Cyclocross - Newbie With Question

Right into my question I guess first of all I am just starting to get back into cycling and have been doing allot of training. Any way being that I haven't realy riden allot in the last 7 years my mountain bike is out of date of course so I am looking at getting some thing new so I thought a cyclocross bike would be awesome since I will be doing allot of road(Century)/dirt road type riding(Training). So I have been researching bikes for last fseveral weeks and have sort of gotten attached to the Cannondale Cyclocross Disc so my question to you guys is what are your thoughts about this bike? If you have purchased one what did you pay for it new? Also any other info would be great I am realy glad to be back to the sport of cycling and look forward to getting to know you guys.

I just purchased the "Cannondale Cyclocross 800" about 2 weeks ago, and love it. It has the same Optimo SI frame as the disc version, minus the disc of course. You will also have the upgraded components. I rode both at the time, and could not tell the difference, so I went with the non-disc version, since I would be on the road 98% of the time, and less $$. The Cannondale Cyclocrosses also have a much stronger frame than their roadsters, which makes sense since it is used for other field purposes. I weighed it the other day and it came in at not quite 21 lbs.--a big difference considering my other is a range bike at 42 lbs. If you make use of this time, you can probably pick one up on sale since the season is over, and people are getting ready for road season. I paid $850 for mine, the disc version was $1400 at the time.... Road 30 miles yesterday with a friend who has a nice liteweight Bianchi, and had no problem keeping pace either. But then, we're not too serious--just intense workouts of any sort.

P.S.: when fitted for the bike, make sure that the handlebar width is proportioned to you shoulder width. Sometimes they will throw on a narrow set.

Cheers,

Urbanmonk

Urbanmonk,
What size was your frame? Sometimes 40cm gets spec'd on smaller frames.

My 49cm Bianchi Axis came stock with a 40cm handlebar but my shop changed it out to a 42cm (at my request) before I picked it up.

Thanks for the info. I have rode both and felt some diffrences in the brakes thats why I am thinking about dropping the extra on the disc. Century I will be riding has a few crazy downhill sections that have crazy curves so I want as good of a brake as I can get. Any feelings on weather disc makes that big of diffrence on downhill stuff?

BlastRadius,
I have a 52cm. On Cannondale's full roadie version, I would saddle a 54. From what many have told me, and the fit charts I've seen on line, I should be using no less than a 42cm, 44 would be better. I'm going this weekend to upgrade; they're giving me $30 toward new bars. I still don't feel it's completely fair since they measured me for the bike, in the first place. But I live two hours away from this bike shop, and want to get what I can so never to patron them again. I should post the shop's name as a warning to all, huh?

Urbanmonk

Sorry. Don't know too much about the discs.

Urbanmonk

Yeah, not sizing a rider correctly saves the shop money up front but loses them money in the long run.