sam83

I'm not a cross racer and probably won't be.

I'm a road rider. But...

In the winter I sometimes run into snow an slush in the shaded areas on my 20-55 mile rides.
I don't like the thought of getting my steel frame sloppy wet because I can't trust myself to thoroughly clean it up right afterwards.
There are a lot of beat up roads and dirt roads in my area to explore.
I have a 6-mile commute on less-than-perfect roads.
I'm not a fan of flat bars.
If I had a cross bike, I might just try a cross race.
My fit is more suited to a longer head tube (not a racer!).

I'm looking at the Salsa Chili Con Crosso. Since I also do a little fixed riding, I find the swappable dropouts appealing.

Does the Salsa offer a roadie-friendly ride and should I consider anything else?

Thanks

knobster

"Does the Salsa offer a roadie-friendly ride and should I consider anything else?"

With a change of tires, it should perform fine on the road, but there will be differences. Compare the geometries and you'll find that cross bikes have some differences. The cross bike will be more upright and the handling may be a bit slower. I don't know the Salsa geometry but this is fairly typical of most cross bikes.

Should you consider anything else? Of course. So many to list, but I have experience with the Specialized Tricross which is a great all around bike. I like the Comp version and above due to the higher level components and frame. Many, many more to look over. See what your local stores carry and take them for a spin.

Cross bikes are great for what you're talking about using it for. This is what I use mine for as well. Wish I could race cross but a bad wrist prevents it. You should give cross a shot next year. It's a blast!

meanwhile

1. You could have your steel bike treated with Frame Saver.

2. In the conditions you describe you'll burn through power trains quicker than you will frames - much quicker! You might want to ride singlespeed in the winter, or fit an IGH, if you want to be able to go slack on maintenance. Or just fit a low end groupset with cheap replacement cassettes and derailers.

3. Compared to a roading racing bike, a crosser will usually be less twitchy, offer a riding position with a little better visibility, and be more prone to staying upright when it hits pot holes. For obvious reasons, given the conditions it is meant to race in. It will probably be a little less aero and need a little more steering input for the same amount of turn. If you run a crosser with 35 or 40mm tyres then you'll get a much more comfortable ride and have a much more relaxed attitude to pot holes. Most people think a crosser makes a great road bike for anything short of racing - and they can be pretty good even at that. I think the CCC's geometry is pretty standard, so all the above should apply.