Fifty Plus (50+) - What to Buy

I am new to cycling, I am 50 and my wife is 53, we currently both ride Big Box Schwinn mountain Bikes and are looking for new bikes. We ride about 60% road and 40% bike trails (Mostly gravel). We will be keeping our Mountain Bikes for the few times that we do ride the local MTB trails around here. I went to the Local Bike Shop and they carry Specialized and Schwinn. Just want to get some ideas and see what the opinions are. I am impressed with the Specialized Cross Trail and my wife is divided between the Cross Trail or the Cross Road for herself. The cross Road is more of an upright Comfort bike,

What are your opinions on these.

I don't think that I can help you very much because I don't know you or the kinds of trails you have where you live. When you find the right sales person they should be able to help by asking the right questions.

Since you are planning to keep the mountain bikes, I'd want to err in the direction of being too roadie.

I was in my LBS and they had some Raleigh Cadent bikes at a great price. Seems to me the ideal compromise for the type of riding you are planning. Check them out.

The trails that are around here ar prettymuch packed gravel some packed clay. One has moderate hills but the long one The New River Trail is a mixture of packed gravel loose gravel and dirt, fairly flat and approx 45 miles 1 way

LBS shops here only carry Schwinn and specialized.

If you are keeping the MTB's-Then look for something that will work on the road. Hybrids would initially seem to be the best bet- But do not throw out the idea of a road bike till you have tried them.

Then there are the road bikes with staright bars fitted such as the Giant FCR range or the Specialised Sirrus. Must be something in Trek and oand other makes but only one way for you to find out which bike is suitable for you

Try them all out.

We also have two moderate to intense MTB trails real close. They are the reason we are keeping the MTBs. We enjoy those on occasion.

I use my hard tail mountain bike on dirt roads and rides that combine dirt road and trail. I find it ideal. The fat tires and front suspension are perfect for high speed gravel road descents.

My road bike I use strictly on pavement.
So, if you don't mix gravel and pavement on your rides, why not just keep using the mtb bikes for gravel and buy dedicated road bikes for the pavement.
If you are going to mix pavement and gravel the crosstrail looks interesting. I think you wife will be at a real disadvantage of she gets the Crossroad and you get the Crosstrail.

Just curious, and actually the reason I want to know why you think she will be at a disadvantage with the crossroad is so I can use that to help her decide which bike she wants.

Well I guess we went and did it. Both my wife and I ordered the new bikes. We both ordered the 2009 Specialized crosstrail elite. Hers in a frame size of 49 and mine in the 53.

Well I guess we went and did it. Both my wife and I ordered the new bikes. We both ordered the 2009 Specialized crosstrail elite. Hers in a frame size of 49 and mine in the 53.

Did you get a Crosstrail Expert? Or a Crossroads Elite? They don't make a Crosstrail Elite.

They also don't make a Crosstrail in a 53 size, although they do make a 52.

I'm picking nits, but I honestly can't determine what it is that you purchased.

Did you get a Crosstrail Expert? Or a Crossroads Elite? They don't make a Crosstrail Elite.

Really? Then what is this? (http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2009&Brand=Specialized&Model=CrossTrail+Elite&Type=bike)

http://www.bike-alog.com/bikepedia/Helpers/thumb2.aspx?w=800&h=800&filename=8292-50_EL_CT_elite_blk-charV2.jpg

:p

Tom
Not to prove you wrong but I got the page printed off by the LBS when I ordered. It is a Crosstrai Elite 2009 and the size is 53 Seat tube legnth 533.4mm.
http://ibd.specialized.com//bb/SBCBBGeometry/Popup.jsp=38260&siteType=B2B

Well, I wasn't looking at the 2009 models yet. Specialized doesn't have them up as the default on their web page yet.

They now have Crosstrail Pro, Expert, Elite, Comp, and Sport. Hard to keep track of them all. And keep them in order.

The Elite looks like a nice bike at $720. Looks like they took the '08 Globe series, modded it a little, and put on a suspension fork. I always liked the Globe series.

Not a problem Tom. I do appriciate the response. I respect a lot of what you say. I have read a lot of your posts on other boards. Just had to note it was the 2009

No problem. My mistake.

I'm looking forward to not knowing the 2009 bikes as well as I did the 2007 and 2008 models.

Except for maybe a couple of recumbent lines.

Sorry, Tom. I so rarely get a chance to know something about bike lineups that you don't, I just couldn't stop myself from rubbing it in. You're still the walking encyclopedia. :)