kokomo61

I'm trying to settle on a final choice for a dedicated commuter bike, and after having ridden hybrids, touring bikes, road bikes, and a cyclocross bike, I think a CX bike will be the best fit for me. My commute is a long one (43mi RT), and has a mix of wide open road, MUP, hill climbing, streets, with a little gravel thrown in (as well as some snow/ice lately)...so it's got to be a very versatile bike. I'm supportive of my LBS, but if I find the right bike on eBay/CL/direct, I'll get it from there.

Here are the questions I'd like some feedback on:

Steel vs. Aluminum - for an all-weather commuter, will that be an issue? With the bigger tires, won't that make most of the difference between the frames moot? Will Tiagra components hold up to frequent use?


Now the bikes under consideration. They've got to have front and rear rack/fender mounts, and cost under $1000. Tiagra as a mininum spec. it won't be raced, so I'm looking for stability over responsiveness. I'd like STI shifters instead of bar-ends, since both my road bikes have them, and I tend to ride on the hoods and flats anyway.

I thought about building up a bike, but my skills aren't there yet, and I don't want to make the mistake of buying the wrong thing and having to buy it twice, and I don't need a bike completely customized to me. I don't care if anyone ooh's and aww's over my choice, but I would like some feedback from people who may have ridden or owned some of the bikes I'm looking at.

Of these bikes, are there any that should be ruled out? (If they can't accept fenders and a rack, they're out). I don't have the Surly in here because the complete comes with barcons, and I don't think I can build it up below $1K with decent components.....

Kona Jake has Sora, so it's not on here. JTS price goes above the budget...although there was a great deal on a 56" JTS on eBay, but it was a 56. If I found a 54, I might have jumped.

Aluminum frame/fork
Redline Conquest - $1000 (I've only seen one so far, and it had a disc - I think I might want to stick with standard brakes).
Ibex X-Ray race - $1000 (full 105)
Schwinn Fastback CX $800

Aluminum frame/carbon fork
Fuji Cross Comp $850
BD Fantom Cross $700

Steel Frame/Fork
Bianchi Volpe $900

There are some used bikes with better specs (e.g., 105/Ultegra) that I've seen around, but this price range seems to be Tiagra/105 or Tiagra/Deore for all these bikes, and they seem like a good group to choose from. Anyone care to jump in?

RonH

Have you looked at the Jamis Nova? That's what I ride. Steel with carbon fork. Bolt on fenders-front and rear.

bmike

I've seen nicely built Surly CrossChecks at shops for just about a grand. Have you considered?

kokomo61

I didn't see any Jamis bikes in the LBS's I've visited in Northern Virginia - Performance Bike Shop used to carry them, but haven't seen any lately. I did see a shop in DC has 06's for $1049....

I've seen a couple shops that carry Surly's but none were built up. Based on adding up wheelsets, STI shifters and the other components that the stock bikes have, I didn't think I would get in under a grand with a shop. If I'm careful, watch eBay/Performance/Nashbar, etc. for sales, I probably could, but it might take me 6 months or more to get it built....and if I buy the wrong part, I'll go over my budget.

Any concerns about steel as a commuter? I'm sure that I'm worrying too much about it, but I think about the rust factor....(although I shouldn't - the bike would be garaged at both ends of the commute).

flipped4bikes

Fuji Cross Comp. Good spec. Good price.

CliftonGK1

I've been weighing options on a new ride, too, and yesterday got some great advice on touring bikes. Unless you're specifically looking for the slightly steeper geometry and shorter wheelbase responsiveness of a CX bike, that might be a route to explore for you, too. Rack mounts, fender mounts, long-haul comfort, clearance for fat tires, and reasonably strong components on just about any entry to mid-level touring bike you check out. The Jamis Aurora (2K7 model) is stocked with a lot of Tiagra components, up from last year's Sora-spec'ed model, and it has integrated shifter/brakes.

JeffS

If you like the Kona bikes, be patient and watch ebay. JTS's go for $600 on a regular basis there. That's what I paid for my 2006 model and it didn't even look used when it arrived. I love the bike, and I'm still burning off the stock knobbies, so it's slower than it will be once I switch to a more appropriate road tire.

The bike is comfortable, and happens to fit me perfectly. I've never minded aluminum, although my 190-200lb weight probably helps smooth it out. My ONLY complaint is that I HATE canti brakes. I'd forgotten that until I bought this bike.

