Good low-end CX bike?

[rykoala]

I want a CX bike not for CX but for commuting. I don't think I need very high end stuff. I see the Volpe around $1k, a standard build CrossCheck for about the same, and others too. But I don't need much. In fact I'd rather buy a frame with lower end components, and higher end wheels so that it'll support a clydsdale. Any suggestions?

[Daily Commute]

I want a CX bike not for CX but for commuting. I don't think I need very high end stuff. I see the Volpe around $1k, a standard build CrossCheck for about the same, and others too. But I don't need much. In fact I'd rather buy a frame with lower end components, and higher end wheels so that it'll support a clydsdale. Any suggestions?

Better yet, check out Surly's Long Haul Trucker. It just came out and the frame costs about the same as the CrossCheck (I think I saw them $10 apart). But the frame seems better suited for commuting. It is about 1 1/2 inches longer, which would reduce the the heal- and toe-strike issues I have with the CrossCheck. If I were buying today, I'd probably buy the LHT instead of the CrossCheck I have.

[Phiber]

Bianchi Axis is probably what I am shooting for and I'm in the same boat as you are. :) Sun and Ski has them for 1200.

[a2psyklnut]

Just bought an Axis. Haven't had time to ride it, YET!

I help out at the shop and get a decent discount, so I saved serious $$$$.

Actually, I just stopped by, saw it, had to have it. The manager wasn't in, but I told the salesman, I was taking it and we'd work out the price.

L8R

[Phiber]

Just bought an Axis. Haven't had time to ride it, YET!

I help out at the shop and get a decent discount, so I saved serious $$$$.

Actually, I just stopped by, saw it, had to have it. The manager wasn't in, but I told the salesman, I was taking it and we'd work out the price.

L8R

I'm not loading the Axis on my rack and taking it home. I'm gonna freaking ride it home. Hah!

[2mtr]

I got the LHT built up at my lbs for around 1 k, and I could have gotten it for a bit lower. It's a nice frame. It soaks up bumps, and I get compliments on the butting. Only thing is, I'm 6'6", and my pedals are forever hitting the ground when I turn left. I try to be mindful of it, but sometimes you just gotta pedal. The bottom bracket is higher on the Cross Check, so that might take care of it.

[margoC]

I have a Jamis Nova. I ordered it without seeing one and was pleasantly surprized at the quality. You can check it out on their website www.jamisbikes.com

I ride a 50cm raleigh heritage international and the 49cm nove fit great. The tires really smoothe out the ride along with the carbon fork. It feels lighter than I expected it too. It came with some low end pedals that are still pretty functional. They are shimano spd on one side and plain on the other. I was going to get pedals but havn't needed too. I will eventually though.

[rykoala]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions! I'll specifically look into Jamis bikes :)

[MrEWorm]

There are photos of a Green Surly LHT with Honey Brooks saddle in the touring forum. Very cool looking bike. If I were to trade my cross check, I would get the LHT just because of how good it looks.

[ZenNMotion]

I'm beating the frankenbike fixed gear thing to death today. See my reply to "I need a new cross bike" posted today-
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=64853

Low end- low tech, high function, very fun? Build yourself a fixed gear commuter, you'll be hooked. And if you arent, you have really spent any money on it.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed/index.html

[Phiber]

Fixed gears don't allow the speed a geared bike does.

[ZenNMotion]

Fixed gears don't allow the speed a geared bike does.
Over his 6-8 mile commute, especially on bike paths where the speed limitation is not due to the bike but trail conditions, pedestrians etc. I do it every day and theres little difference in time between my junker and my litespeed. And commuting isnt a race. but to each his own. Just another rational option, thats all...

[Phiber]

Over his 6-8 mile commute, especially on bike paths where the speed limitation is not due to the bike but trail conditions, pedestrians etc. I do it every day and theres little difference in time between my junker and my litespeed. And commuting isnt a race. but to each his own. Just another rational option, thats all...

This is assuming that he has trails to ride on.. My commute is going to be between trails, road and possibly some occasional grass and dirt. Let me tell you how much I would be cursing at a fixed gear on a straight road where people are honking because I can't near approach the 30 mile an hour speed limit. So for me, my choise is a CX bike. However, for a city commute a MTB or a BMX style would be a better choise, IMO.

[ajkloss42]

Yeah, I've read that other commute-on-a-frankenfix thread. I want to get to work quickly and yes, there are pedestrians, traffic, etc. to deal with, which is why I like a cyclocross bike. I don't see maintaining a 20 mph average for a non-trivial commute with fixed. I doubt one can accelerate fast enough from stopped, not to mention a fixed must suck for climbing (formerly grassy) hills covered in 8 inches of snow.

I haven't ridded fixed, but I've heard people talk about them being easier to control than a freewheel bike on ice. How does that work? Since you can't freewheel isn't every part of your spin an opportunity to cause the rear wheel to loose grip on the road surface, either from accelerating it (same problem on a freewheel bike) or decelerating it? It seems I do best on glare ice with low speed and a high cadence (to get very even rear wheel rotation). How's it work on fixed?

[rykoala]

Well my commute is all on roads, some with little shoulder and some with tons of shoulder. Some very rough, some very smooth. Only one hill to worry about. I'm currently saving up to build up a beater SS roadie, already have everything, see my "Convert old 10 speed to SS" thread in the SS/FG forum. I'm going to build it just for fun, if I like it I'll buy another (much lighter) road frame and go from there. This one weighs more than my 24 speed MTB commuter with panniers, and I haven't even got the chain and tires/tubs back on LOL.

[schiavonec]

I have an axis, a hardtail MTB and a cobbled fixed gear and have commuted on all at one time or another. I also do some grocery shopping on varied terrain. My routes take roughly the same amount of time, but I can run any of them the quickest on the axis (no real relevation here). I live in CO and at times, the hills suck on the fixed gear, but it is nice to have multiple options. The MTB is the slowest in the quiver.

Run the dogs on the mtb with an occassional off road excursion (driving to trails to then ride isn't worth it given my limited time)
Ride the fixed for shorter rides, commutes or quick workouts (and on the rollers)
Ride the cross for multi terrain rides, hills, commutes, and family rides

For a commuter, I would think about a beater in the 50 - 200 hundred dollar range. (ebay, craigslist, goodwill, sal army has some steals) If it gets wet, trashed, etc. who cares. I'm looking for one myself, that can be kept at the park and ride.