Originally Posted by
Amy11325
I live in Green Valley, Sydney, so most of the roads i frequently trespass are paved roads that run along the t-way (i'm a bit scared of cycling on the actual road with cars though). My reason for choosing the cyclocross was because i was drawn to the versatility just in case i opted for a more uneven track (and some people mention switching the tires for different roads?). But after considering your comments I think it would be better to buy a road bike for my usual requirements and use the mountain bike for more difficult roads right??
Also, i am turning 18 (the bike is for my birthday so I'm leaning towards a new bike), 165cm tall, just under 60kgs, female. I know very little about bike maintenance although I plan to learn as I go. Living in Australia and all, the weather here can be a little unpredictable but generally it's quite fine and warm. The roads around my home are also quite flat for the most part but can get a little hilly in certain areas. Umm is that all?
And thank you so much for your thoughtful replies i will definitely check out the link and research further. You guys are awesome

At your weight/height, you'll probably need somewhere around a 52cm road bike (I'm not sure how they measure cross bikes). But this could vary based on the geometry of the bike, and the geometry of your body.

So this really means that anywhere from a 49cm - 56cm bike may fit. But the idea is to go to several LBS's and road test at least a couple of different bikes at each one. Go ahead and road test cross bikes as well as different geometry road bikes. Figure out which one(s) feels/fits the best and gets you excited to ride it. If there are several that do that, then you can use budget or bang for the buck to determine which one to get.
Good Luck!
GH