In general though, I'd much rather own a $6-800 used bike than a $6-800 new bike..

kokomo61

I agree with you there - I like the components, and hear nothing but raves about the bike. There was a 56" that didn't sell twice with almost no use on it (start price was $700), but it's a 56cm. If it was a 54, it would have been mine. I'm between 5'9" / 5'10", but I look at the SOH (32"+), and wince....54 is my top frame size....

chipcom 

Easy choice - get the Volpe. It's a proven all-around performer.

georgiaboy

Visit some dealers and do some test rides. I prefer steel to alum for a commuter bicycle. Your local Bianchi and Jamis dealers should have a Volpe or Nova you can test ride. Below are the Jamis Dealer listings for VA.

VIRGINIA

East Coast Bicycles
9605 Granby St.
Norfolk, VA 23503
(757) 622-0446

Goodly Bikes
10829 West Broad Street
Glen Allen, VA 23060
(804) 965-9837

Mark's Bike Shop
1570 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
(540) 434-5151

Seashore Bikes (BooKoo)
2268 Seashore Shops
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(757) 481-5191

Wheel Nuts
302 Montgomery Street
Alexandira, VA 22314
(703) 548-5116

bmike

A 54? Really?
I'm 5'8 and was on a 55 Lemond (long top tube), then onto a custom that comes in around 55.


Back OT:
Volpe's a good ride.
Jamis' are nice for the price too.

Psydotek

I just nabbed a used Giant TCX on EBay for a great price to use as a commuter. No seat, no pedals, but that's not a problem so i can pick up the ones i want.

I was planning on buying a frame from nashbar but after doing some research and thinking, it would have costed about $1k even with using the "inexpensive" parts.

kokomo61

The 54's that I've ridden all fit....I've tried a couple 56's (when I was looking for a road bike - Cannondale Synapse, Specialized Roubaix, Trek Pilot), and the reach was too long. Also, the standover height is just a bit too close on the 56's. I barely clear the top bar. The 56cm KJTS is 32"+ from the floor....On the Bianchi, I'd be riding a 53cm.

dynaryder

Depending on your wrists,I'd avoid aluminum forks. After my Sirrus got doored,I pressed my Big Buzz into commuting service. I was also riding my Fuji cx('05) alot at the time. Carpel tunnel flared up big time. Put fatter tires on both and it helped a little,but I've put both back on the rack until I could mount proper forks(carbon on order for the BB,have a carbon cx fork for the Fuji and just need time to swap). If your wrists are good,then choice is up to you,but I've sworn the bloody things off.

Re:disc brakes. If you're going to do hills and bad weather,discs rock. Cue disc vs rim brakes flame war.

Also,one other thing to keep in mind: gearing. Because DC has alot of hills,I wound up swapping the 48/39 cross double on the Fuji for a 52/42/30 triple. Much nicer. The Volpe has a triple,don't know about the others. If you're going to be out in snow(esp on hills) you're going to want to be able to drop down into a granny gear. Also comes in handy for when it's time to drag your butt back home at the end of a long day when you didn't get any sleep the night before.

kokomo61

Good idea on the gearing - I've used the Giant OCR C2 for the commute, but have never had to go to the granny. On the Hybrid, I'm almost always in the mid-ring, dropping down to the granny for climbs, and hitting the big chain ring for the big descents.....if I'm only using big/middle chain rings for the road bike, do I need a triple on a CX for a commute that I already do well on?

(Granted, I know I need a triple for the longer weekend rides - once you get west of Leesburg, it gets a LITTLE hilly....)

Rotten Bastard

You may want to check out Spokes in Vienna, on Route 123, just a block north of the W&OD. They have Lemond Poprads (not sure how much it costs).

Also, there's a place in Ashburn that sells Konas. I think it's on Ashburn Village or around there.

Also check out Hudson Trail Outfitters in Fairfax. That's where i got my Rocky Mountain Solo CXR. I think they have the regular Solo CX, which I believe is about $1000.

kokomo61

I had planned to stop by HTO/Performance (they're right next to each other) to see what they had...PBS sometimes has Redlines and Fuji's....their selection varies, though. Ran out of time, though. I DID see this, though....Edina Bike has cut the price on the Cross Check to $680.23....

https://edinabike.com/page.cfm?PageID...id=2968&type=T

Hmmm....at that price, I might have to get used to barcons...I might even save enough to upgrade the bike to STI.....

kokomo61

Some good sales going on right now....that makes it interesting...

