Hello! I am just getting into bike commuting and currently using my 20 year old mountain bike. It gets me there, but I am in the market for a new, better bike. I am trying to decide between a road and cyclocross bike. The road bike would be faster, but the cyclocross could accomodate a rear rack and would be better in adverse conditions, so I am torn. Please help!
Get a Surly Cross-Check: you can commute on it with racks and the large tires and sturdy rims help to battle the rough Pittsburgh roads. When you want to go fast, swap the knobbies for some skinny slicks. Or just run 32 smoothies all the time.
The Cross-Check is like the swiss army knife of bikes !!
Sounds like me, last year - I'd never ridden anything but a MTB and was looking for something a little faster for commuting and light touring.
I decided to buy a cyclocross bike (Surly Crosscheck) and I love it - just clocked my 1000th mile on it today. Maybe it's a little slower and heavier than a road bike but it's definitely more versatile - it's just an all-around great bike as far as I'm concerned.
I did swap the stock tires (some 35mm knobby things) for Vittoria Randonneurs (32mm, they also make 28). It still does fine for light offroading and in the rain although I rode my MTB in the snow. I also put a triple crankset on it for lower gearing which may be an issue if you're used to MTB gears or generally like your knees.
This bike looks pretty good! Thanks for the advice.
i took my sister bike shopping today, and told her if i bought a bike today it would be "this one". that was a surly long haul trucker. it does what you need, and could carry 50 lbs of groceries for you, too, should the need ever arise.
There are plenty of 'cross bikes out there that can still go fast like a road bike if you need them to. Something like a Cross-Check will easily handle commuting and whatnot, and still be plenty good for regular road riding, too.
There is also a growing selection of road bikes that will accept larger tires, mudguards, and racks, such as the Surly Pacer.
Cross bike. Modern road bikes are so dumb. Zero clearance and no mounting points.
Cross bikes aren't inherently slow. You can still mount road tires on them and go every bit as fast, plus they are more versatile.
If I were buying a bike today, it'd be a Surly long-haul trucker.
Cross bike. Modern road bikes are so dumb. Zero clearance and no mounting points.
Indeed. Times are a'changing, though. There is a growing number of models that accept fenders and racks. The new Raleigh models (REI has a few) are particularly sexy.
There is a growing number of models that accept fenders and racks. The new Raleigh models (REI has a few) are particularly sexy.
Mmm...I find the Clubman particularly droolworthy.
I had a similar dilemma a few months ago. I'd been looking at Cross bikes like the Cross Check, but then I got turned onto touring bikes which, depending on your commute, might suit you better.
Both are made for standing up to heavy use and for carrying a lot of stuff, but the touring bikes are just a little more road-esque than the cross bikes. If your commuting route is mostly roads, it might make more sense.
Check out the Surly LHT (Long Haul Trucker) as some other posters have recommended, a Trek 520, or a Novara Randonee (Novara is REI's store brand). All of those are awesome touring bikes.
Also, this site is an awesome resource for all things touring :
Good luck!
oops--I should say I ended up getting an awesome deal on a used Trek 520 and it's been amazing so far.
The major difference between touring and cross bikes is the geometry.. to generalize, touring bike have a more relaxed, upright geometry and a longer wheel base for stability carrying loads. Cross bikes tend to still have a racier geometry.
I went from mtn bike to cross bike this spring. I got a surly cross check. For the number of times I am going to carry around loads of anything, it will work quite well. 99% of the time I'm carrying a rain jacket, notebook, and coffee mug. I don't need a wider wheelbase to stabilize that. I also liked that the cross check had horizontal dropouts, so I could make it a SS/internal gear if I wanted. When I lifted a stock CC and LHT side by side, I definitely noticed a weight difference. I'm sure you could swap around parts to make it tip in favor of the LHT, but I didn't want to, and living at the top of a big hill, that sold me on the CC.
It has brazeons for both a rack and fenders, which were just about the first things I added. I don't feel uncomfortable at all loading 50 lbs of groceries on it. It hauled home 50 t-shirts last night, up Greenfield Ave. The guy at the t-shirt place seemed mildly amused. If you get the stock bike, you may want to fiddle with the default gear range though, the double chainring doesn't give you much in the way of climbing gears.
@mayhew, i'm pretty sure somebody's cross bikes don't have mounts for fenders and had to get the speedez full coverage ones..
You can fit all kinds of stuff on a Cross-Check. Here's mine. The first photo is loaded up with stuff from REI and the second photo is unloaded but with the granny gear and larger tires I added. The Cross-Check is my favorite do-everything bike -- it's versatile, fun, easy to work on and trustworthy.
I got a Redline Conquest Classic- love it. Commuter type bike, disc brakes, cross frame, etc
http://www.redlinebicycles.com/news/385-conquest-classic-enhanced-review
I have both the Surly Crosscheck and the Surly Pacer.
