Roadie vs cyclocross

Hi there fellow cyclists. I'm new to London from NZ/Aus with a background in mountainbiking but a lover of all things bikes. It's time for me to invest in 2 wheels over here and wondering if an all out roadie is the best way to go or whether a cyclocross will give more versatility with trail and bike packing opportunities (and allow me to get mud on my face again). I'm really after a weekend warrior steed and would appreciate your thoughts on what suits London and surrounds best.

Thanks in advance.

p.s. if there are more appropriate forums elsewhere please so let me know.

You're in the right place! Any moment now, the forum's boldest and brightest loudmouths will be along to tell you how to spend your money wisely.

In the meantime, take a look at this thread:

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/273395/

Steel no aluminium no titanium no carbon thru axle 12mm. pizza rack forks tubeless .............. how long have you got . Paint candy fade sparkle or flouro or black ........

gravel is almost out so the bargains must be coming on ebay?

Age old question isn't it. The more versatile the bike is, the less fun it will be in some areas, so it all depends on the actual mix of riding your likely to end up doing, which can be hard to work out until you've got the bike beforehand. The issue I always found with multi-purpose bikes was that even if the frame could do anything, tyre choice was more important - and it was boring riding off road capable tyres out of London to get to the off road bits. That said, others manage fine and it depends a. If you care, b. If you live closer to the edges so don't have as far to go, or c. If you plan to drive or train out before you start.

The closest I came to that degree of versatility + fun was my Swiss cross, which I rode (with road tyres) on bike packing trips, sportives, commutes and all my winter miles, and enjoyed all of it. In hindsight I'm not sure why I sold it....

No budget given but the Ribble CGR SL is the closest I've seen - on paper - to an all-road bike that could bikepack, tour, race crits and cross. Get that in 2x11 with 2 wheelsets and you are set.

It depends on how off road you're planning. If it's just some dirt track thrown in to a ride with tarmac then you're probably best off getting something that's a road bike but with enough space for bigger tyres (30c -ish), like a Cannondale Synapse or Genesis Datum. But if you're thinking of rides that are majority off road or with bits of forest thrown in then you probably want a more "all-road" or cross specific frame that can take 33c+. Generally the bigger the tyres the frame can take the more compromised the speed/handling will be on tarmac.

In the UK it's not so much about tyre clearance, as mud clearance.

Many of our off road routes consist of sticky mud covered in a fine layer of gloop.

I only venture off road in dry conditions (both days each year) so clearance for 28c or 30c tyres is fine. That also means I can fit mudguards for the 6 months of the year when the roads are wet.

If you want to ride off road through the winter you need magical route selection or some pretty extreme kit.

If you want to ride off road through the winter you need magical route selection or some pretty extreme kit.

Lies, just hit it faster, in a bigger gear and hold on. The basics of riding an inappropriate bike on rough terrain

i’ll get my coat

A rider after following Rob's advice...

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It’s how everyone should look after that ‘slight detour’ on a regular ride

I'll bring my Team Z cap and Oakley EyeShades for the Beeching Cuts ride.

I like the way you are pretending that you you don’t have the skin suit....

If it’s wet, Beeching Cuts may get a touch messy it’s true.....