Cyclocross - Cyclocross = Great Commuters?

I'm new to the biking world and I'm going over some Cannondale stuff and I notice the CAADX bikes which would appear like a road bike that can handle a rougher bit of road. Yet it isn't a hybrid? I'm very confused on this. Looking at road bikes and some of roads here in Las Vegas wouldn't do very good on it. Can you pretty much go anywhere on a Cyclocross? Thank you for your input.

A Cyclocross bike fits larger tires than a road bike while maintaining most of the performance advantages of a drop-bar bike. If you want to go fast, install 700x23 or 700x25 and run with the fast dogs. Put on 700x35 tires on the bike and go on gravel or the most battered city streets. The CAADX will also fit a rack and accept a 20 lbs load.

A Cyclocross bike fits larger tires than a road bike while maintaining most of the performance advantages of a drop-bar bike. If you want to go fast, install 700x23 or 700x25 and run with the fast dogs. Put a 700x35 tire on the bike and go on gravel or the most battered city streets. Your CAADX will alo fit a rach and accept a 20 lbs load.

Whats the drawback of choosing a cyclocross over a road bike? Just the performance? Even with pretty much the same components they come out the same? So by that it would mean that only the higher end bikes would have an advantage only from better parts?

Cyclocross bikes come with slightly lower gearing and more relaxed geometry. By relaxed geometry I mean; it won't handle the same as a road bike. Another downfall of this for just being on the road is it's less aerodynamic, which makes a big difference after 20 miles. If you have to own one bike to cover the sport on the road and getting to work, cyclocross is the way to go.

Cyclocross bikes come with slightly lower gearing and more relaxed geometry. By relaxed geometry I mean; it won't handle the same as a road bike. Another downfall of this for just being on the road is it's less aerodynamic, which makes a big difference after 20 miles. If you have to own one bike to cover the sport on the road and getting to work, cyclocross is the way to go.

Not good for longer rides then?

I'm guessing he meant over 20 mph, and even then it's just an incremental difference. I take my CX bikes on 100 mile rides several times a year. They're good for that.

My CX bike is my 200k bike;

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/wildcat-bucket/Somka2x2009.jpg

I have a C'dale CAAD8 cross bike. I am a year round commuter but I also like to go on group rides once in a while. Sometimes I have a rank/panniers on, sometimes I don't. If it is going to rain for a few days I will put fenders on. Just rode 100 miles and 50 miles back to back at Bike MS. It pretty much does everything I need.

Yeah, sometimes I get bike envy when some high end cervelo flies by, but I bought what I could to fit my needs the best, FWIW

Good information thank you guys for your input definitely seems like the type of bike I want. I didn't even know the big event just happened down the street from me in Vegas is a shame would have been interesting to go watch.

Good information thank you guys for your input definitely seems like the type of bike I want. I didn't even know the big event just happened down the street from me in Vegas is a shame would have been interesting to go watch.

now you have something to look forward to next year!

I too am getting ready to get a cross bike, having a road bike is great but sometimes you just want to take that short cut or do some dirt, plus i dont want to commute with my road bike

I have ridden my CX bike like crazy since getting it in April. Commute, and lots of road riding time. Now it's CX season, so the bumpy tires are back on and it is dirty dirty dirty. It gets to have road wheels back on it Saturday and Sunday, then back on the CX track Tuesday. It has been a great all-round bike.

I did put a better cassette on it - the gearing is a bit high for climbing, but low for speed (46/36 on the front). So I put an 11/28 cassette on and it has served well for centuries, hill riding, and my own personal TT route I do at lunch (takes a while, I can only do about 18 something).

Not good for longer rides then?

People are known to use them as light tourers. Any more questions?

I did put a better cassette on it - the gearing is a bit high for climbing, but low for speed (46/36 on the front). So I put an 11/28 cassette on and it has served well for centuries, hill riding, and my own personal TT route I do at lunch (takes a while, I can only do about 18 something).

your rear derailleur can accommodate the 28 in the back without any problems? I agree, the 46/36 for road riding and hill climbing maybe a stretch for me so having some more teeth in the back will help...that or swap out the small chainring up front to a 34?

Not good for longer rides then?

