Recommended CX bikes for commuting
 

I currently own a Giant MTB for occasional weekend fun and a 20+ year old Columbia 10speed road bike that I used for commuting ~2 miles round trip in AZ the past 3 years, but I recently moved to the DC area and my commute is just under 10 miles one way. I've been riding metro but want to get back into biking to work. Last Friday was DC bike to work day so I decided to make the trek in on my Columbia. It made it fine for one day, but it is woefully inadequate for an every day commuter without sinking some serious cash into a rebuild.

After lurking around the site quite a bit, I think what I want is probably a CX style bike. I like the idea of something that's built for rougher terrain since there are some cobblestone streets, and rough roads along my path. Also if I'm going to sink some money into a new bike I might as well get something that has multiple uses and after reading a bit about it, it sounds like cycle-cross could be a blast! The problem is I don't know the first thing about what the options are. Most of the local independent shops all stock only one or two brands of bikes and they'll all tell you the brand they carry is the best.

I'm looking for suggestions on specific bikes or brands that might meet the needs of a ~20 mile round trip commute and potential beginner recreational cx racer. My budget ideally will be in the $600 range, but I may be willing to increase it a bit if necessary.

I switched to a Kona Jake CX bike this year and have been really enjoying it. I had previously commuted on mountain bikes and a hybrid. My commute is about a 14 mile round trip, mostly flat but with some short, steep hills. I had no trouble fitting fenders, rack, and panniers to it and have also used it on numerous shopping trips, etc. I even rode home with a 50 pound sack of cement on the rear rack, though it was a bit of an effort to pedal up out of the river valley. Some lower gears would have been nicer on that trip.

The 2010 model retail price is $900.00 US but I picked up a used 2008 in good condition for $650 canadian. All of the 2010 entry level CX bikes I looked at were in the same price range. You might find one of last years models on sale and closer to your price range. I also looked at the Specialized Tricross Triple but it has Shimano 2300 components compared to the Tiagra on the Kona. On the other hand the Tricross DOES have a carbon fork.

I'm not a racer so I can't speak for the Jake's suitability for that purpose, although when I was researching it I read that others consider it adequate for a CX beginner.

1. Every LBS will tell you that their stuff is better than the rest.
2. Every CX bike that I know of (available through a LBS) is gonna be higher than your initial budget.
3. Go to the LBS in your area and tell them what you are looking for. Sometimes a hybrid can be pressed into CX duty.
4. Ride everything they point out. Take notes, make a list, then post here for feedback.
5 Go for even more test rides
6. Buy what you like/can afford/and if it fits.

I thought I might be a bit on the low end with the price, I could probably increase it a bit to $900-$1000. May stick it out with what I've got for now and wait until end of the season and see if I can find a late model when the new ones come out. Also have a connection with a bike shop back in my home town so may call the manager and see if he can keep his eyes out for something nice that comes in used. Will also make the rounds of the LBS's just to see what the current local options are. I'm sortof allergic to paying MSRP for anything but that seems to be what they all charge.

I've been using a 2008 Kona Jake for the last two years for commuting (20 miles round trip), centuries and CX racing. I love it. In fact, last year I started a Kona Jake lovefest thread here. I also have a Surly Cross Check that I built up from a frame, first as a fixed gear, and later with 105/Ultegra parts. These two bikes are fairly similar. There are a several others you'll see promoted at the same level. The Specialized Tri Cross, Fuji Cross Comp and Soma Double Cross come to mind.

Here's what I would say: Any CX bike will be great for a beginner for CX racing (which you absolutely must do!). Look for a CX bike that has the braze-ons and eyelets for rack and fenders. Any CX bike that has these will be good for commuting. Up your budget if you don't want to buy used. If you can do your own mechanical work and are 100% certain you can pick a bike from a geometry chart, you can save some money with bikesdirect.com, but it's a gamble otherwise. There's no substitute for a good test ride.

Beyond that, it's a matter of personal preferences. I think the Kona Jake is a great value at $900 for Tiagra components, and I like its triple crankset for commuting and weekend rides (though it's a minus for CX racing). I would avoid anything with Sora components, but others have said they're OK. People seem to love carbon forks, but at the entry level price point, I'm skeptical.

If you can find a Fuji Cross Comp at a local Performance Bike, jump on it. They were selling the 2009's for $800. It's an insane bargain at that price.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._cross_cx2.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._cross_cx3.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/ltcross_x.htm

Somebody had to say it.

I am a Specialized Tricross rider and I am in love with my machine. That said, either try putting city slicks onto a MTB, or a fatter tires on Columbia first. Cheaper.

Ride safe

SF

I'd have bought the Fuji myself if it had all the eyelets. I called Performance and they said it did not.

Have you thought of an 80's road bike? Many of the bikes of this type had all the eyelets for racks and fenders, and clearance for bigger tires with fenders. They're basically what cyclocross bikes are now, but made of steel. Many can be converted to 700c quite easily, if need be.

If you don't mind the additional weight of the steel frame, they can often be had cheaply. And I'll bet DC has a very active CL.

As far as new bikes go, I really like the Jake. And I want one.

Just re-read your initial post. The Columbia may work.

