Road bike recommendations

Have you ever ridden a CX bike, Ed?

I reckon CX bicycles are perfectly suitable as a light tourer, I.e. credit card touring, bivvy etc.

What with the lack of rack mounts, lack of mudguard mounts, racing geometry, etc., sure, why not.

Most CX bikes are designed as all-rounders nowadays. So they're perfectly fine as commuters, light-tourers etc...

I reckon CX bicycles are perfectly suitable as a light tourer, I.e. credit card touring, bivvy etc.

I guess it would be just as suitable as a road bike. Maybe more so, if the wheelbase is longer for better tyre clearance.

I have to load the front of mine, to keep the front wheel from mis-behaving. Doesnt matter on the way back from the super market. But a couple hours into a loaded ride. Constantly correcting the steering gets fecking annoying.

Just get some form of from load solution, and check your legs dont hit anything.

What with the lack of rack mounts, lack of mudguard mounts, racing geometry, etc., sure, why not.

Plenty are made with fast commuting, + load carrying in mind.

Like I say, mine has slightly unsuitable geometry, as you mention.

I don't think you can make blanket statements about all CX bikes being suitable for touring. Some are, as are some road bikes, but you'd not make the same statement that says all road bikes are suitable for it.

Something like the Specialized Crux is definitely not suitable as it's a race bike, pure and simple.

Plenty are made with fast commuting, + load carrying in mind.

Like I say, mine has slightly unsuitable geometry, as you mention.

Sure, some are real all-rounders, like the Genesis Croix de Fer etc. But that Kona is a CX race bike, really. As you say - not really any better or worse than a road bike. I was gently trolling Scoble tbh.

I don't think you can make blanket statements about all CX bikes being suitable for touring. Some are, as are some road bikes, but you'd not make the same statement that says all road bikes are suitable for it.

Something like the Specialized Crux is definitely not suitable as it's a race bike, pure and simple.

This. My Kinesis crosslight CSix is useless as a touring bike, no bottle bosses or rack mounts

Can we see a show of hands of all those people who own, or have owned, a cyclocross bike, just so we can guage the level of expertise here;

1. andyp
   
2. smallfurry
   
3. Gabe
   
   

Anyone else?

Maybe worth noting that it's a 2009 JtS which has rack and mudguard mounts

I don't think you can make blanket statements about all CX bikes being suitable for touring. Some are, as are some road bikes, but you'd not make the same statement that says all road bikes are suitable for it.

What would you know Andy, you've never worked in a bike shop.

So just leave it to the professionals yeah!

:winkyface:

Can we see a show of hands of all those people who own, or have owned, a cyclocross bike, just so we can guage the level of expertise here;

1. andyp
   
2. smallfurry
   
3. Gabe
   
   

Anyone else?

I've never actually toured on mine. I just use it to lug shit around within a 100km radius of where I live.

So just you two.

I was gently trolling Scoble tbh.

Sounds like the title of a folk song.

What would you know Andy, you've never worked in a bike shop.

So just leave it to the professionals yeah!

:winkyface:

People who work in bike shops are professionals?

I must be going to the wrong shops.

:winkyfacebackatya:

Actually my CX utility frame needs replacing anyone know of any.......

.....pops off to CX thread

Can we see a show of hands of all those people who own, or have owned, a cyclocross bike, just so we can guage the level of expertise here;

1. andyp
   
2. smallfurry
   
3. Gabe
   
   

Anyone else?

Me Me Me!!!

Mine is useless for anything but basic credit card touring (which is what I consider 24hr TT training nowadays).

My old steel mtb was better as it had rack mounts.

Maybe worth noting that it's a 2009 JtS which has rack and mudguard mounts

Ah, right. Carry on.

Can we see a show of hands of all those people who own, or have owned, a cyclocross bike, just so we can guage the level of expertise here;

1. andyp
   
2. smallfurry
   
3. Gabe
   
   

Anyone else?

Me, although it arrived damaged last Friday and I'm not getting the replacement until tomorrow so I haven't actually ridden one yet. I have looked at it online though...

People who work in bike shops are professionals?

Yeah you can go to proper university and shit like Trek University or SBCU Specialized Bicycle Company University and get yourself qualified in all their unique and market breaking technologies (swanky newest marketing bumf).

Sure, some are real all-rounders, like the Genesis Croix de Fer etc. But that Kona is a CX race bike, really. As you say - not really any better or worse than a road bike. I was gently trolling Scoble tbh.

It is one of the most diverse cyclocross bikes ever. It can race, commute, train, tour or just plain ride.

^ from your link.

I guess people have different ideas of what touring entales, and how much kit they'll want with them.

Also from the same passage you quoted:

This year, our classic Kona model takes on more of a racing aesthetic, sharing the same frame features and race-winning geometry as our Major Jake,

Don't believe the marketing blurb.

^ from your link.

I guess people have different ideas of what touring entales, and how much kit they'll want with them.

Sure, but also:

This year, our classic Kona model takes on more of a racing aesthetic, sharing the same frame features and race-winning geometry as our Major Jake

And I definitely see no mounts on here:

But we've established it's an older model now, anyway... Let's just pretend this never happened...

Look closer.

Rack and Mudguard mounts. Two sets of bottle bosses.

Oh balls.

Can we see a show of hands of all those people who own, or have owned, a cyclocross bike, just so we can guage the level of expertise here;

1. andyp
   
2. smallfurry
   
3. Gabe
   4
   
   

Anyone else?

1. andyp
   
2. smallfurry
   
3. Gabe
   
4. andy.w