Depends what you mean by "longer rides". I did 150 miles in two days and 110 miles in one day on a somewhat hybridized mountain bike. A friend who was cycling with me used a mountain bike with knobbly tyres, and another friend used a cyclocross bike.

Personally if I wanted to cover distance I'd probably use my cyclocross bike rather than the mountain bike simply because it's faster just about everywhere except nasty rutted surfaces (where the bike can handle the terrain but the rider prefers a suspension fork).

I've never ridden a modern road bike so can't compare the cross bike to a regular drop-handlebar speed machine. For myself if I were to commute by bike I'd want to use either a mountain bike with road-friendly tyres or a cross bike. Depending on the terrain I'd pick the bike, but unless a lot of it consisted of roads and paths in really bad condition or lots of cobblestones I'd take the cross bike.

your rear derailleur can accommodate the 28 in the back without any problems? I agree, the 46/36 for road riding and hill climbing maybe a stretch for me so having some more teeth in the back will help...that or swap out the small chainring up front to a 34?

I guess I'm spoiled, I've got a triple with 50-39-30 at the front and 11-34 at the back.

that's some serious mtn bike gearing you have there

your rear derailleur can accommodate the 28 in the back without any problems? I agree, the 46/36 for road riding and hill climbing maybe a stretch for me so having some more teeth in the back will help...that or swap out the small chainring up front to a 34?

You could install the new Shimano 12-30 ten speed cassette ( http://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=3288 )and a 34t inner chainring without changing derailleurs.

I also use a triple, mine is a 50, 39 & 26t. I'm now running one of three cassettes: 11-23, 12-27, or 12-30.

that's some serious mtn bike gearing you have there

The 50-39-30 gearing is on the cross bike (it's 11-32 at the back, not 11-34 as I previously said).

The mountain bike has 44-32-22 paired with 11-34 at the back.

your rear derailleur can accommodate the 28 in the back without any problems? I agree, the 46/36 for road riding and hill climbing maybe a stretch for me so having some more teeth in the back will help...that or swap out the small chainring up front to a 34?

no probs, even cross-chained in the big ring

I have a Madone road bike and a Stevens CX bike. The geometry of both bikes is very nearly the same as far as my posture on the bike.
Testing both bikes for speed with same tires:
The Madone is slightly faster. Say 20 MPH average over 100 miles and 19 MPH for the CX.

However, we have many roads with very bad surfaces. There the CX is much safer, more comfortable and the Madone is only marginally suitable and just about unsafe.
The Madone tracks better and responds slightly better for acceleration on good pavement. The CX can handle just about anything with proper choice of tires.

Either of the 2 bikes is great for century rides. Madone for ultimate in speed. CX for safety and comfort.

I have a Madone road bike and a Stevens CX bike. The geometry of both bikes is very nearly the same as far as my posture on the bike.
Testing both bikes for speed with same tires:
The Madone is slightly faster. Say 20 MPH average over 100 miles and 19 MPH for the CX.

However, we have many roads with very bad surfaces. There the CX is much safer, more comfortable and the Madone is only marginally suitable and just about unsafe.
The Madone tracks better and responds slightly better for acceleration on good pavement. The CX can handle just about anything with proper choice of tires.

Either of the 2 bikes is great for century rides. Madone for ultimate in speed. CX for safety and comfort.

Seems like a great trade off 1 mph for a safer ride.

I am a big big fan of cross bikes, or at least my Tricross Sport for being a great bike for the riding I do. I can ride it fastish with 28 slicks, but its still not being beat to death by crappy Montreal roads; its a great light tourer; it takes fenders; I like the second set of brake levers in town and for steep bumpy downhills, and I can jump it off smooth speedbumps and I dont feel I am being rough on it at all. Slap wider tires on it and you can have a gas on trails.

I too bought what I could to fit my needs, and this one certainly does. Been riding it two seasons and still enjoy its versatility very much.

Cross bikes have a bit higher BB, and note : there are a number of disc brake commuters out there,
they were planned to have racks and mudguards fitted.

FWIW, CX racing is not relaxed, only [some of] the spectators are.. ,
given enough 'Stella' on tap. :beer: