pharding

I am looking into getting a second bike to do the following. Ride on the local bicycle paths occasionally with Mrs pharding. The paths are generally 35% crushed limestone, 65% asphalt. And I want to ride on roads in the sloppy/cold weather so that I don't trash my fine road bike. Should I get a cyclocross bike or a mountain bike? There are no mountains around here so I am leaning toward a cyclocross bike.

Wanderer

You will be happier with the performance of the cyclocross, or high end hybrid(one geared for the road), than the mountain bike.

roadwarrior

Cross. No question.

pharding

Should I buy a new or used cyclocross bike? Or should I take a road bike and modify it? Thanks.

Wanderer

If you can afford a new one - there's nothing like a new bike!!!!!!

That being said, there are a lot of good used bikes available, if you are not in a hurry - just make sure you get one that really fits you, or you will be disappointed....

haimtoeg

See if you can still join the pedalforce group buy for their cross bike.

pharding

The other option would be to take my Trek Madone and modify it into a pseudo cyclocross bike.

roadiejorge 

But isn't shopping for a new bike fun?

botto 

pharding

It certainly is. However I am in the market for a new road bike either a Cervelo or a Pinarello product so converting my existing Trek Madone has some benefits.

pharding

This is still in the running for a new road bike, if my concerns can be addressed.

umd

:slaps forehead:

lay off the doobies

dcvelo

Oddly, the problem with converting you Madone to a cross bike would be that the frame tolerances are too tight to use typical cross tires. Imagine that....

roadiejorge 

I see your point. Well if there are issues with the Madone accommodating larger tires then perhaps get some durable road tires (Gatorskins etc) and try them out instead of putting too much money into converting the Madone. In the winter I use the Gatorskins and didn't have a problem with flats as often as I used to, and while I'm not riding through crushed limestone there's certainly a lot of debris from broken asphalt on the roads.

pharding

The jury is still out on the S3. Some report that the Zipp 1080's won't work. Some say that they do. Campy wheels certainly have issues. The new Cervelo P4 also uses super tight tolerances which created some wheel issues, but not apparently as many as the S3. Before Competitive Cyclist will build up an S3 they ask that one sends them their wheels for testing on the frame that one will get. They do this before they build up the S3 because of the super tight tolerances and possible manufacturing/engineering issue. All that we can do is wait and see how this plays out.

mustang1

Creakyknees

any old steel bike. downtube friction shifters. clearance for whatever tire you feel like mounting. maybe even fenders. under $800 if you go really really nice... under $400 if you don't care about cosmetics and are a smart shopper.

halfspeed

This is the right answer. You can even do a 650B conversion. Also consider fixed or single speed. You don't need a lot of gears for bike paths.

FlashBazbo

Yes, converting an older used frame makes a lot more sense than converting a Madone. I would consider wider wheels/tires essential for riding the gravel and nasty stuff. (The difference is too big to ignore.)

For me? I went the cyclocross bike route. The difference not just in tire size, but in geometry, makes it much more sure-footed in gravel, dirt, rain, and slop.

Surferbruce

cross bikes rule. after having one, selling it, and buying another one i've realized i'll always have one in the stable, and if i was ever to only have one bike it'd be a cross bike.
that said, i think the Salsa Casseroll or something similiar is also a great design. not a cross bike, but room for fat tires and fenders plus horizontal dropouts for use as a fg or ss and derailleur hanger for running gears.
sell the Madone (and skip the Cervelo, there's so many cooler frames for the dough)

sstorkel

Buy yourself a Soma Double Cross DC frame and fork, add a set of CX brakes (discs if you ride in the rain, cheap cantilevers otherwise), and a set of cheap wheels. Move everything else you need over from the Madone. You'll get a nice steel frame, the ability to run wide tires (700x38 with fenders!), and if you ride in the rain you'll appreciate the stopping power of disc brakes. If I wasn't already building two other bikes, this is what I'd buy...

BillStohler

Maybe you go to an LBS, I hear they have one or two in Chicago. I bet you can even find one that will trade in your Trek. Heck, some even keep bikes on site.

asmallsol

although there are ton of bd.com haters, bikesdirect.com has a full 105 cyclocross bike for $800. If they would have had that one earlier this year, I would have bought it. It doesn't even look that bad...

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ycwht_gallery/

kenkayak

At the top of my wish [bicycle]list is a version of the superfat tired titanium framed Snowbike I looked at when I went for repairs to Bath Cycle and Ski,//For rideing the snowmobile trails thay my create an whole new approch to winter bikeing!//Kenkayak

GP 

Put a pair of 25s on the Madone and ride it while you shop for the new bike.