datlas 

Looking for some advice.

I am a long time road cyclist. Used to race but now generally do club rides. I will ride on the road even in the cold, as long as the roads are safe.

I have been frustrated each winter by periods when the roads are unsafe, either due to ice patches or snow.

So I am considering buying a VERY budget bicycle to ride off road (most likely from, groan, BD or possibly gently used from CL, budget is approx $800).

I am trying to decide between a Cyclocross bike vs a Hardtail MTB. I am interested in making the best choice based on my goals, which are as follows:

1. I would only ride this bike on days when I can't ride my road bike. Probably mostly in late fall/winter/early spring. Probably only 10-15 rides per year.

2. I would likely ride this on a relatively flat field at the end of my road. It's about 35 acres and pretty much fallow land. I might occasionally take it on a gravel trail or even a paved trail or local roads if conditions are ok with knobby tires but unsafe for a road bike.

3. I don't really have plans to race CX but in case I get excited about it, there are plenty of club-mates that ride CX.

4. I don't really have plans to ride MTB trails (I guess that's called singletrack?) but in case I get excited about it, there are plenty of club-mates that ride MTBs.

I am leaning towards a CX bike because I am thinking it will suit my needs as above and is more likely to translate into improved road riding skills.

Comments and suggestions welcomed. Please don't tell me to get both, that's not in the budget.

Jiggle

All depends on how ride-able the trails on that tract of land are. I ride a cx bike on a 1 mile loop around 30 acres and I had to cut some straighter trails for the cx bike. If I were you, I'd borrow one of each and ride it.

GoRacers

It sounds to me like you've already made the decision; buy a CX bike and enjoy. If you used to race road, I'd wager that you'll love racing CX. Don't make a commitment for a full season of races, just buy the bike and sign up for one race and check it out.

datlas 

That's what I am leaning towards, as you surmised. Just wanted to get some feedback and/or someone to play devil's advocate that I should get a MTB instead.

EnsitMike

I vote for MTB. Ripping on dirt trails in the mountains is a whole different experience. I started in MTB and downhill and came over to road. The first thing I realized is road is far less fun-centric. It’s about performance and speed. MTB culture is so much more laid back. It really will offer you something that CX can’t.

If you want to stick closely to the road experience however, then CX is going to be far closer to what you’re used to. Go hit the mountains though. It’s one hell of a time.

datlas 

I agree that mountain trails on a MTB is likely fun, but for my needs at this time I want something to ride on a fairly flat field in the winter. I imagine a CX will fit the bill, but I would love to try both and see.

Any more comments from the 41?

unterhausen

I would go check out the places you want to ride. Here in central PA, my CX bike is pretty much useless right now because of ice. I need to get my fatbike back together

justin1138

cross bike, do it.

woodcraft

My mountain bike is lonely & sad since the CX bike showed up a couple of years ago.

woodcraft

Why?

FLvector

If you have the opportunity to borrow a CX and a MTB, you'll likely have your answer by the end of the rides. Try each and see which you like the most.

I'm very curious to do some MTBing and have a friend that has offered to loan me one of his bike, but I have yet to take him up on the offer.

Roadbikedude

I agree, go with the mountain bike. I am a long time roadie that got a fatty for winter riding in MN. It is a blast going off road, through the snow and it is one heck of a workout. Go big or go home!

Jiggle

Riding clinchers for training, the cx bike doesn't do off camber turns in loose dirt very well. I could ride my racing tubulars, but that's expensive if I puncture.

Also, I found I was happier with a less technical, faster course.

btw, this is my own land so there's no renegade trail-destroying going on. Just for the record!

wallrat

I have a road, mountain and CX bike. I enjoy riding all of my bikes and ride them all pretty hard. When it's wet where I live I always ride my CX bike. It's faster on the road, fun on fire roads and SIGNIFICANTLY easier to clean than my MTB. Maintenance wise, you also don't have to deal with the added complexity of a shock. Lastly I feel you can get a quality CX bike cheaper than a MTB.

As others have already mentioned, if you're at all interested i going off road more often, MTBing is a blast. Riding down a dirt trail, fishtailing or taking jumps, it's a surefire way to feel like you're 12 again.

carpediemracing 

I'm a long time roadie. I never did cross, having watched a race back in the day. I did race mtb a bit but with the proliferation of ticks and poison ivy I don't ride trails anymore.

However… I have a mountain bike. I bought it for road use, not even for dirt roads, for paved road use. I used to train on it in the off season, mainly to do a no-pressure kind of ride while still getting some kind of workout. They don't coast as easily, the climb worse, so I'm definitely pedaling more consistently. It's a lot of fun, it's like driving an SUV vs a sports car. I can ride over sewer grates, curbs, whatever, no worries, and sand and such suddenly become okay.

It's so fun that when we visited family in Florida I perused CL down there to see if I could get a bike for about $300-400, a mountain bike. It would cost me $150 to fly my own bike back and forth, and if we visit a second time (and we did) then it would be $300. I'd rather buy a bike, fix it up (15 years in the bike shop biz so I can do that stuff), then park it there for whenever I visit. Also the family can use it. Ultimately I couldn't find one so I brought my own (road) bike.

If I was riding in icy conditions I'd try some studded tires, even making my own (friends/teammate back in the day would put short sheet metal screws through the tire and then put a liner between the tube and the screws; another friend has a gizmo to stud car tires and we were considering buying studdable bike tires and adding a ton of studs to them). I haven't gone this far though. Ultimately though I use the bike when riding with non-enthusiasts.

