Originally Posted by
CCrew
The LHT is a heavy somewhat unresponsive touring frame that I liken to Grandpa's old Buick. Some like them, some with valid reasons, some are just lemmings.
IMHO a cross bike is the perfect compromise bike for commuting. Can still carry a load, takes larger tires and fenders, for the most part is the perfect marriage between the speed and handling of a road bike and the durability of a tourer.
And you're not even required to have to put a Brooks saddle on it like you would with a LHT
I have a Fuji Cross Pro, and a Salsa Vaya which is more an offroad tourer than a cross bike. I love them both, but the Fuji remains the "go to" bike for commuting.
I agree. I just bought a Gunnar Crosshairs frame that I had built up. From riding it, it's responsive, fast etc.. but it can take a rack and ought to be great for commuting when I start in about two weeks. I just would not want to ride some unresponsive heavy thing after riding my other road bike (racing frame etc...).
The other cool think about the cross bikes is that you can put road tires on them and then swap them out for cross tires and go riding down dirt roads - an adventure bike. I think the cross frames are probably the most versatile out there. Commute, road, adventure all in one frame.
J.