Cyclocross - bike shopping please assit

Hello,
I've recently joined your ranks as a more serious rider, at least I would like to cathch and ride along with the folks that I always see tooling around in my area.

I currently just have a ***, old store bought mtb that I have been riding, it only has 7 speed shifter, it does have a triple crank which makes going up the hills doable at my earlier stage of riding.

I really think i might like to get either a nice road bike or cross.

I am trying to stay under a grand, but know I would like to have ultagra group, do you think that is possible, also what are your recommendations for those of you that really climb, I have some monster hills close to the house and I have been riding them, I would say after rifing about a quarter of a mile I hit the first which is basically going up and up for at least .5 of a mile and then levels then goes up slight graders and then drops back down about the same maybe a .25 mile then you have to climb a second hill about the same maybe only 2 or three tenths of an mile but they are steep, then I go out turn around and go back so only really hit one big hill coming back so 5 miles of hills then run about 1.5 miles on slight grades and back up another hill set silm to the first that goes out 3.6 miles so I guess this is about a 14+ mile ride on my 42 pound + old mountain bike with big tires/wide....


I road a cross at a lbs and it only had a double crank and it seemed like that may be an issue going up this hill, the road b i tried had a compact and seemed to go a little better up hill....


So far I like the cross better, but even though it seemed like the reach was small, the stand over was dropping from a 54 rb to a 52 cb and that part fit but the reach seemed short on the cb but the road bike seemed almost a perfect fit.... so I am going to try the 54 cross, but I am sure the standover may be a slight issue.... so how big of a deal is it to have the clearance for the family stuff, if i am waring padded riding shorts and lean to one side while dismounting shold it really be that big of deal?


thanks for you help as I try to join this great sport....


How easy is it to get the cross converted/$$$,, I see I would have to get at least a new front tire/wheel but would it be an issue to get a back as well, the cross i am looking at doesn't have disk brks but I think I want them, do not ask me shy I just like the look better I guess, so what is the big deal/diff between it and catilever?

From your explanation, I think you'd be happier spending your $1000 on a bike with a better frame, and decent components rather than insisting on Ultegra. Try something with 105 grade components first.

I think i can get another bike for pretty much the same, but it does have the disk breaks which I think i would like to have don't ask why because i do not know:eek:

So what would be the big difference in the fuji cross, than say another bike, I think the fuji was 20.5 pounds, my current rb which is actually a mtb, weighs in at 42+ and then of course there is me another 200+, pounds... but that is going to go down to say 170+ pounds in the next few months if I find a bike that will make me want to stretch my current 14+ mile rides to longer, but I really want to make sure if I reach a hill, that I will be able to climb it, plus the roads I am on seem rather narrow and I might find myself leaving the road, so that is why I am thinking a cross bike might be better, so if I would want this to be 85% road and maybe 15 % trail,gravel and grass should I go for a road bike....

Also will a bike that should fit me 54, be able to have wheel that should carry my wieght okay, those tires sure are skinny,,, do they really have good traction....while in a turn.....:o

The bike just happens to have tose components, if the crank were better for climbing, I would probally already have it.....

So where is one to find a great frame with decent components , I really do not want a used bike....

I like to have things that everyone doesn't have to, but do not think a pricey bike is going to be in my garage. I road a few bikes and the ultegra just seemed to shift better that the 105, but it they both did not seem that great so maybe it is my technique or they were out of adjustment

Get this at bikesdirect.com its $1095. It has Ultegra shifters and weighs 16 pounds