Cyclocross as a commuter

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10-05-10 | 12:11 AM

#26

Banzai

Jet Jockey

Joined: Jul 2005

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From: St. Paul, MN

Bikes: Cannondale CAAD9, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Nashbar X-frame bike, Bike Friday Haul-a-Day, Surly Pugsley.

Quote:

Originally Posted by meanwhile

Yes, you're silly enough to believe this. No, you don't have a good reason for your belief. If you want to understand how foolish you are I'd suggest the MIT Press book "Bicycling Science" - a standard read for any designing a bicycle. As you're probably too lazy to read it, you might skim the dummies version at

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_performance

Because people who are taller tend to weigh more, Braniac. And the tyre width you need for a given surface depends on weight.

It's bridle path. And a standard cross tyre - intended for a 160lb ish rider - is 35mm. So for a reasonable weight for a 6-6er, 35mm is about right right for a bridle path. 40mm would actually be better - wider tyres are banned from cross racing because they are an unfair advantage and would "de-skill" handling.

You beat me to it.

Unfortunately, marketing trumps facts and empiricism in the cycling world. Especially here.

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10-05-10 | 10:50 AM

#27

noglider

aka Tom Reingold

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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loose Chain

Yeah, well, like I said, I love my Surly but it is no Pinarello Trevisio, The Surly CC is a tank, the Trevisio Victory is a knife fighter, it is far quicker, far faster, handles much better, but it is a full on road race bike, not a semi-serious cross bike, jack of all trades.

Fair enough, but it makes a Cross Check a good commuter bike, compared with your Trevisio.

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10-05-10 | 08:07 PM

#28

Loose Chain

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From: USA

Bikes: 84 Pinarello Trevisio, 86 Guerciotti SLX, 96 Specialized Stumpjumper, 2010 Surly Cross Check, 88 Centurion Prestige, 73 Raleigh Sports, GT Force, Bridgestone MB4

Quote:

Originally Posted by noglider

Fair enough, but it makes a Cross Check a good commuter bike, compared with your Trevisio.

Well, yes, the Pinarello would make a simply horrid commuter but make no mistake, they say it is the rider, fair enough, this rider can instantly feel the difference between the CC and the road racer Trevisio, blanket statements are too generic to be useful, there are huge differences in bicycles both between type and brand and price etc. and happiness is achieved when careful thought is applied to choosing the correct steed for the intended purpose.

10-05-10 | 08:10 PM

#29

noglider

aka Tom Reingold

Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 44,231

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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

While I agree with you fully, Loose Chain, a flexible person would also be able to commute on pretty much anything. Then again, that's like saying you could walk with boots that have spikes inside the insoles. And you could, if you wanted to.

10-05-10 | 09:56 PM

#30

gerv

In the right lane

Joined: Dec 2005

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From: Des Moines

Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed

We've been talking about the Cross Check a lot here, but there are many CC bikes that would probably fit the bill.

I occasionally rideto work on my Bianchi Volpe, which is considered a light tourer, and I think it's a great commuter. (I have no idea what the difference between light tourer and CC. They seem pretty close to me.)

10-05-10 | 10:26 PM

#31

Loose Chain

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Joined: Sep 2009

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From: USA

Bikes: 84 Pinarello Trevisio, 86 Guerciotti SLX, 96 Specialized Stumpjumper, 2010 Surly Cross Check, 88 Centurion Prestige, 73 Raleigh Sports, GT Force, Bridgestone MB4

The thing that makes the Surly particularly well suited to commuting and errands is the ability to take wide tires/fenders/racks, the rugged, durable steel frame, the geometry is quick enough but certainly no racer but not boring either like the stodgy LHT, the frame has multiple fender/rack eyelets thought it is missing the one on the fork that the LHT gets midway for a front rack, oh well, and, if pressed into racing duty, can make a decent cyclecross bike for the less than serious or beginner and equipped with my light weight set of road wheels, it is a darn nice long distance road machine for a century etc.

10-06-10 | 06:23 AM

#32

noglider

aka Tom Reingold

Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 44,231

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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerv

I think the difference is mostly marketing-driven. Clearly, the industry likes having a lot of classes of bikes, to sell more.

I agree, Loose Chain, and you've described why I like my Cross Check. It's set up as a frankenbike. It has fenders, an old Ultegra drivetrain and super-light wheels.

10-07-10 | 02:06 AM

#33

giskard

Thread Starter

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Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 328

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From: UK

Bikes: Kona Jake the Snake

My thanks to everybody for your feedback and advice, I've decided to go for the Kona Jake the Snake (2010 model 62cm frame) which I'm purchasing via my employer's tax-saving scheme. Only problem is, I won't get the purchase voucher for another 6 weeks and the UK distributor only has 7 of those bikes left! Hopefully they won't run out...

Thanks again

Last edited by giskard; 10-07-10 at 02:07 AM. Reason: correction

10-07-10 | 06:27 AM

#34

TRANS4M

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Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 74

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From: Alexandria VA

Bikes: Fuji Cross Pro

I'm late to the conversation.. but have you looked at the Fuji Cross?

Today was my first time commuting to work and my 09 Fuji Cross Pro did great! I added a rear rack and fenders.