dblackcole

I am just getting started in this world of cycling,or rather, I am now ready to get serious about the idea of cycling. As a kid I used to have a Huffy bicycle and it was great fun and I have had few others since then as well. I currently own a Mongoose 460 Hybrid that I have had for nearly ten years now. I used to ride often but had gotten away from it as with all of the demands of life dictating. My love for cycling, however, has never died and now I am interested in purchasing a quality bike in the price range of $1500-$2000. I have been looking at some of the "fitness bikes" out on the market because they seem to be a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike and faster than a hybrid. I would like to find a quality bike that I can commute between classes and home own (10 miles round-trip). The Trek 7.7fx is the bike that I have test rode and been leaning towards,but I am open to any suggestions to test ride at this point.
I have been doing some research, however, on the cyclocross bikes and it does look like something I might be really be interested in. Having said that, are there any particular brands or models of cyclocross bikes that are most popular and why?

Thanks for all of your help,

DBlackCole

linux_author

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclo-cross_bicycle
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlecross.html
https://www.surlybikes.com/crosscheck_comp.html
https://www.redlinebicycles.com/adult...quest-pro.html
https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/...supernova.html
https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/nova.html <- my recommendation

Revtor

Check out the specialized tricross. it can fit racks for commuter duty. you can get it with a triple for hill duty. comes in around $1700 give or take a hundred$. rides really solid yet smooth.

~Steve

old and new

Road Bars, dropbars are a defining component in your selection. If you ever had a bike with them, you know. If you have NOT,DO think about it. I have bikes with drops mostly, one with mustache, which is an aftermarket bar and I've ridden flatbar road bikes as well as Hybrids with almost flat bars.I like drops.They may seem odd to you, DO try if you haven't,even on a test-ride. Takes a day to get used to and I feel a lifetime to tire of. THAT said, Jamis makes the Aurora,a sub thousand dollar bike, a good one, a Nova is a winner as well,DO visit that site,it's such an easy pleasant site, if for no other reason than to compare features,color,frame materials,price etc. Bianchi has a good site, cyclecross has it's own catagory,mostly the hi-end stuff,there's ONE steel, cheaper model,the Volpe,nice bike,somber color. Check the road bikes in the STEEL catagory also, Aluminum is good too,Bianchi alum. is offered as pricier. Fuji has the Elios,it's their only steel bike, they call it a tourer,Trek has the 520 as well, a good bike. If Aluminum is your thing(no reason to NOT like it) the world's your oyster; Giant ,Spacialized,Kona,Fuji, Schwinn...whichever's local and available is the best place to start. Components compare similarly at any given price range.

dblackcole

Thanks for all of your information. I have been hearing great reviews from this site on the Surly Cross-Check bike that comes complete for around $930.00 U.S. dollars. I am a bit surprised that you did'nt mention it ?

flipped4bikes

+1. Proud non-racing owner of an '06. I use it mostly for commuting, fun rides, and light touring.

martianone

+1 on the surly cross check;
not so much as a cyclocross bike,
rather a general purpose highly
adaptable vehicle.

i_r_beej

I'll echo the sentiments on the drop bars. Straight flat bars are just not very good in terms of control and ergonomics. Drop bars provide so much more in terms of comfort and hand positions. Bar ends on MTB flat-bars is just an attempt at emulating the position of brake hoods on drop bars. A nice set of wide drops is also quite good for off-road use.

And the very best drop bar ever?

On-One's Midge!

renhack

Personally I think it boils down to racks. Do you need them or not? If you don't, then budget and personal preference is your best guide. I ride an Empella on a 20 mile commute daily. Its probably one of the absolute worst choices for commuting (no rack mounts or bottle mounts and an aggressive geometry). I love it though. I wouldn't ride anything else. Pick a bike you love. Don't listen to any of us. When the honeymoon ends, ebay will be there to catch your fall. Then its on to the next bike.

I love exploring on the commute. Recently I discovered the golfcourse I pass on the way home is pretty much empty by the time I roll by. Nothing like poaching a few berms or sandtraps on a cx to end your day. You cant do that on a roadie!