vegematarian

This summer I am looking to take weekend trips to the beach with my dog on the bike. The trip each way is 10 miles, mostly flat, some small hills, and one fairly major climb that is short (distance wise). 10% city pavement, 90% paved bike trails. Looking for which bike to get (and also putting into consideration what else I can use the bike for without having to purchase an extra bike)

My options are:

1. steel touring bike with lower gears (there is one tough hill to get up) (can fit larger tires - bad for roads, good for beach)
PROS: lower gears (26X34 is lowest), more options for bags and racks, if needed, especially if I use this bike to go food shopping), can ride in the crappy fall/winter conditions in New England
CONS: weight, larger tires not as smooth on the city/paved roads (Randonneur Trail 700x38)

2. aluminum cyclocross/touring type bike
PROS: capability to add racks, lighter, capable of riding on the beach, can use to race during CX season, can ride in the crappy fall/winter conditions in New England
CONS: gearing isn't as low (36x28 is lowest), tires aren't road "perfect" 32C Griffos

3. carbon road bike
PROS: super light, faster, can ride most of the year alone (without dog)
CONS: gearing (34x25 is lowest), not good for frame to carry a trailer with 65 lb dog?, can't ride on beach when we get there

Any thoughts? Especially on the stress of carrying weight on a carbon frame?

mstateglfr 

If you are going to pull a 65# dog plus trailer each week and then also do grocery trips, I wouldn’t go near a carbon road bike. The gearing wouldn’t work for me and I wouldn’t want to lock anything like that up to get groceries.


Frankly, I wouldn’t want to have a new bike for all of this- I would 2 bikes- either the touring bike and a rigid frame MTB with smooth tires or the CX bike plus a rigid frame MTB with smooth tires. Either way, the rigid MTB would be used.

You will be pulling a lot of weight for the beach trips and grocery trips and need proper gearing. I have an old steel hybrid with 28-28 gearing that I currently use for pulling groceries in a trailer and that is about as difficult a ratio as I would want.

The old rigid MTB frame suggestion is because you can usually get them for a good price, they have gearing needed for much of what you want to do, and they arent as likely to be stolen. If they are stolen, you arent out much $.

If you had the CX bike, then you could use it when you want for pulling the dog and trailer and use it for whatever else like CX races.
If you had the touring bike, then you could get into long multiday tours and camping and still do grocery runs and dog trailer pulling to the beach on a nicer bike.

As for tires- 32s are a fine tire for road/trail/city riding. I find they are actually better than more narrow options. It may not be a con for the CX.



Its always better to have options! And its always great to spend other people’s money. Speaking of which, unless cost isnt a concern, I would think that would greatly affect your decision as if the carbon bike is $400 more than the touring, or something like that, it would change things.

fietsbob

Bike Trailers tow from the Rear Hub axle, not the frame ..

mstateglfr 

...except for when they do attach to the frame. I have a trailer that connects to the seat stay and chain stay right where they meet at the rear dropout.