Fixie or Cyclocross? My (and maybe your) next purchase dilema...

[Psydotek]

So i've been planning on building a new bike this year as one of my "annual big purchases". I totally had my heart set on building up a cyclocross bike on the cheap (though my cheap estimation came out to be about $1k) using the nashbar CX frame. Nothing too extravagant, just something i could commute with and potentially thrash on afew cyclocross events.

However surfing through the Road Cycling section i came across these threads:

Road Cycling - http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=263076

Single Speed/Fixed Gear - http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=260235

with this link:

http://irocycle.com/iro/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=61

$150 for a fixie frame with a custom Bike Forums color. :)

I know the proper choice is to get both (which i'll probably end up doing, one now and one later this year), but if you could do only one bike build right now, which would you go with? Cyclocross or Fixie? :D

[jsigone]

you can have "almost" the best of both worlds with a Bianchi San Jose. CX bike but singlespeed. Cost is around 600 bucks

[roadfix]

you can have "almost" the best of both worlds with a Bianchi San Jose. CX bike but singlespeed. Cost is around 600 bucks

+1
I agree...:)

[Psydotek]

Aww, thanks alot for complicating my choice... :( :lol: :D

I suppose i'll have to consider that option too. :)

[jsigone]

You can alway get a classic roadie and convert it to a fixed gear for 100 or less to get your feet wet and see if you like it, rather then shelling close to a grand for something you may not like.

I've seen a few IBEX CX bikes out there for sorta cheap. Here is one with Sora shifters for $500
http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/X-RAY-SPT-Details.html

STI shifters are $1000
http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/X-RAY-RCE-Details.html

So for about grand you can have BOTH a converted Fixie AND the CX bike

[Surferbruce]

my wife has a San Jose and really likes it. it's a very decent bike for a decent price with a very thought out design. a real swiss army knife type of bike.
i have a both fixed gear conversion and a regular cross bike(a bianchi axis). i used to love the cross bike and extolled it's do-it-all versatility. the more i ride it (and my other bikes) the more i feel like it doesn't do anything really well and i pretty much only use it as a rain bike now, or to haul the dogs in the kiddie trailer.
the fixed gear however has become my all time favorite bike and my next ride will be a custom steel fixed gear from someone (havn't decided who yet, but i'm going to the north american handbuilt bicycle show to do some research!)
anyway, just take some time to consider what you really want. 150$ is a great price on an IRO frame, and the owner of IRO is a stand up guy, but if it's not what you really want i'd go for the pass.

[heddywouldgo]

+1 for the San Jose. My Dad's got one- he put fenders on it and swapped out the leopard print saddle (what was Bianchi thinking?) and it's arguably one of the best looking bikes in the garage.

[socalrider]

I would vote for cyclocross.. I just bought a Surly crosscheck via craigslist and it is great.. Good enough for the road but versatile enough to take up on the trails. I was at Jenson the other days, they are located in Ontario in the Inland Empire and they are selling complete crosschecks for just under 900.00

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BI409G01-Surly+Crosscheck+Bike.aspx

[Psydotek]

Yep, i've been eyeing Jenson as a source for the Crosscheck since i frequent their retail shop, maybe not the complete bike though since i'm not very fond of the bar end shifters...

I'm thinking i'll just put down the deposit on the IRO frame and since it'll be 4 months until it's shipped i can pick up the cyclocross frame/bike in the meantime. :) I really do want a fixed gear bike for the spin practice and to add a bit of variety to my cycling regimen (and to satisfy the hipster in me :lol: ) but i'd also love to be able to ride offroad occasionally (not rough MTB trail offroad, just nonpavement offroad).

[socalrider]

I thought I would hate the barcon shifters but they are not as bad as I thought.. Brifters would be nice but that would add another 150.00 - 200.00 to the cost of a bike.. Just a note, buy one size smaller than your stock roadie for a cyclocross bike.. I ride a 60cm road bike but need a 58cm cross bike.. This seems to be right on..

[Psydotek]

Well, i think i've decided that i'll be picking up both frames after all... :)

Since the IRO group buy frame won't be ready until April or May i'll just put down the deposit now and worry about spending $$$ on it later.

I've got my eye on a Cross Check frameset on EBay but if i can't get that, i'll order the Nashbar frame and that's what i'll be spending my $$$ on now. :D

[that and a computer... too many projects... yaaaarghhh!]

[Psydotek]

Ok, it's been finalized...

I just bought a used 2007 Giant TCX on EBay. Hopefully everything goes well.

I've put down the deposit on the IRO frame and i'll be working on that later when summer comes around.

I'm inching closer to having a sturdy CX bike i can use for commuting. :)