ride because they love to ride will ride any bike, but those that have fun bikes will want to ride even more.

look for a used bike on ebay or craigslist...but ride what ever you have.

Both heavy bike and a lighter bike can give you a good workout. But the lighter bike is more fun uphills. I recently got a Bianchi San Jose single speed to make my workouts in the city a bit more fun. ........of course that means there is a bike that is not being ridden at the moment....

But there right....go look on Ebay or Craigslist, you will find some great buys that not even your wife can complain about.

You most certainly do not want a heavy bike. You won't get a workout, you'll just get a slow and sluggish bike that is no fun to ride at all. Cyclocross bikes are a lot of fun, and can allow you to ride in many different styles, but talk to people at your local bike shop first and let them know what kind of riding you want to do. The Felt is just fine for the riding that you want to do, but to really dial in the ride just right, you will have to experiment with different tires and wheels. You sound like the kind of guy who should get a pair of Ritchey Speedmax tires tossed onto your bike eventually (700x30cc are good size, fast and nimble on the road, but also good and treaded for easier, less technical trails and hard-packed surfaces. These tires can be pumped up to 90psi).