ingleshteechur - 2010-06-11 6:47 PM
2. If I get a cross bike--I could literally ride for hundreds of miles through the desert in any given direction--the roads are mostly gravel or hardpacked roads with some occasional rough spots. Is this the type of terrain a cross bike is made for?
3. What is the difference between a cyclocross/cross/hybrid bike?
Go Cyclocross.... A cyclocross bike
(CX
) is very similar to a roadbike in geometry
(frame may be a little shorter to make it more manuverable and stronger and thicker, bottombracket may a little higher, top tube a little bigger and flatter on bottom... but really nothing you'll really notice
)
The big difference are the wheels and brakes. The wheels are typically strong rims with lots of spokes - the types that road cyclists call 'Bomb proof training wheels'. the rubber on them is typically 35mm wide, somewhat studded CX tires. You can go pretty damn fast on a CX bike and do it on most surfaces except for technical MTB courses
(i.e. mountain trails with heavy rocks, logs, tight turns...
)
I have a Tri bike
(Cervelo P2
) and a CX bike
(Scott Team CX
). I race my P2 but ride the CX for fun. I can go off-roading with my 7 year old one day and then I put on my P2 stock wheels on it and can go for Cycling club rides and hang with the road cyclists.
Get a CX bike and a set of slick racing tires
(700c x 23 size - about $40 at your LBS
). Train in the desert on your CX 35mm tires and then pop on your 23mm slick tires for the race. You can also get cheap clip on aerobars
($30
) and your bike will never be the reason you did not win the race.
3. A Hybrid bike is a flat handlebar road bike with VERY relaxed geometry and roadbike wheels. They are perfect for cycling accorss the central park with you briefcase strapped to the back rack and a warm Starbucks latte in one hand. Not so good for racing, and sucky for training in your part of the world.