Thx for recommendation.

I'm interested to test out the brakes on Kona Jake. I'm with you in that I don't like to skimp there. Heck, I'm new to road biking but felt the Soras on the bikes I tested weren't as strong as I'd like.

RE: cross levers, the Felt Z95 actually comes with them stock.

The Jake vs The Felt
www.ehow.com/info_7857163_6061_vs-7005-aluminum-bikes.html

I wouldn't want cantilever brakes in San Fran. Either road or disc-brake CX.

Two things:

A) How fat are you? It's possible that the tires didn't need to be inflated as much as they were.
B) You'll get used to a little more, uh, 'road communication.' After a short time, you're not going to notice the small bumps (seams in pavement here and there) and you'll automatically unweight for the bigger jolts. I'm pretty sure that the roads in NYC are worse than SF, and it was rarely an issue for me.

Cross bikes aren't getting a lot of love on this site but I think it is the better bike for the OP's intended use. The stock gearing will be (probably) a little better and the tire versatility is just a huge difference. You can run a fatter tire for commuting and a skinnier one for fast rides by simply changing out wheels. But I'd get two bikes as well; a cheap mtb from CL for commuting and the cross for long distance riding and just riding. I love my cross bikes. They are simply better than touring bikes or road bikes for all around riding purposes.

+1 on Bikemig's opinion. I disagree with Issaquach that a cross bike doesn't offer anything that a road bike can't offer. Cyclocross speeds are slower, so aerodynamics are not a huge factor - therefore head tubes are a little longer and you get a slightly more upright riding position. The slower speeds and more challenging terrain also means that most cross bikes have lower gearing. Entry-level cross bikes often come with triples, and most cross race bikes come with compact cranksets. 'Cross bikes also let you run full fenders, which I would recommend for SFBA. You also have the option of adding a rack, as you will find more 'cross bikes with eyelets than road bikes.

All this with the ability to run wider tires at lower pressures totally tip the scales to Cyclocross bikes (or touring bikes) for commuting. You can still put 23's on the cross bike and keep up with your buddies on group rides. If you get dropped, it wasn't because you were on a cross bike.

I have a touring bike (Surly LHT) for year-round touring and have a Kona Jake the Snake for group road rides, fast commuting, cross racing, and randonneuring. If I only had one bike, it would absolutely be a cross bike.

So much good info, thanks to everyone above this post.

BikeMig/Aggie: I appreciate the alternative POV's - exactly in line with what I was thinking. I've asked this same question on a few forums and this one by far offered the most thoughtful advice.

WhyFi: I'm about 192lb. I read Cfiber's link regarding 6061vs7005, curious to see how that will play out with this "road communication" :P

Almost pulled the trigger on one like this but the guy backed out.

Do guys think this one is worth the price? Feeling impulsive. Seems like a "fair" price.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/bik/3799035424.html

(tried to ask this over PM to just a handful of people - won't let me PM without 50 posts)

The uses you describe do vary a lot - a 50-60 mile ride is a good length ride, dramatically different use than a 3mile jaunt.

I'd go by the most rigorous of the demanded application, which imo, is your 50-60 mile long ride. Your road rides all occur on streets, and you won't need some hardcore wide tires or suspension to manage the streets of SF. Road bike will work great for both.

The only caveat is that road bikes, because they're a hair more expensive than commuter bikes or flatbar bikes, are higher theft targets. Lock up well or take inside. Or buy an inexpensive bike (I use a Giant Defy3 Sora bike for my commuter - works great.)

Just demo'd my first CX bikes, and it's without a doubt where I want to be!

I can actually say that for the prime purpose - commuting in SF - any of the CX bikes I tried will be great. Definitely fun to ride.

Since that's in the bag, what I'm curious about now is which one will be best for the secondary purpose - biking through the foothills and up a mountain (on-road) every few months. For this I'd likely buy a backup set of road tires. Some of these are lighter than others. Aluminum vs steel. The Specialized has discs. Is there anything else to consider?

Bonus: a few posts up I linked to a used Kona Major Jake. Which one of these is it most comparable to?

I like:
Bianchi Volpe
Scott CX Comp
Specialized TriCross Sport Disc Compact

I don't like:
Surly CrossCheck (felt a little too racy for me, didn't like the bar-end shifters)
Felt Z95 (road bike, prefer cx)
Cannondale Synapse 5 (road bike, prefer cx)

I ride a Soma Double Cross for exactly everything you do and it is great. I have a road bike for weekend long rides but I did plenty of long rides and even centuries on the Soma so you'll be fine there.

It will probably come with 32mm tires which are fine for cruising through the headlands on the weekends, as long as they are slicks and not knobbies. If you want to get something for more fast paced riding, get a pair of 25mm road tires and swap them out as needed. I'd say the Volpe is most like the Major Jake but you'd have to compare the geometry.

Good luck and have fun!

Went with the 2008 Kona Major Jake. Thanks guys!

Get a road bike with slightly relaxed geometry and put 28s on it.