madurotiger

How's this bike on the road? I think it's geared a tad more towards trails and/or terrain, but I'll be doing some riding on the road too.

I can't figure out whether to go with this or the Specialized Sirrus Sport Disc 2015.

I'm a first time newbie, and appreciate and advice.

Digital Gee

If you're going to be mostly on the road, go with the Sirrus, but if you're going to be mostly on trails, go with the Crosstrail. Most important factor is which bike feels better to you. They're both good bikes.

madurotiger

There's a sale at a local bike shop where the crosstrail disc is 520 so that's what peaks my interest there. With most hybrid bikes that are geared a little more towards terrain, are they still pretty good for the road?

badger1

Yes; that's the point of them. That said:
If your riding is going to be 50+ percent on paved surfaces, consider (e.g.) a Sirrus.
If your riding is going to be 50/50 paved/non-paved, or 50+ non-paved, consider the Crosstrail.

limbot

The high gear on the Cross trail is 48/11, lots of road bikes today using a compact have 50/11 so in theory pretty much the same gearing. Of course as a triple you get much lower gearing lowest being 26/34 compared with a road bike's 34/28 or 25.

That's actually what I love about my DS geared high enough for the road (don't forget your pushing a bit more weight) but low enough for trails.

But yes your decision should be based upon how "dirty" the trails you ride are.

madurotiger

I won't be riding many "dirty" trails. I'll be riding on roads or paved surfaces for exercise and want a bike that'll give me that but at the same time want the option of riding some trails through a little terrain too.

limbot

IMHO this is the sort of terrain where front suspension starts to become useful. That being said I've ridden this on my fixed fork CX (albeit slower as you need to pick a better and more careful line)



If it's smooth hard packed gravel trails front suspension isn't really necessary. That being said the Cross trail has hydraulic lockout so you could keep it locked out except when you need suspension which I do with my DS.

But note I have a 26er for real MTB trails and an Endurance roadie for pure road so the DS sits nicely in between.

While I know this is the hybrid forum maybe look at a Cyclocross as well? Much more road orientated but still trail capable......

FLJeepGuy

I've got a 2014 Specialized Crosstrail Disc and can say from experience that it does quite well on the road while still handling moderate to intermediate trails. As many have said above though, if you're going to be predominantly on the road (paved, hard packed, etc.) the Sirrus is the way to go.

Yes, the front suspension adds some weight on the Crosstrail, but not enough to really worry about for general fitness and exercise riding. Plus you'll be happy to have it if you do get off the road a bit.

You can't go wrong with either the Sirrus or the Crosstrail, but at that price, it's hard to beat the Crosstrail.

Wanderer

Really, I have both. Define how bad the "trails" you will be riding. The Sirrus won't like rougher stuff, but it loves smooth surfaces.

The Crosstrail does well on intermediate trails, not mountainous. It also does well on the smooth stuff and roads. It will feel slightly slower, because it is!

I'd rather ride the Sirrus.

If you have medical reasons for getting a Crosstrail, it's a great do it all bike.

Bub386

I've ridden both and since I will be riding mostly on paved roads I went for the Sirrus. The sales person at the LBS also mentioned that I might run out of gears with the crosstrail whereas it would not be the case with the Sirrus. In retrospect I'm really happy that I went for the Sirrus and not for the Crosstrail, also because I already have a mountainbike with semi-slick tires.

Mattyb13

I commute 13 miles one way to work on my 2015 Crosstrail Expert Disc. I can say that it is great on the road, and the light trail/packed dirt paths I take it on. I can hop off the paved bike path for a trail ride down to the river if I want and the bike does just fine. Its an amazing machine. Id say it does better on roads than the Sirrus does on trails IMHO. Good luck!

Bub386

Pretty unfair comparison, since paved roads are way easier for bikes than trails.

Mattyb13

Sirrus is an amazing bike. I may actually get one. I just feel like the Crosstrail can handle paved conditions with a little more ease than the Sirrus can handle dirt or trail conditions. I feel like the Crosstrail is more versatile and its designed to be. Sirrus is a little lighter and faster as its meant to be. I went with the Crosstrail for its versatility. I didn't want to compromise. I am happy with it. I feel like the OP will be as well.

madurotiger

I'm so glad to get replies. The picture above that the one guy posted is the type of terrain I would be riding in. It wouldn't get much rougher than that. More dirt trails, but not rocky. It's a well populated trail for people in my area.

