Hi guys i don't really get how these forums work but here goes...

I don't know much about bicycles but i have only ever owned two mountain bikes and recently i have wanted to move into road bikes - not professionally but more for fun and fitness purposes.

After conducting some research I discovered the cyclocross bikes and i heard that they are supposedly easier to ride and more versatile than road bikes? I don't really understand much about the geometry or specs yet but im thinking of buying the giant/liv brava slr 2 2015 model. What are your opinions on this bike? Is it a worthwhile purchase? While i am not planning to race professionally I do want a good bike that will last a couple of years. Also do you have any other tips or advice for equipment/bikes/cycling. I'm a complete beginner at all this so any help is appreciated. Thank you!

How are you going to use the bike?

What percentage do you plan on taking it on these types of roads/paths?

Paved Roads:
Paved MUPs/MUTs:
Hard Packed Gravel:
Loose Packed Gravel:
Hard Packed Dirt (no big rocks or roots):

If you're only going to be riding on the first two, you should definitely be getting a road bike. Tire width doesn't matter unless you're pushing or over 200#.

If you add hard packed gravel, then a road bike will work, but you probably want to make sure that it can handle 28mm tires (and fitting 32mm tires would be even better). A lot of endurance bikes with disc brakes will work in this category.

If you're going to be doing much riding on the last 2 types or terrain, then you probably do want a cyclocross bike.

If anything, the higher bottom bracke in a Cross bike will probably make them a little harder to ride than a road bike.

Road bikes come in 3 different basic geometries: Endurance, race, aero. Endurance is more upright, race is a little more aggressive, and aero is very aggressive.

You also have different frame materials, Aluminum alloy, Carbon Fiber, Steel, Titanium. While they each have slightly different properties, the geometry of the bike can also make a difference on how the ride of the bike feels.

Any of the major brands bikes (e.g. Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, Giant, Fuji, Jamis, Raleigh, etc.) will be quality bikes that will last you several years. On road bikes, the component group set will be a big part of the quality of the bike. Here's a link for Shimano.

So let us know what kind of riding you want to do. Where you live will help us determine what kind of hills and weather you will be facing. It might also help people recommend a good LBS in your area. Are you good at doing bike maintenance yourself (road bikes are not more difficult to maintain than MTB's)? Are you willing to consider used? If so, you might want to include your Height, Weight, and bike Inseam, so that people might be able to help you look at good used bikes in your area.

GH

I agree... answer colajackets questions and we can give a little better advice....
a cx bike would be better in some applications, but no, it is not easier to ride than a road bike.
I have a Ridley cx bike that I truly love, but it would not be my first choice for riding decent roads in nice weather.
I would take either of my 3 road bikes before the cx bike there.

I live in Green Valley, Sydney, so most of the roads i frequently trespass are paved roads that run along the t-way (i'm a bit scared of cycling on the actual road with cars though). My reason for choosing the cyclocross was because i was drawn to the versatility just in case i opted for a more uneven track (and some people mention switching the tires for different roads?). But after considering your comments I think it would be better to buy a road bike for my usual requirements and use the mountain bike for more difficult roads right??

Also, i am turning 18 (the bike is for my birthday so I'm leaning towards a new bike), 165cm tall, just under 60kgs, female. I know very little about bike maintenance although I plan to learn as I go. Living in Australia and all, the weather here can be a little unpredictable but generally it's quite fine and warm. The roads around my home are also quite flat for the most part but can get a little hilly in certain areas. Umm is that all?

And thank you so much for your thoughtful replies i will definitely check out the link and research further. You guys are awesome

My Friends at the LBS are happy to help people select a nice Bike . oh but you are down under ..

Drop by a bunch of shops suss them out for best service after the sale , then get a bike at your favorite place.

Giant of Taiwan really is huge, they make bikes for other brands as well as those bearing their name.

Merida is another Biggie, doing similar .. lots of bikes come from that Island Country.

I's still look to a cross bike or something like the Specialized Diverge even if you never venture off road just for the fact that you can put 35c or larger tires on. More durable, less prone to flats and a smoother ride, the latter more important if you go with aluminum over carbon.

My next bike will be the 2016 Specialized Diverge Elite smart weld when it becomes available.

I'm a bit unorthodox but if it's your first road bike, I suggest you buy a bike or two off of craigslist and learn what fits and doesn't fit your body. start with vintage, tinker around (because it is easy and cheap) and get an idea of what you like. THEN you can look for a good road bike. don't buy into the hype, you can have a really nice road bike for under $1000, but you have to know how to fit yourself and wrench a bit. take it slow. a few misfits is par for the course. have fun and good luck!

I just researched the Specialised Diverge and it seems awesome! Hadn't heard about it till now so thank you so much!

The only problem I have with buying off Craigslist is that I dont know how to assemble parts of the bike and I had intended for this to be a one-off purchase :/

At 18 years of age, does that mean you have a limited budget?

Hi Amy11325. I saw pictures of the Cyclocross Giant bike you were originally looking at. It looks like a beautiful bike and I think you should stay with your original plan. The bike will be good in pretty much all terrain and it will be a fun ride whatever you take it. Beside that it is your birthday and you need to treat yourself to something nice.
Happy Birthday!

At your weight/height, you'll probably need somewhere around a 52cm road bike (I'm not sure how they measure cross bikes). But this could vary based on the geometry of the bike, and the geometry of your body. So this really means that anywhere from a 49cm - 56cm bike may fit. But the idea is to go to several LBS's and road test at least a couple of different bikes at each one. Go ahead and road test cross bikes as well as different geometry road bikes. Figure out which one(s) feels/fits the best and gets you excited to ride it. If there are several that do that, then you can use budget or bang for the buck to determine which one to get.

Good Luck!

GH

OP poster will fit on a small bike.

And she will have to budget only buying a bike but buying parts for upgrades/improve the fit and a professional bike shop build.

Finding the right bike and getting the right deal will take patience and time.

Maybe its a birthday gift (not to herself) and she doesn't have to pay.

As suggested, stop by a few bike shops and tell them where you'll be riding, how far, how often, what your budget is, etc. Then buy from the shop that seems the friendliest and has good service. They will determine the correct size bike for you and set it up for correct fit.

Let us know what bike you decide on and post pics after you get it.

that's my point, buy something cheap and hack around! if you get a bike for $20 (which you can) it won't matter if you ruin it, and you will learn A LOT.

You sound like a person who would do best with a flat bar hybrid (rigid fork) or dual-sport bike with mild suspension (Crosstrail or DS type bike.) If you fit on a small bike, you can usually get good deals on them on close outs. Go around and ride a bunch of bikes and see what you like riding the most.