1bluetrek

Hey I noticed that a lot of folks use cross bikes for long distance riding. Is there somthing I should know?
Anyone make changes to the bike other than the tires? How about the gearing?

Bacciagalupe

Generally speaking, cross bikes are good all-around bikes and are very versatile. The advantages for long distance includes:

• better than a standard road bike for rough roads, gravel, and dirt
• easy to use wide tires and fenders
• often have a more relaxed setup than a typical road bike
• good for other stuff like touring and commuting

There are a few cons though. I've found that my Cross Check is a tad slower than my steel road bike, and it's a little bit on the heavy side.

For my bike, I set it up with a triple and a wide cassette, added fenders, changed the bars and stem, put on a Brooks saddle, and Fizik bar gels. Very comfortable ride that way.

Road Rash

Three things to check for on Cross bikes
1. Bottom Bracket Drop - some have less drop than you might want on a distance bike
2. Head Tube Height - some aren't high enough to easily accomodate the bar height you want on a distance bike
3. Rack & Fender fittings

A good cross bike to check out is the Specialized Tricross which meets all of the above criteria

Randochap

+1

This is good advice. Note that cross bikes are racing bikes and many will be set up that way, in terms of gearing and geometry, especially regarding BB height -- too high (expessed alternatively as "less drop" above) for good cornering on road. Gearing will often be too high to make climbing less painful, after a day or two in the saddle on a long brevet.

If you are buying a bike specifically for brevets/ultras you would be better, in my opinion, to get a sport or full tourer.

I discuss appropriate technology for randonneuring here and display several examples on my bike pages.

CliftonGK1

I use a Cross Check for LD rides. Before buying, I asked (here) about LD bike geometry, things to look for, and what everyone thought of the X-Check. The standard issue seemed to be the BB height, but having no real frame of reference (I previously rode a road converted MTB) I haven't noticed any discomfort or instability in having less drop than a typical sport-touring bike.

I did a few 200k, a bunch of centuries, and a double on the X-Check this year. The only time I feel like I'm "riding high" is weather like now: Snow and ice, where I wouldn't mind being an inch or so closer to the ground.
I'm planning the Century a Month next year, a couple 300k, and a 400k. I certainly wouldn't call it an uncomfortable bike by any stretch.

My favourites about the bike:
- Canti brakes
- Wide Tire capacity with full fenders
- Pretty relaxed frame angles

Drawbacks:
- Can feel "tippy" if you're on uneven or slick surfaces due to the BB height.
- Heavy (although that's just mine. A lighter CX bike than the X-Check can be found. And I ride a 62cm)

As for gearing, I swapped the inner 36t ring with a 34t, and the stock 12-25 cassette with an 11-32. The low-gear jumps are a little steep (3t hops at a time) but it gives me a nice wide range to play with on the hills when I'm tired.

Yan 

One advantage of a high bottom bracket: if you ever decide to configure the bike as a fixed gear winter commuter (like my Cross Check right now), there's less risk for pedal strike when cornering.

knobster

I have a Specialized Tricross Comp that I use for LD riding. It's perfect in my opinion. Fairly light at 20lbs (w/pedals and cages) and has attachments for racks, front and rear. It also has a third water bottle mount which would be great for storing a battery. I've been able to fit up to 42 size tires on it so it would work great for dirt roads. I don't see a weakness in this bike. Well, the price is one... I got mine used for $900

Hezz

I have a cross bike set up with a triple front crank and a trekking rear cog. It makes for an exellent all around bike for long distance rides or light touring. I have fenders and 32mm tires and a light rear rack. For bad weather conditions and riding through construction zones on gravel roads it is the bomb.

That being said, I still think that a good really light road bike is still the best for nice weather long distance riding. If you are riding in city areas or where there is not more than 10-20 miles between places to get fluids you can carry only 1 water bottle and a rain jacket rolled up tight in the second water bottle cage and a medium size seat tool bag with a light tool kit and an extra tube in it. With a credit card and some cash you can ride a long ways this way in good weather.

red sox junkie

I've used the Scattante XRL cross frame for a few distance rides as well as my commuter and it fit the bill nicely. It doesn't have a high BB and the angles are very similiar to a road bike. I was able to fit 35 mm cross tires and fenders in the frame with some extra room. The size I ride (60 cm) seemed to have a rather comfortable 205 mm head tube. It is aluminum and weighs a decent bit less than a cross check. It has 2 sets of eyelets in the back and one set in the front. It has worked well for me. If you plan to ride with paniers on the back, you may have an issue with heal strike. I've never tried it but I hear that is a problem for most cross bikes.