If you plan on never leaving the road, I'd go for the Pacer. If being able to go singlespeed or mount cross tires and hit trails is a concern, go Crosscheck.
The Pacer is more than capable of handling racks and fenders and big enough tires, just rode mine fully loaded from town to Frederick a couple of weeks ago via the GAP and C&O trails.
I'm digging that Redline, Tabby. Do you have pics of your actual bike?
I would also consider the Novara Safari from REI. It's a little more mountain-bikey than road-bikish. It has trekking handlebars, disc brakes and comes with a rear rack.
It looks like a great deal -- I think it's listed for $849.
I was looking at that Safari just yesterday. Anyone have one and have comments?
A related question - how much of a difference does a steel frame make? I'm particularly interested in long distance riding while loaded down with stuff. I'm pretty heavy myself, if that makes a difference.
perusing other forums, someone suggested getting a crosscheck with a LHT fork, for serious front rack handling. might be worth looking into.
also, the more i read, the more i'm leaning toward a crosscheck. but they're both nice bikes.
Steel is probably going to be a bit more comfortable on longer rides, but that's a generalization.
I looked hard at the Safari a few years ago. I liked it, but didn't like that I'd have to drop even more cash on stuff like fenders and lighting, when their other commuter bikes had better features for a cheaper price. Of course, the Safari could probably handle recreational riding better than a Transit or Fusion.
I got my Cross-Check originally as a do-it-all compromise bike that was supposed to replace eight other bikes ... I opted for the 'check over the LHT because it was a little sportier.
The LHT already has the triple crank and wide-ratio cassette -- both things I added at extra cost. Also, the LHT uses heavier-duty 36 spoke wheels versus the 'check's 32-spokers. I'm heavy -- about 210 -- and when my bike is loaded, we're pushing 300lbs. I have not yet needed to true my wheels which is remarkable considering how many miles are on the bike. (I have, however, replaced the brake pads three times.)
Based on my terrific experience, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase -- or recommend -- any Surly product.
@Jason, happy to however they are low quality phone pics. The first one is after I first got it. The second one is from today in the hallway with my accessories on it.
first time posting pictures, hope I did it right!
If you were to generalize steel vs aluminum/alloy, Steel would weigh a couple lbs ore, but offers a smoother ride. Aluminum's ride is typically a little more harsh.
In the grand scheme, 2-3lbs for a bike and rider are negligible for most people. So unless you are planning on racing with it, steel is a great material.
Somewhere, a Bianchi is missing a cage.
the good news Lyle is that no bianchis were harmed.
Yes, I understand that modern cagectomies are performed humanely, under general anesthetic and the supervision of a wizened Italian frame builder.
Nice pics, Tabby. I'm digging those disc brakes !!
For me the only downside to most 'cross bikes is the brakes. I just hate cantilevers. For commuting use long reach calipers would be the way to go if you can find a road frame with slightly larger clearances. Or perhaps even better yet, a 'cross/road frame with disc brakes.
Tabby's Redline looks great though I'd want some fenders on there..
@jason, thanks! she does great in the rain or with a load.
@john I want some fenders on there too. My feet were all wet this morning. I haven't gotten around to it yet.
First post and coming in late...so I'll try and be semi-helpful.
Nothing like actually riding a bike to answer your questions about it, so If anybody here is on the tall side and thinking about a Surly LHT, I have both 58cm and 60cm Truckers at my house (Lawrenceville) and would be happy to take you out on a quick test drive around the neighborhood.
When I was looking for a commuter/camping rig two years ago, I could never find an LBS w/a Trucker in the flesh anywhere near Pgh, just the odd (always too small) CrossCheck on the showroom floor. LHT and CrossCheck are slightly different animals IMO, so a ride might at least save someone the hassle of getting the wrong bike.
Any other LHT questions, lemme know. I've been just about everywhere on mine.
Same offer goes for a 60cm cross check. I'm in Greenfield/Oakland.
I have a 60cm Kona Jake I'm trying to sell. I'll just plug this here...
Another one to consider is the Specialized Tricross. I have the 'triple' model...which seems to be about the same as the 'sport' but with a triple chainring that's good for Pittsburgh's hills. I've regularly loaded it with 30 - 50 pounds and it handles just fine (though it's all I know, so YMMV).
It has all the mount points for racks and fenders, including braze-ons for a front rack.
It's also a perfectly capable road bike. Most of my riding is commuting or around town, but when I feel like going fast I just pump up the tires and leave the panniers at home.
I'm a smaller guy...if you're interested in trying out a 52cm bike, I'm in the Strip District for work every weekday.
On more thing to add re: Cross v. RoAd that I didn't see mentioned above: cross bikes rout the cables on the top of the top bar, which makes carrying them up Pittsburgh steps a bit easier.
