'05 Specialized Crossroads XC Elite
 

I saw this on a trip to the LBS store today and can't seem to find any information about it online.

http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9549

Anyone have any thoughts or reviews they can point me towards?

I am looking at the Pro model and have not been able to find any reviews online about it! Looks like a great bike!

Matt

The Crossroads elite is around $800. For $1200, you can get the xc pro, which has disc brakes and a fork with a lockout plus 9 speed and better component group.

Have you looked at the kona dew deluxe for $600? Or giant cypress sx?
http://www.konaworld.com/Prod/000000...DewDlx_460.jpg

Trek 7200 FX for $370.
http://www2.trekbikes.com/Assets/Bik...le636_3501.jpg

Trek 7500 for $660.
http://www2.trekbikes.com/Assets/Bik...le833_3483.jpg

A guy in work brought an elite last summer. He loves it and commonly rides it on 20+ miles rides. He also looked at the Giant Cypress, Trek 7000 (Series) and some Fuji's. Basically it came down to fit and which LBS he thought would give him the best service

I have this bike and purchased it for just over $600 ('05 model). Its 8-speed. The frame has the disc-brake mounts, the fork does not have lockout but it does have tensioners and I have not had too much trouble with pogo-ing on steep hills. I replaced the pedals and put studs on it for winter. Its heavy but comfortable. The saddle is so-so, but saddles are so individual I don't think that's of much good for you.

I carry lots of weight to work at about 15 mph over potholes, ice and death cookies (ice dropped from cars) and the wheels have held up well and are still true after about 400 miles. This isn't a real great distance though so I'm not saying fabulous, just not crap. All I do is clean the chain about every 100 miles or so and wipe down if its an especially nasty ride and shifting and braking have been fine. The front brake losses lots of power when the rim is wet though so be careful. I got a shock-board (sks) front fender and a planet-bike full coverage freddy fender for the back. The fender stays weren't long enough, so I took the longer ones and then used a bungee system with the rack to make the fender stay in place and not rub. The shock-board keeps my torso/face clean, but water & crap still hit the frame about the bottom bracket, so cleanliness is needed. I've thought about trying a different type of fender, but there are no fender eyelets on the fork for full coverage fenders. There are 3 water bottle mounts.

I'm not sure what I think about the grips, but I don't like the flat-bar as its causing me pain in my wrists. I don't know if that's the bike or me but I think its me. I use a blackburn city rack and it mounted fine.

wheel clearence is not a problem. I've got 700-37 Nokians on there right now (not much longer!!!) and there is still a ton of clearence for both brakes and frame/fork.

Getting a kickstand mounted with the fender was a challenge also since the front der. is a bottom-pull design.

If you have any specific questions let me know, but all in all I like the bike quite a bit and find it a comfortable commuter when weather is such that my road-bike slicks seem like not such a great idea.

Forgot to mention...commute is 5 to work, 7 to gym, 13 miles home for 25 miles a day..2 days a week with another 5-5 1-2 days a week.