Help With Choosing A Frame

[THAW]

I am a roadie who is looking for a frame on which I can ride both trails and road.. where I live in Nor cal there are some great trail rides split up by miles of roads. I would call it medium technical mtn biking stuff with roots and steep sections and rocks split up by 20 and 30 miles of road. I am looking for a bike that I could ride easily on the road and could take the pounding of the trails. I am considering the rivendell rambouillet or perhaps a straight cross frame. ANY GUIDANCE is appreciated... also any thoughts on tire selection for this kind of use... note.. there is some kinda steep downhill on dirt. THANKS!

[fabien]

If you are looking for a good cyclo cross that can take a pounding, then I recommend the Surly FFF. This bike take a beating from me at every race. And I am 230lbs...

-- fabien

[RacerX]

LeMond Poprad is good and any Steelman would be the ideal for you.
Tires- Kenda Kross Supreme are the biggest, knobbiest, gnarly tires I can think of. They are also good on-road too. Heavy tires but goof for your situation.

[Kustomz]

The type of riding you described is exactly what I do with my Jamis Coda.

[CrossProvidence]

Thaw,
Although the cross bike would be a faster bike for the dirt roads and commutes to the trails, I'm not sure you should get a cross frame. Riding a cross bike is challanging on anything technical. You also are running a lot greater risk of damaging wheels with a road wheelset that is typically on cross bikes. It is easier to ride a mtn bike on the road than to ride a cross bike on real mtn bike trails. I agree with Kustomz. A lightweight setup on a mtn bike frame will be more versitile. You can even race a non uci cross race with a bike like that. Good luck. Have fun.
cb