[1150A]

Hey Everyone,
First time posting in the CX forums..

I've been riding BMX for a long, long time when I was younger. I stopped when I turned 16 or so to save up for my car.. 2 years later, I'm trying to get back into it. About 2 months ago, I got a Fuji Track bike.. really liked it, but, sold it a couple weeks ago. I wanted to build my own bike and I'm just about finished..

I built up from a Kilo TT frame. It's a beautiful ride, and it rides nice but I don't see myself benefitting from the "true track geometry." I don't plan on going to the track anytime soon, but I do see myself commuting around town, as well as going on nice long bike rides on the weekends. I had gone on a few 30+ mile rides on my Fuji Track, but one thing that bugged me was that I was limited to concrete/paved roads. It's the same with the Kilo TT I just built up, but there's also a bit of toe overlap as well. Both the frames only had enough clearance for 28's.

The thing is, I really like the idea of fixed gear.. physically, and aesthetically. I want to be able to go on bumpier roads incase I run into them, but don't want a full out mountain bike. Fixed CX bike for me?

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[rbiked]

cyclocross might just be for you! they are awesome bikes, good at doing about anything!! they also are very accepting of road tires for if you want to do any road rides.

if you plan on taking your cross bike off of the paved trails, you might find yourself frustrated with a fixed gear bike.. i would imagine hills and mud, as well as any combination of the two would be a pain.

[the pope]

Fixed gear cross isn't everything the evangelists say. It depends on the terrain and your style but unless you want to go slow, you'll be bummed in your heart after working a half hour on a long fidgety climb to discover at the summit the pay-off is a slow back-pressured descent. There's no two ways about it. Coasting at a good speed down a loopy wooded trail is far more exhilarating then spinning down - seated.

I have a flip flop SS crosser and I do both.

I use the fix on rail trails, etc. And that's fun. But not as fun. For me.

[1150A]

Thanks for the suggestions.
I have a flip flop hub right now but haven't tried it out yet..I do plan on trying SS eventually. I'm not against it or anything..

I guess what I want is a versatile bike, but I'm not sure if it exists? I like my Kilo TT, the agressive geometry makes me feel like I'm going speedy gonzales.. I also like the fact that it'd be suitable for the track but, I'd LOVE it if I could change my tires to something a bit bigger so I can go on some gravel roads.

[hxzero]

I don't really think that there is a bike that can go from the velodrome to gravel roads easily. For the track you want tight clearances and skinny, fast-rolling tires, and with a cross bike you can't really get that because they're designed for dirt and rougher terrain. I think you'll have to make a choice here, but it looks like either will be a good one.

[dzinehaus]

i like gears on a bike to make it versatile ;)

ok enough about the jerk response... but seriously i know what you mean. Sometimes I feel that building up a cross bike is the bes way to make a versatile bike.

[mannequinforce]

surly steamroller?

or iro rob roy?

both fit 35c tires i believe. and the steamroller has "aggressive road geometry".
take a look into those.