AcornMan

I've been shopping for a new road bike (possibly a Fuji Roubaix Pro or Specialized Allez Sport) because I want something with significantly more speed than my current rig, which is an old Bianchi Timberwolf mountain bike. My dilemma is that many of the trails and paths where I'll be riding are not paved, so the smooth, skinny tires on a traditional road bike are not well-suited for the conditions. What I really need is a road bike that can also handle the unpaved trails. (And when I say unpaved, I mean hard-pack, such as crushed limestone, not single track mountain trails or anything like that).

Then today I noticed the Fuji Cross Pro at my LBS. The tires look rugged enough to handle the hard pack trails I'll be using, and since I do not contemplate ever using the bike in "real" cyclocross conditions, I don't think I would need anything more rugged than that. I really intend to use it on pavement as often as possible, so I thought it looked like a good combination of features to me (ie basically a road bike with slightly wider and more rugged tires, and a wider fork - but maybe I'm missing something). Thoughts?

eippo1

That's a good use for a cross bike. I'm getting a Tricross soon. Took one out a few days ago on some singletrack and it performed better than I expected (even though my singletrack skills stink).

sd_mike

I have a 2008 Fuji Cross Comp. It has been my best purchase. So far, I've put about 4000 miles on it since October last year, went touring, taken it out on singletrack trail, and gone on countless road rides. My only beef is the tires. But then, I can't really have tires that are good off road, and good on road, that don't wear out soon. Mine have lasted about 700 miles at most.

jayp410

I have 2 Fuji Cross Pros (2005/6 models) and love them both. I do not have a mtn bike, but a couple days ago went on a mtn biking trail and was amazed at what it could do (rode over 4-5 inch logs, 3-4 inch rocks, roots - although not as easily or as comfortably as my friend on his mtn bike). Where it excels is riding on gravel roads and hard packed dirt, and I feel it is very efficient at this task. While it is fast for dirt / gravel compared to mtn bikes, the front gears are smaller than road gears, making the top end speed lower on the road (that, and the 32mm tires). So I converted my other Cross Pro to a full road bike with Dura Ace 53/39 in front and 12/27 in back, Open Pro rims, 25mm tires, and it weighs in at just under 20 lbs. I have not ridden other road bikes but it suits my needs as a road bike. Being 210 lb I feel it's a solid bike and I'm guessing the frame may be more rugged than most pure road bikes. Only a couple of annoyances... For one thing I would prefer non-cantilever brakes, and the brakes combined with the carbon fork seems to produce a fair amount of chatter/screeching (toe in helps temporarily). The other thing is, the steering is fairly unstable in that I can't ride hands free at all...not sure if that is a function of the fork angle or what. Overall I like them and feel they're versatile and efficient bikes.

Hunt-man

Get another set of wheels so you can jump back and forth between the cross tires and road tires. Great bike. Cyclocross season is here. Go find a race for fun and heart pounding excitement.

telebianchi

2003 Fuji Cross

I've used it for: commuting (700x35 slicks), C&O Canal Towpath, Difficult Run mountain bike/hiking trail, First Landing State Park dirt/sand/mulch trails, W&OD horse path gravel/dirt trail (700x32 cx tires), general road riding up to full century rides (700x23 conti 4000).