It sounds like the Sirrus can't handle much but a road or paved surface. Honestly I will be on a road or paved surface and non terrain areas probably 70 to 75 percent of the time, but I like the option to take it on trails.

Bub386

If you have the possibility to try them out on a rougher terrain such as the trails you'll likely ride, that would be a great advantage. Sounds to me like the Crosstrail is more your cup of tea, though.

MrCoffee

The Sirrus feels very stiff and the ride is rough compared to the Crosstrail. It feels like a road bike with strait bars. So I would agree, the Sirrus will be a little difficult on anything but a reasonably smooth surface. Even side walks proved to be a challenge when I did the test ride.

MRT2

Sirrus Sport disc would be a better all round choice if you are riding mostly roads. If you find yourself riding more gravel, packed dirt, or crushed limestone, you could always go up a tire size, which is easy.

Little Darwin

For anything short of mountain biking, I lean toward rigid fork... but I ride with people that insist they prefer the feel of a bike with a shock even on relatively smooth surfaces.

If the worst you ride on is gravel roads or trails that are marginally worse, you should consider the Sirrus. I do some very mild off road stuff on my Trek 7.3 FX, and it does fine.

But I was doing mild mountain biking before mountain bikes existed as a product. And even after they came into being, they had rigid forks for quite a while.

I don't ride fast whether on or off road, so you need to consider my comments in that light. If you take your time, a road bike with reasonably wide tires will do well on trails, unless they are muddy or pretty rough.

I definitely agree with the wider tire suggestion... I run 35 mm cyclocross tires on my FX (Clement X'plor USH) instead of the stock 32 mm slicks

MRT2

I hate suspension forks when riding on roads. My experience with them is mostly with rentals, so the forks are probably in various stages of wear and not optimally maintained, but I just find their bounciness irritating. I know the better ones come with a lockout, but if you are using the lockout feature most of the time, just go with a solid fork to begin with.

Kelly10

I have a Crosstrail Elite Disc and ride it on paved roads and city streets 98% of the time and I greatly appreciate the comfy ride especially where the road surface is rough or broken up (as many are in my area). It’s great for making quick sidewalk detours around town, jumping curbs and going down steps. My area is hilly with some good flats between and find the gearing more than adequate for getting around and I take it on 20 mile rides occasionally.


I also have a Spec Roubaix for road work and try to stay away from town and rough roads on it because of the ride, guess I’m getting old


If I had to pick one to use all the time I would take the Crosstrail, it’s the SUV of the Specialized line.

Ajh800

The Crosstrail 2015 should be fine on road and off road. This Crosstrail 2013, modified with rigid forks is. The 29er wheels help to roll over/iron out a lot of off-road bumps.



On Road



Off road

VicFlo

gorgeous bike what wheel set up did you utilize to change it to a 29er? like that fork as well

Ajh800

Hi Vicflo, thanks. The stock Crosstrail wheel bearings clapped out after about 50 miles, so returned them to the shop fairly pronto. Negotiated an upgrade and for 50 quid got the Shimano 29er MT55 wheels. Now, 29er is the modern niche name for 700c, so no drama to fit - except the MT55's are centre lock disc rather than 6 bolt.

Swapped the forks out purely to save about 3lbs on the front and to get rid of the cheap nasty stock forks. Result, a much lighter and much more responsive bike. Tend to use cyclo cross tyres for winter use and the 32mm Michelin City Road Tyre, which also go ok on gravel/forest trails and really well on tarmac.

Recently managed to beat a personal best, after 12 months - set on the crosstrail with a hefty tail wind. Beat the PB on my carbon sirrus 12 months later, with a slight tail wind but was starting to wonder if I ever would!

Love the cross-trail on and off road, certainly wouldn't sell it.

madurotiger

Ajh800, what kind of off roading do you do on the crosstrail?

Ajh800

Any terrain that I would take my full suspension XC bike. Why? Because I rode my no-suspension mountain bike on them in the early 90's before suspension was invented. It feels retro - but guess it takes me back to my mid 20's.



Ride into the distance,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,





My full suspension bike is almost redundant, only did XC riding - except trips to Pyrenees', Alps, Moab, Colorado, Friuta. Plus the cross-trail is amazing on road (with rigid forks).