Surly Cross Check, durable steel, multiple eyelets for fenders, racks, can accept 45mm tires or skinny 23mm tires, 700c wheels eat up paved roads, dirt roads and even trails.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...s/DSCF0021.jpg

I commute into DC every day on a cyclocross bike. Good choice for our area, given the erratic road surfaces, plus the ability to ride the same bike on the canal path and other non-paved areas.

My favorite route from near Silver Spring is via Capital Crescent Trail (18 miles each way from my house to my office), which includes 3 miles of gravel at the start, plus several uninterrupted miles of road-bike-worthy paved portions, followed by car-infested city streets. Cyclocross bikes strike a pretty good balance for all of these situations.

A number of the local bike stores sell cyclocross bikes at fair prices. For example, City Bikes in Adams Morgan has a good selection. I ended up buying a Bianchi Volpe on eBay and building it up myself, but I probably would have saved money and lots of agony had I bought a new Surly Cross Check at City Bikes instead, which I nearly did:
http://citybikes.com/product-list/cyclocross-all-pg59/

I think City Bikes and a number of the other local stores will give you a reasonably balanced view of their products versus other options. For example, I really like Bicycle Place in Silver Spring, and also The Bike Rack on Q Street and 14th. They are very supportive of the local biking community and in it for the long haul. Good luck!

of the Bikesdirect bikes, I'd go for the SS Fantomcross Uno

I went with a Specialized TriCross Sport. It was $1050, it is more than the base model TriCross because it has better hardware (Tiagra drivetrain, instead of the lower end 2300 stuff)

I love it. I'm going to ride it the 27 miles into work tomorrow.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/IMG_1381.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/IMG_1380.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/IMG_1377.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/IMG_1369.jpg

I like that it has an aluminum frame, so I never have to worry about rust, but a carbon fork with Zerk fitting to absorb some of the hits that would go into my wrists and hands. I also liked the flat spot on the bottom of the cross tube for shoulder carrying and the brifter shifting instead of bar-end. (shifters are integrated into the brake levers, so one doesn't need to change one's grip to shift)

Surlys are popular, as are the Konas. Gary Fisher also makes a nice-looking cyclocross bike, the Lane, with a steel frame and brifters.

If that's too much, what needs to be done to your Columbia to make it more road worthy? How about fitting some slick tires on your MTB?

I've thought about just upgrading it, but not sure it's worth it since about the only thing worth a darn on the bike is the frame and even that's got some rust spots. Its great for short trips and times when I'm going to have to leave it outside for hours at a time, and wouldn't mind keeping it as is for that purpose.

A second set of wheels with thinner slicks on the MTB is an option I may have to look into. I really like my MTB, but the wider off-road tires are just too slow for long rides.

Kona Jake is a hot CX bike. Love the retro styling cues. I just never quite like the canti brake stopping performance vs the other brake types. So for that reason, I'd opt for the 2009 Kona ***** Tonk.

I didn't realize this was going to be a photo thread. ;)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/...971ecdf3dc.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3070/...029f54e05c.jpg

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Rode the TriCross into work 30 miles this morning. One thing worth mentioning is that it would not have been doable without the Brooks Flyer or some other saddle that breathes and has a bit of shock absorption. It was the best investment ever. I'm going to buy another one for the Simple City.

If you have to buy a bit cheaper bike and save $100 for one of these.

That's weird, I am commuting with a 2009 Fuji Cross Comp and I had Performance put both fenders and a rack on it. For three months so far, I have had zero problems. It is a great bike by itself, but at $800, it awesome.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=152388

+1 to the Kona Jake. I have ~10k miles on mine in all weather conditions and absolutely love it.

I have a Bianchi Valle, which has flat bars. But, I don't like riding it very far -- I always reach for the fenderless, rackless road bike instead.

However, I've noticed that the Valle has the exact same geometry as the Volpe (probably even the same frame, just different decals), plus it already has fenders and a dynohub -- so I'm planning to get some 9-speed shifters and use some extra drop bars I've got sitting around. I think it'll even be cheaper than if I started with a Volpe and added a dynohub (especially at US prices for dynohubs & lights).

i was just in my LBS and spied the 2011 Trek/Gary Fisher Lane. Bike looked sweet, although I was a bit bumed at the 2300's. I would think paaying $1000 would give you a bit more on the components. Still, it's "stealthiness" in black/grey called out to me...that and the fact that the XO series was another grand higher.

They clearly didn't look too hard. My Cross Pro has them front and back.

I ride an 2008 Fantom CX. Fenders, rear rack, lights....love it. Goes everywhere at any time. Even the guy who runs my LBS thinks its an amazing bike for what I spent. All I've done is replace the wheels.

This would've been my suggestion. :p Got one in May of 2008 and have over 12,000 combined commuter/utilitarian miles on it w/standard maintenance/lubing and one minor rear wheel truing. Would recommend swapping out the stock tires as they are too soft for asphalt...I flatted within 2 weeks. So, in my case I went the distance and got a set of Schwalbe Marathon Plus 28mm. It's been a mutually satisfying relationship. Mine is a 56cm in yellow.

This would be slick:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._pro_ti_xi.htm

In the meantime, I'm happy enough with the drops I put on my Valle:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/IMG_0307.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/IMG_1029.jpg