Im thinking about getting a cross bike, mainly because i want something for the off road, but not sure i want some really clunky heavy bike. I live in florida, so there isnt a lot of rediculous downhill, but around gainesville, there are some really cool off road trails. What im wondering is whether a cross bike can handle really knarly ground, or whether its “off road” is really just grass and packed dirt.
I would suggest a MTB.
Adal’s advice in a previsous post concerning getting a cross is the best I’ve seen:
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=611705;search_string=MTB%20cross;#611705
I agree with Trevor. It is a “beefed up” road bike. If you’re going on trails and “knarly ground” as you put it, a mountain bike is what you want and need. Road drop bars, cantilever brakes, and road components won’t be good for control or durability. I use my cross bike for commuting and winter training. When I go to the trails, I’m all about the mountain bike.
I’ve got a nice Rocky Mountain Element and a Lemond Poprad. they’re pretty much at opposite ends of the off-road spectrum: one’s aluminum and dual-suspension, the other is all-steel. The only similarity is the knobbies, and I’ve got FAT tires on my cross bike (40c).
I ride them both in Crested Butte, CO. It’s paradise for mountain biking. It’s not so good for road biking - we have one paved street in and one paved street out of town. Hence the cross bike.
Mountain bikes don’t have to be “clunky heavy,” and dual suspension actually helps keep both wheels down when both climbing and descending. Cross bikes will definitely shake you up a hell of a lot more.
Comparing both on singletrack and dirt roads is like night and day. It all depends on how you envision your offroad experience. The best bet for you, not knowing you, would probably be a hardtail. Unless you like riding your road bike on cobbles? Because that’s what a cross bike feels like when things get rough. It’s plenty strong enough to handle ugliness, but your hands, arms, legs, and ass might take a beating in the process.
It’s really a totally different intent. Riding off road on a cross bike is not supposed to supplant the experience of riding the same terrain on a MTB; they are two different animals.
It’s like the difference between sailing and power boating.
Personally, I only road my cross bike when I was training for cross racing. Otherwise, the MTB offers a much wider range of terrain you can actually RIDE versus dismounting, running, remounting, etc. Two totally different positions and experiences IMHO.
split the diff with something like this:
http://www.orbea-usa.com/fly.aspx?mId=m26&layout=viewproduct&taxId=239
nothing clunky there. 29in ( 700C ) wheels, with better than most off road smoothness and speed. florida has sand, no? a 29er mtn bike wheel will fly thru sand. mtn bike ergonomics and handling. if it seems stil too clunky put on some skiinier cross tires, but retain the mtn bike position and handling. kick ass.
bumping moves bad threads down…
not very off road…get a mtb
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