dailycommute

I picked this bike up a few weeks ago and have been putting a lot of miles on it via gravel, road, trail. Never had heard much about Miyata cross bikes and since produced during the taiwan era, they were never on my radar. But must say this bike is very comfortable for variety of uses. I did add the brooks saddle (sitting around waiting for a build) and the old school bar ends for some alternative hand/wrist positions, some spd pedals and some old tour tires.

While the sportcross was a budget line, I would rather have its solid, though slightly heavy, cromo lugged frame vs aluminum bond of same era. Not designed for steep single track drops but the geometry is fine/great on rolling to flat terrain, I suspect it would make a good tourer as has plenty of room for racks/fenders. So to summarize I find this budget taiwanese cross bike to be a great rider and recommend them if you see one--generally seem to go pretty cheap and good value imo.

romperrr 

+1 for the miyata love. Glad you're loving it.

dailycommute

Updated the miyata a bit. I used it all summer on fire roads and trails with some knobby tires as canine workout leader/accelerator. Ended up really liking the geometry on the bike but recently picked up another trail bike so this one has been converted to commuter duty on bad days. Fenders, rack, saddle moved from 2009 raleigh sorjourn, new commuter tires. Bar ends were the cheapest solution for straight bar discomfort on riding vs dropping $ on converting bars, stem, etc. Will add lights and it should be good to go for late season commutes as daylight fades.

Pemetic2006

I have a 1992 Triple Cross and was pumped when I bought it to have a Japanese bike........only to notice a few days later that it was made in Taiwan. But yea, it's a fine enough bike and I enjoyed riding it a fair amount (even took it to Acadia Natl Park to ride on the carriage roads) from 2012 until last summer when I started riding my Trek 910 exclusively.

The Golden Boy 

I'm interested in that rack- it seems that it's REALLY far back- and that the load is centered behind the hub. I can see that being necessary on a shorter wheelbase bike- but it looks like yours has some decent distance between the seat tube and tire. Does it ride OK with a load back there?

I've wondered what geometry/tube lengths make this a "cross" bike vs what a "touring" bike is. Is the top tube longer/shorter? Is it angled steeper?

dddd

Geometry on hybrid bikes tends to be very close to that period's mountainbike geometry, usually something like 71-degrees headtube angle and 73-degrees seat tube angle.

Tourers often have a steeper head tube angle like 72-73 degrees, and the tourers tend to also have a slacker seat tube angle, 72-73 degrees.

Hybrid bikes, mountainbikes and cyclocross bikes all also have shorter chainstays than touring bikes, to give better rear tire traction while climbing off road. Slightly longer top tubes than on a touring frame are also somewhat typical.

I'm sort of waiting for a fad of interest in these vintage 700c hybrids. They do it all. My early-90's Performance Parabola "road hybrid" uses the same off-road frame tubing and geometry as a typical hybrid, but came with huge dual-pivot sidepull brakes and road-style handlebars. I've used it for everything from road riding to mountainbiking to cyclocross racing.

dailycommute

The rack does not quite fit right on the frame. No idea of the brand but is adjustable, but not the best design as I did move it forward as much as it would go but adjusters start angling down as you move it forward, possibly my own ignorance there. But really a non issue since this bike does not haul more than clothes and lunch on the rack. Not sure if a tourer candidate, specs similar but not identical to 1000LH of same year but is very comfortable and good for bad weather commuting.

DDDD's note of shorter wheelbase makes sense on perhaps why this touring rack does not fit quite right. The 58 cm sportcross does share same angles as 60cm 1000LH 72,73

Pompiere

I have the same bike, bought earlier this year at a garage sale. The handlebars even say "Hybrid". It came with disintegrating 32mm Avocet cyclocross tires. It is a bit heavy, but rides great. I have added fenders to use as a rain bike.

top506

This thread is as good a reason as any to post the latest incantation of my '91 Triplecross.



This has been a work in progress since I acquired the frameset almost a decade ago, but if I was restricted to one bike this would be it.

Top

dddd

Wow, these are gravel bikes from before there were "gravel" bikes!
Pompiere , your old Avocet "inverted" Cross tires are the ones that are still on my Parabola! Long-lasting tires for sure!

Pompiere

There was a 2 inch long spot on the side wall that I could see through. Only the nylon threads remained, although there was plenty of tread. I really wanted to be able to use them, along with my Avocet saddle and Touring shoes. I also have a Performance branded wedge bag and bottle cage to go with the bike.

hxzero

I love these threads! Almost as much as I love my '91 QuickCross--it's the aluminum frame, but the fact that it won't rust from the ocean breezes near where I live is just fine by me. I plan to add fenders and swap the converter stem and trekking bars out for a long quill and flipped Albatross bars. I live close enough to work now that I don't need the hand positions and want the city bike/gravel racer look rather than the touring setup. Thankfully, it's a bike that can do it all.

dailycommute

Woke up early this AM, maybe 2+- to the sound of cursing in the living room, followed by some loud snorting. Kept a low profile but in the morning found the sportcross had been upgraded in the latest iteration! Looks like Santa_n even repacked the bb and headset but a note said the drop conversions "always take too #^#%# long to finish". The new ultegra bar end 3x8 shift the new 8 cluster/rear wheel so smooth, the suntour hardware loves the new chain, the new aero brakes are snappy, nitto dirt drop keeps it nice and high on 80s touring bars. Overall I am giving the big N a 10 on all the effort and see many kick ass rides ahead., thanks dude

rossiny

One is available locally , good price, frame and paint look good . Its orange. I have too many bikes already , but its tempting, such a deal they asking $100