Originally Posted by acorn_user

It sounds like this is too late, but may I recommend going with a 34t lower gear. Then you can swap out the 50t big ring for a cross suitable one (46 or 48 or so) when necessary. I did pretty much the whole season in my 34 last year. Maybe I'm not the greatest cross racer, but the ability to turn to smaller gears helped me to save my legs and also to get up steeper climbs without having to run them. The year before, I ran a hybrid with a triple. I mostly used the 42 ring, but there were occasions when I went to the 30 and blasted past guys on much nicer bikes who had dismounted.

I've not used the Kenda tyres, and it sounds as if you are set on them, but I do like Challenge Grifo clinchers, as well as Schwalbe Fast Freds. Don't spend lots of money on your cross bike though. The best upgrade by far is tubular wheels.