Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
- Mububban
- Posts: 3059
- Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm
Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby Mububban » Sun Apr 03, 2016 10:55 pm
I'm also keen to maintain my lifetime puncture-free record (I know, it's got to happen one day!) so am thinking of something like the Schwalbe Marathon range. I've read that they roll surprisingly well considering the weight penalty.
I'd also want mud guards, no need for panniers though as I wear a backpack.
Anything worth buying around the $500 - $800 range? I'd love some suggestions I could research.
Thanks
-
- Posts: 2435
- Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:45 pm
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby Calvin27 » Mon Apr 04, 2016 9:09 am
As fo tyres my spesh fits up to 38c and the synapse 32c.keep in mind that the schwalbe marathons are generally a bigger tyre than they specify. For example I can only just manage to get a 35c schwalbe marathon plus on my spesh, while i can get 38c knobbies for dirt on there. The puncutre proof foam adds extra diameter. If you are not going for tyres with the foam then all good, the sizes are not too different.
Cushy dirt bike
Very cushy dirt bike
Bike crushed by car (RIP)
No brakes bike
Ebike
- queequeg
- Posts: 6482
- Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:09 am
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby queequeg » Mon Apr 04, 2016 2:35 pm
marathon plus tyres are great. Here is what happened to me on Friday...but no puncture
-
- Posts: 647
- Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2015 2:26 pm
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby BenGr » Mon Apr 04, 2016 4:06 pm
I've seen that happen in less resistant tyres as well (still no puncture), but the added depth definitely helps!queequeg wrote:I think you will have a tough time finding a CX Bike with a triple chainset.
marathon plus tyres are great. Here is what happened to me on Friday...but no puncture
- simonn
- Posts: 3763
- Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:46 am
- Location: Sydney
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby simonn » Tue Apr 05, 2016 9:08 am
FWIW, I'd estimate that the difference in time taken over my hilly 25km commute based on the bike I rode and everything else being roughly equal would be about 5 mins (carbon roadie carrying nothing, vs dual sus carrying laptop etc). Commute was 60 mins +- 5 mins or so on average.
Having a bought a cheap CX. I probably wouldn't again. I'd look for carbon with hydro disc brakes... but then I'm not sure I'd want to risk that as a commuter day to day.
Also, stock CX bikes tend to be as high geared (if not more so because of 36t small ring) than road bikes, so be prepared to change a few things if you have a hilly commute.
Personally, I'd go an internally geared bike with disc brakes for commuting full time. I'm over the continual maintenance that riding in the rain requires.
Saying all that, if you are only going to have one bike, a CX is good option.
-
- Posts: 1545
- Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:05 pm
- Location: West Gippy
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby macca33 » Tue Apr 05, 2016 3:48 pm
cheers
- Mububban
- Posts: 3059
- Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby Mububban » Wed Apr 06, 2016 11:41 am
Can anyone recommend any brands and models in the sub $1000 category that are worth investigating?
- Mulger bill
- Super Mod
- Posts: 29060
- Joined: Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:41 pm
- Location: Sunbury Vic
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby Mulger bill » Wed Apr 06, 2016 7:37 pm
Reid Granite.Mububban wrote:Thanks everyone.
Can anyone recommend any brands and models in the sub $1000 category that are worth investigating?
Looked one over in their Melbs main shop, very neat. Running gear isn't the flashest but running gear wears out and can be upgraded.
London Boy 29/12/2011
- Mububban
- Posts: 3059
- Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby Mububban » Thu Apr 07, 2016 4:01 pm
I did have a look at one of those and thought it looked pretty nice, might have to have a test ride to see how the gearing feels, as I said my legs are laughably skinny, people think I'm exaggerating but I need gearsMulger bill wrote: Reid Granite.
Looked one over in their Melbs main shop, very neat. Running gear isn't the flashest but running gear wears out and can be upgraded.
- m@
- Posts: 5112
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:20 pm
- Location: Wurundjeri Country
- Contact:
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby m@ » Fri Apr 08, 2016 6:35 am
That said, Masi make some lovely bikes - and this ain't one of 'em. But for a commuter I suspect it'd be fine.
But personally I'd look at cx compact double and a wide range cassette rather than a triple. This gives you much more choice when buying the bike, and road/cx groupsets can now handle crazy big cassette sprockets.
-
- Posts: 172
- Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2015 7:38 pm
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby elfoam » Fri Apr 15, 2016 1:05 am
- Mububban
- Posts: 3059
- Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby Mububban » Fri Apr 15, 2016 10:26 am
Thanks for the tip. That might be just the solution I need.m@ wrote:personally I'd look at cx compact double and a wide range cassette rather than a triple. This gives you much more choice when buying the bike, and road/cx groupsets can now handle crazy big cassette sprockets.
I'm not even considering internal gearing or single speed, I've clearly stated I don't have the legs to drive higher or limited gearing. I love cycling but "skeletal" is the best word to describe my build!
-
- Posts: 820
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:36 pm
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby Chris249 » Sun Apr 17, 2016 10:05 pm
It's fine for many people, but certainly not "ideal" for everyone. I rode flat bars for a long while but could never get comfortable with them; there were not enough different positions, and if you used bar ends you were too far away from the brakes and shifters.elfoam wrote:I think a light but solid Alumium flatbar roadbike with a internal geared hub or a single speed is technically the ideal commuter. 25c or 28c tyres. These guys seem to have bikes in the theme Im thinking about https://chappelli.com/au/product/vintage-five-speed/
Secondly, some people have significant hills that a SS bike will struggle up, and some prefer to be able to pull out into the traffic and hold 45-50+ kmh for a while. That's not easy on a SS of 5 speed bike, or a flatbar.
