Cyclocross bikes-jack of all trades?

coolbeans

I'm currently doing a lot of commuting on the stalwart mountain bike. She's a heavy old girl, not helped by the recent addition of panniers and a rack and it's time to get something lighter.
I'm looking for something fast around town, with forgiving geometry due to my poor flexibility, drop bars, mounts for full mudguards and racks and some trail capability as I intend to bring it on a European off the beaten track tourt at some stage. So what do ye think? Would a cyclocross fit the bill? Suggestions welcomed.

Lumen

A lot depends on budget and how much clearance you want for big tyres.

The Planet-X Uncle John was discussed here, along with some other suggestions (Kaffenback, Tricross).

The main issues with this class of bikes (IMO) are braking performance (which can be fixed by proper set up and ideally a brake upgrade) and fork judder.

If money was no object, I'd probably get something like a disc-braked Van Nicolas Amazon.

Gavin

The Cotic RoadRat looks like an interesting frame







Can take disc or v-brakes, 26" or 700c wheels, short version for drops, or longer for flatbars. Can take racks, mudguards. High bottom bracket. Horizontal dropouts.

If I was building up a commuter, I'd probably go for that frame. Could use it for cyclocross as well.

billy.fish

Gavin wrote: »

The Cotic RoadRat ......If I was building up a commuter, I'd probably go for that frame. Could use it for cyclocross as well.

Assuming you don't run discs that is.

Still a no no.

Lumen

billy.fish wrote: »

Assuming you don't run discs that is.

Still a no no.

Competitive cyclocross, yes. Although recreational cyclocross is a bit of a bizarre concept.

I remember seeing at least one DSQ (or whatever) on the results sheet for Corcaigh Park, and also at least one disc-braked cross bike. The same?

billy.fish

Lumen wrote: »

Competitive cyclocross, yes. Although recreational cyclocross is a bit of a bizarre concept.

I remember seeing at least one DSQ (or whatever) on the results sheet for Corcaigh Park, and also at least one disc-braked cross bike. The same?

Cross is recreational now?

If you are at the tail end people probably wont say anything to you, but in a CI race, any organiser can pull you out if you have them. Proper set of CX brakes set up will be fine, you don't actually want to be braking, you want to maintain speed and they are fine on the road.



saying that for 3 Peaks the CX bike has discs on as they are legal!

k_d

isnt that where i let you out of van?

billy.fish

Shhh dont give it away.