commute

I need another commuter bike while I rebuild my old, unsuspended, slick-clad Cannondale mountain-commuter bike. What do you recommend? Here's my commute specs:

Rider: 6'2", 180 lbs
Weather: 20 to 80F, rain and sun (I draw the line at snow)
Distance/Time: 30 miles / 2 hours RT
Roads: 6 miles of tractor rutted, unpaved roads, remainder paved, but sometimes steep. On nice days, I take a singletrack trail for 5 miles or so and cut out some pavement.

Wishlist: more speed (and hellfire missiles for use against the H3s)

I like stopping power in the rain. And I MUST be able to attach a rack and minimal front fenders. I never intend to race CX. I like light bikes and want more speed but I don't like to carry them uphill. I'm thinking of these:

Kona Jake The Snake (but no nearby dealers)
Specialized Tricross
Cannondale Cyclocross


I assume these bikes can take the abuse.

But do I need a carbon fork and stays? How repairable are CX bikes? Do they have derailleur hangers and standard components? Are the gear ratios posted somewhere? How about the crank sizes? I'd like to keep it around $1000, and used is acceptable (but where are the used cyclocross bikes hiding???).

TIA

bergerandfries

I got all of this out the door just over $1000 with tax from Bike Mart, bag from Performance:
2008 Bianchi Volpe


Specialized Nimbus Armadillo 38ccs


Performance Trunk Bag and Rack

commute

Is a 2008 Bianchi Volpe made from steel? My mountain bike weighs about 28 lbs, would this be more?

rfomenko

Something like this:https://www.bianchiusa.com/08_volpe.html
I have 2006 which is the same thing & use it as everyday training bike. As the matter of fact, I did 25 miles today on it under two hours leisurely riding the uneven New York streets. Actually, dropped a pseudo-roadie who passed me without saying "hi". And he'd struggled to keep up with me before giving up. Never tried to do that before. Oh well.. The add-ons include Brooks 17 seat, Delta stem riser, Planet Bike full size fenders & Continental Sports 37 mm slicks. Here it is:
https://flickr.com/photos/romanfomenk...7601013871481/
You really do not need a CX bike. Why?
1. Not repairable (Ditto for aluminum, experienced that on Cannondale R2000 now reincarnated as Surly Pacer)
2. Do not come under 1k
3. Do not bring any value to the type of riding you described.

The steel is the same arguments in reverse. Hope it helps.

BCRider

What about steel? Surly Crosscheck, Soma Double Cross, Salsa somethingorother.

Having ridden both Al and steel on and off I've come to agree that steel offers a more supple ride than Al.

ok_commuter

The La Cruz and Casseroll (both 'rolls if you like FG/SS) are both great commuters IMHO, esp. once you figure out the rack/fenders thing.

BUT/AND... I rode the Volpe and loved it. OK, I hated the shifters, but I loved the rest of it. And shifters are easy to change. I even liked the Bianchi Valle, which is basically the same frame and comes with the nice Shimano dynamo hub and front light (but I'd change the light). IIRC the Valle has some sort of upright bars and would be nicer with drops, but still real cool. Both pretty solid for the money.

I think the advantage of a steel cross bike for commuting is the option to take road or path or combination and the possibility of wide-ish do-everything tires.

My $.02

rfomenko

26-27 lbs in size 58 + fenders + computer, lights, repair kit etc. & it will come right under 30.

bergerandfries

2008 Bianchi Volpe is steel and very light (but not AL light). Go to a dealer and test ride one. I fell in love with mine. And I would say that you DO need a CX on these conditions:
1) Some off road work (I have .5mile section on mine that is muck and rough)
2) Need the drops for windy days (May got up to 40mph head winds in Dallas, ugh)

rfomenko

I mistook CX for carbon fiber somehow (do not ask me why). As of the suitability of the cross bikes for commuting, this type of bikes is basically reinforced road bikes. And as long as they have the attachment point for racks/fender, they make the BEST commuting bikes, IMHO.

commute

We do have a Surly dealer nearby with a 'DE Cross-Check. They also have a Redline Conquest. Other shops seem to have Cannondale and Trek.

I'll have to ride a steel bike. I'm open to it, especially due to the cost. What's the weight difference between steel and Al CX? A couple pounds or more?

And will they rust if parked outside?

rfomenko

Yes, I would say less then 2 pounds in your price range & less than one for the high end. As far as the cost goes, I think that aluminum-framed bikes are less expensive (economy of scale?) than the steel ones. Cross-Check is a great bike as long as you like the bar-end shifters (I don't).

Also check this:
https://jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/08_bikes/08aurora.html
https://www.rei.com/product/744804

d2create

I'd take an extra lb or two to have steel over aluminum ANY day.
Steel will soak up the road vibrations much better than aluminum with no need for fragile carbon stays or forks. The strength of steel also allows for much smaller diameter tubing which is prettier IMHO and it may give you a tad more room between the stays for wider tires/fenders. Aluminum also resonates every little sound like crazy. Drives me nuts. I like bikes that are whisper quiet. Scares the crap out of pedestrians and their dogs.

flipped4bikes

Specialized Tricross. Love mine. The aluminum frame is very rugged. Very stiff yet not buzzy. And you can put in tires up to 37c. I've toured with my TriX, so it will hold up to abuse. Of course you don't need carbon forks and stays, but it doesn't hurt.

I commute with it always. A bit heavy, but can't beat it for four seasons use.

climbhoser

Love a 'cross bike for commuting. I have a Surly Cross Check and love it, but it's more of a work horse than a zippy commuter. Some comparable steel built bikes:

Bianchi Volpe
Masi Speciale CX (My favorite in the category)

Frames:

Soma Double Cross
Pake C'Mute

However, I just switched up to an aluminum cross bike, mostly because it fit better but second because the price was amazing and third because I realized I didn't want another "workhorse" commuter but a zip bike with some weekend, group ride and maybe race potential.

What did I get? I went to Performance and bought their Scattante XRL Cross frame for $250, which includes a carbon fork and an integrated headset. However, I have tools and was more than happy to spend a couple of hours (or less?) putting a new bike together. Hardest part was that when ordering online parts some arrive sooner than others

Anyhoo, it rides like a dream, and is, like I wanted, road bike light and fast. I'll race it CX this fall, do long rides in the mountains this summer, and commute on it during sunny weather.

To be honest the Cross Check will be coming back out for the winter with Wald North Road style bars and a single speed. It is a REALLY nice frame for what it is, but is definitely made with the commuter in mind. It is not a true cross bike, and is not a touring bike (though it can do some, and it did win the women's Canadian National 'Cross championships).

There are many to choose from, but if horizontal drops for the rear wheel weren't as needed as they are for me then I would have bought the Masi Speciale CX...it is by far the nicest, off the shelf, under $1K steel 'crosser I've seen.

bergerandfries

I use a bike cover on my steel frame CX when it rains. Just keep the cover in my desk until the few times that I've needed it...