Other than doing some minor fit things (stem, cut down bars to minimum width) I didn't do anything to the bike for many years, not even fixing the three bent rings, the broken spoke in the rear wheel, etc. I'm just revamping it now so it's in a semi-restored state. I rode the new street tires a couple hundred yards, the downtube bottle boss is still broken, but at least the wheels are straight now.


Before I fixed it. Knobby tires, fenders, rear wheel off so bad that the tire hits the frame, etc. Didn't matter on this ride with bike trailers, a tandem, and one solo kid that I looked after.

I <3 Robots

^^This

A MTB will be more flexible in terms of the type of terrain you can use it on. If you want to ride gravel...swap the tires out for a pair of 32c's. 29er wheels are the same diameter as road bike wheels. Road biking can get real mundane at times. Adding a MTB ride can break that up. Riding a MTB will also help improve your technical skills.

Who knows...once you start riding MTB's...you just might get hooked. Best part is that there are no cars on the trails.

Canker

You could also go with a rigid mtn bike. I have a surly karate monkey rigid as my primary winter mtb. Less things to get muddy and clean and now that I have it setup as a 1x9 I don't have to deal with the front derailleur freezing on me. Kind of hard to find rigids that aren't sold as single speeds though some can be setup geared. Bikesdirect has a ton of fat and semi fat rigid bikes now for pretty good prices. Been tempted to pick one of those up to play with.

Nice things about mtbing in the winter are no weeds, no mud if it is below freezing, trees and hills block the wind, and you aren't ridding at 20mph so very little wind chill. My road bike doesn't come out during the winter. I just stick to single track.

gamby

I'm fortunate enough to have a park with a permanent CX course laid out on it nearby (Riverpoint CX Park in West Warwick, RI). I'm riding there in weather that I wouldn't remotely consider on my roadie. Did 18 miles on the roadie today in 35 degree weather, did 11 in the woods on the CX bike in 25 degree weather, sweating WAY more.

My CX bike is a beater I built up from an early 90's Diamondback hybrid and I've grown to love the thing. I'll weight weenie it down a couple pounds eventually, but for now, it's serving me great. It provides EXCELLENT cold weather training/conditioning and is very entertaining as a by-product. Very high-intensity interval training by nature--but amusing. I even did my first CX race a couple of weeks ago. I'll throw some hybrid tires on it and ride some dirt roads when the weather warms up.

I have an older (2004) FS MTB that will see mileage here and there this summer. I haven't ridden it in a year, at the moment, though.

LesterOfPuppets

Considering price range, meteorological conditions and terrain, I'd suggest single-speed CX. Your price range is almost up to the rim braked All-City Nature Boy. Maybe you could get a last year's model or demo unit for under $800.





If it was me, I'm a cheap bastard, so I'd probably find a nice 23-25 lb mid-90s rigid or HT MTB on the craigslist.

LesterOfPuppets

Wait, yer tall, arent ya? dig up a gigantic fork with good clearance and the back could probably fit a 30mm cx tire.

Only a hundred clams on Philly CL

CALE262

I have a very nice mountain bike that gets ridden...never. I don't race cross but set up a cross bike to use when the roads are crappy in the off season. The nice thing is the cross bike is set up with the exact same fit as my road bikes so other than being a little bulkier/heavier, it has mostly the same feel.

A pic from today's bad roads ride.

clydeosaur

I ride primarily road. I don't have a CX bike. I do though, have a hard tail 29er and love it. I can hit trails, fire roads, etc.. in the winter time with the knobbies. I can also change out the 2.2 tires for a pair of 700c x 38's and use it on the street, rail trail (we've got a bunch here in PA), etc.. Go ride one of each & see what you think.

datlas 

I am not that tall. That looks like a 68cm frame. Holy head tube, batman!

Proteus made good custom frames back in the day. I think they were out of DC but can't say for sure.

Grambo

A few points to consider from my perspective:

- I assume the field you refer to already has an established hiking or bike trail? Riding even a MTB on a field with no trail or just a lightly used foot path is not a lot of fun given it will have very high rolling resistance combined with a bumpy ride.
- Just a few inches of snow will render the CX bike useless in the field. The tire contact patch simply isn't big enough. That having been said add on a few more inches of snow and the MTB bike will also become difficult if not impossible to ride.
- A HT MTB bike is overkill for just riding a flat field, however, you will have the option to ride it on actual MTB trails should you find you like the off road experience. There are lots of good MTB spots in the Philly area with plenty of novice level trails.
- A CX bike will be very similar to a road bike fit with primarily just a longer head tube and slightly more upright position.
- a CX bike equipped with proper tires is quite capable on the road in icy / snowy conditions. Both Schwalbe and Nokion make studded winter tires. The only problem will be the potential lack of a shoulder on the road due to plowing. I ride my CX bike on the road when the roads get crappy with sand, salt etc and narrower 25mm tires can be a bit sketchy.

Just some food for thought.

Grambo

One other point worth mentioning (especially given we live in the same general area). This time of year it is very common get what's known as the freeze / thaw cycle. Temps will be sub freezing overnight and trails will typically freeze back up but if the temps go above freezing by late morning / early afternoon they will begin to thaw. Once the thawing begins trails quickly become a muddy mess and are unrideable regardless of whether it is a CX bike, MTB or fat bike for that matter. If u get out early your fine but by midday the road will become your only option