Cyclocross - cross bike for non-cross riding

this might be a sacrilegious question to even ask here but....

I've been offered a kind of interesting bike for sale. A Colnago cyclocross bike, 3-years old, fitted with full Dura Ace.

I was thinking that besides the simple prestige of owning a Colnago, it might be a good alternative to a fine road bike for certain types of road riding -- like in the country on rougher roads, or even around the city with the all the lousy potholes and such.

Would a cyclocross bike be a good everyday ride, even if I wasn't doing cross country? Would $700 be a reasonable price for such a beast? What would the downsides be (weight?)

thanks

Peter

i'm no bike expert, but that sounds like an expensive bike for cheap. buy it, sell it, buy a "cheaper" bike and pocket the difference?

Go for it. Cross bikes make terrific all purpose bikes with more secure handling, easier posture and more tire clearance than road racing bikes. And they're not supposed to be heavy (see: all the lifting and carrying one does in a cross race). If you're doing recreational rides and not trying to win road races on it I can't see any downside, other than canti brakes can be fiddly to adjust.

Agreed. Buy the bike. If you don't like it, buy another frame for other purposes. I have 2 road bikes, 2 mountain bikes and a cross bike but I spend most of my time on my cross bike. It is an amazingly adaptable machine. Very fast on road and very capable off road. Just match your tires to your intended purpose.

Go for it. A cyclocross provides the ability to use tires that eat potholes for breakfast, without suffering the weight and slow handling of a touring bike.

Sounds like a heck of a deal. I ride a cross bike as a commuter, country road bike and brevet bike. Some people complain about the high bottom bracket when they use it as a road bike. My cross bike has a lower bottom bracket, similar to most road bikes. I wouldn't hesitate.

I'd be worried that thing is stolen.

Agree with the other posters though. Cross bikes make decent road bikes. Not great, but decent. I would not chose a full race bike like that Colnago, mainly because I like a bike to be able to do more than road riding. I would look for a frame that you could put racks and fenders on if needed.

If not hot, I'd do what others have suggested. Buy it, sell it, then buy a bike more suited to you and how you want to use it.

Jump on that bad boy.

I dunno, I've heard such terrible things about Colanago, and Dura-Ace? Really? Doesn't seem like that good of a bike...

Wait, is it my size? because if not, disregard the previous comment

I tried the cross bike on the road, and it would probably be fine if you have never ridden a nice road bike, but when the going gets fast, 35mph+, you are not going to beat a road bike for stability.

With that said 700 could be a steal for that bike.

this might be a sacrilegious question to even ask here but....

I've been offered a kind of interesting bike for sale. A Colnago cyclocross bike, 3-years old, fitted with full Dura Ace.

I was thinking that besides the simple prestige of owning a Colnago, it might be a good alternative to a fine road bike for certain types of road riding -- like in the country on rougher roads, or even around the city with the all the lousy potholes and such.

Would a cyclocross bike be a good everyday ride, even if I wasn't doing cross country? Would $700 be a reasonable price for such a beast? What would the downsides be (weight?)

thanks

Peter

I'd hit it

it go for it for sure. If youre not going off road, just put some big slick tires on it and have fun!

Do it.

I tried the cross bike on the road, and it would probably be fine if you have never ridden a nice road bike, but when the going gets fast, 35mph+, you are not going to beat a road bike for stability.

With that said 700 could be a steal for that bike.

WOW, at 50 years old I don't really think about going faster than 35mph. So, I'd jump on that Colnago in a heart beat.