Here are some I've found so far (and some are local to my area, too)!

'06 Surly Cross Check - $680.23
'06 Bianchi Volpe - $699 (Local LBS)
'06 Jamis Nova - $1049 (Local LBS)
Redline Conquest Disc-R (Local LBS, not sure of year) $989
Kona JTS (in my size!) $849 (new, but not local - it sure is tempting....)

No Exit

hey you can get a complete crosscheck for $730 shipped, ride it and swap out parts as you pick up the funds.

Huh.... guess you found it cheaper... anyways, I'd still go that route and just swap out parts

Mr_Finster

I was fortunate to have components from my son's bike (that I had built up and then he outgrew it) so I just ordered a Surly CrossCheck frame from my LBS. Got it, built it up and added fenders and a rack. Got tired of the gears and converted it to a fixed gear commuter. Definitely a versatile bike.

nowheels

I am in the process of building up a Jaje 54cm that I found onj ebay for 200.00 (New) with fork HS and Stem. I probably have a mroe extensive parts box than you, but I would not be afraid to try building it by yourself. The people on this thread (self included) would be more than willing to share knowldge about the proper parts to buy. And is you get stuck, your local LBS would be more tha glad to tune up and mistake you think you might have made. I put my Jake yougher for about 600.00 when all is said and done. All the frames you mentioned, Jake, Conquest.....ect can often be had for 200.00 - 350.00 as it is the end of cross season. And Brakes, levers and bar-cons and wheels sets can often for a song and a dance if you stalk the ebay. I'm 5'10 with a 31" inseam.....I find ingeneral the 54 in a cross bike fits me fine ounce I dial in the stem.

specq

Similar commute here. 40 mi round trip with some gravel. When I was faced with a similar decision, I went with the Ibex X-ray race 2 years ago and I absolutely love the bike. Only downside from what your stated requirements are would be that the front fork does not have fender mounts, so that may be a deal breaker for you.

kokomo61

Yep, that'd be a deal breaker.

I went to the local dealer with the killer prices on the Volpe....unfortunately, they were all gone. They've dropped Bianchi as a brand, and cleared them out pretty quickly. Looked at the Tricross and Cannondale Optimo/CX....I might consider the Cannondale if I found a great deal, but this is the 2nd Tricross I've looked at that I thought was under-equipped for the price. $1000+, and it has Sora shifters & front D.

Looked at the Jamis Nova - rode well on the gravel trail - geometry was more relaxed than my Giant road bike, so I don't know how I feel about that yet, but one thing I am discovering...

I've got short legs. I'm just under 5'10", but I'm cutting it close on a 54cm Cx bike. The 53cm's were better. I didn't have my biking gear on, but the top tube on the Jamis Nova 53cm felt a bit close at 31.46 inches. Granted, I didn't have biking shorts on, so I'm going to gain some clearance, but a JTS is 31.7 inches. (My OCR is 30.7, and the PBS is 30" - both feel like they fit very well). Technically I'll clear it, but I happen to be fond of those parts. Do I need to go down to a 52cm for the even size CX bikes?

specq

Thought so. So in addition to the Nova, I'd take a hard look at the Jamis Aurora. I've been thinking about picking one up for a while now, but haven't yet pulled the trigger. I'm looking at it as a rain bike/winter commuter, but from what I've read, I don't think it would be a bad choice for a relatively inexpensive primary commuter bike. And it definitely meets your stated requirements and budget - assuming you can find one locally, that is.

You can save a little $$ over the Nova and get the fenders, rack and panniers with the difference.

kokomo61

The Aurora is well priced for its components....one thing I noticed about the Nova - I've never had a "touring" bike (I had a chromoly Ross 292 from '85 to '03), but it felt "longer" than my Giant or PBS, which both have very quick acceleration.....and that's why I thought I might like a CX bike as my commuter. For a long commute, would I be better off looking at 'touring' type bikes? I want something that can run a 28-32mm tire with full fenders - does that put me squarely in the CX camp, or do I need to take a serious look at the steel tourers?

BTW, City Bikes in DC has the Nova and the Aurora.....not a huge fan of the colors, but I'm primarily interested in the ride.