At my last two offices, keen commuters rode everything from MTBs with knobbies (perfect for those whose route lay along a firetrail) to time trial bikes. Surely it's whatever happens to suit the individual's route, style, desires and mood?
The CX bike seems an excellent combination, though. Want to get some dirt on the way to work? Chuck on the knobbies or file treads. Want to carry lots of stuff? Lots of them will take front and back racks. Want to go fast and hard? Put on road tyres and you're just about as fast as a road bike. Want to sit upright and still be in control? Use the crosstops/interrupters.
Como Vivente road 2009
Principia track track 2014
Cervelo P2K TT 2003
Merida CX4 2010
Concaeio road
- Mububban
- Posts: 3059
- Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby Mububban » Mon Apr 18, 2016 1:25 pm
Examples being the Giant Anyroad, Specialized Diverge (need a magical money tree for those) or Reid Granite.
I love the idea of the extra brake levers on the flat bars on the Giant, so you can brake from either the drops or the flat bars. But $2100 is out of the budget unfortunately.
-
- Posts: 908
- Joined: Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:33 pm
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby koshari » Mon Apr 18, 2016 1:45 pm
google cane creek crosstop.I love the idea of the extra brake levers on the flat bars
that giants frame looks hideous.
btw i dont mind the reid, i would get them to upgrade the disk mechs to trp hy/rd mech/hyd
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Pair-TRP-HYR ... MTg6laadBg
- Mububban
- Posts: 3059
- Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby Mububban » Tue Apr 19, 2016 10:54 am
Yeah the frame is.....different.....but reviews are universally positive. They used to do an aluminium frame for just over a grand which I could stretch to, but in Oz they seem to only now carry the CoMax composite frame for $2100 which is a bit far.koshari wrote:google cane creek crosstop.I love the idea of the extra brake levers on the flat bars
that giants frame looks hideous.
btw i dont mind the reid, i would get them to upgrade the disk mechs to trp hy/rd mech/hyd
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Pair-TRP-HYR ... MTg6laadBg
-
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:33 am
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby Brett_Windsor » Tue Apr 19, 2016 5:49 pm
-
- Posts: 1157
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2014 12:32 pm
- Location: Sydney
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby caneye » Wed Apr 20, 2016 2:28 pm
i got my Tektro inline brakes installed by my LBS. inexpensive.
useful when riding on shared paths with pedestrians.
-
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:36 pm
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby octagonalman » Mon Apr 25, 2016 1:48 am
Would you consider the Giant Revolt? They're about $1500 and aluminium frame, but still nowhere near your original budget.Mububban wrote:Yeah the frame is.....different.....but reviews are universally positive. They used to do an aluminium frame for just over a grand which I could stretch to, but in Oz they seem to only now carry the CoMax composite frame for $2100 which is a bit far.koshari wrote:google cane creek crosstop.I love the idea of the extra brake levers on the flat bars
that giants frame looks hideous.
btw i dont mind the reid, i would get them to upgrade the disk mechs to trp hy/rd mech/hyd
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Pair-TRP-HYR ... MTg6laadBg
- Mububban
- Posts: 3059
- Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby Mububban » Mon Apr 25, 2016 2:24 pm
I think the Revolt has more aggressive geometry than the Anyroad, but it's an option for second hand down the trackoctagonalman wrote:Would you consider the Giant Revolt? They're about $1500 and aluminium frame, but still nowhere near your original budget.
- silentbutdeadly
- Posts: 2294
- Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2010 9:52 am
- Location: Somewhere flat...
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby silentbutdeadly » Tue Apr 26, 2016 10:44 pm
Been here before. Started with a lovely CX bike (Scott CX Comp) which turned out to be a great singletrack bike and a fun & fast commuter but had foot overlap issues on the gnarly stuff, no rack mounts and the short geometry made long open dirt roads uncomfortable after a couple of hours.
As an experiment, I tried something else. Scored an old Giant Cypress hybrid 700c frameset from the early noughties for $50. Added some wheels, V brakes, flared drop bars and a short riser stem and suddenly the ghettograveller was born. It could take racks, it could take commuting, it could take long open dirt roads (sort of). It hated most of the single track!
I'd show photos of either but with the demise of Tapatalk here...it ain't gonna happen. There might be something kicking round on here already?
Sadly (or not) both are now hanging in the shed...they both got taken over by a Niner RLT 9 which does all of the things that the other two did...but in one better bike. And it has disc brakes!! Admittedly though it wasn't a cheap option even second hand...
If thee were me...hunt a barely used upright hybrid frameset from the turn of the century and give it a whirl with a dropbar. I'd happily sell you either of the redundant framesets but transport costs from Victorian country probably make it cost prohibitive...and they may not fit you regardless!!!
-
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Tue May 03, 2016 1:05 pm
Re: Cyclocross bike for a commuter?
Postby shd » Tue May 03, 2016 1:12 pm
I ride one of these 100km a week commuting and it's pretty ideal. OP - how far are you commuting each week? Do you have any intentions to tour or go for long rides, or just commute?elfoam wrote:I think a light but solid Alumium flatbar roadbike with a internal geared hub or a single speed is technically the ideal commuter. 25c or 28c tyres. These guys seem to have bikes in the theme Im thinking about https://chappelli.com/au/product/vintage-five-speed/
Return to “Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding”
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.