zjrog

As mentioend, I am considering the purchase of a cyclocross bike, a Nashbar aluminum, and not sure of the year of the bike or components. I do know it is 54cm frame for size. Beyond that I have to wait for the guy to get back in town and a time for us to get together to check it out.

My question. Do most people ride the same size cyclocross as their road bikes? I prefer 58 or 60, depending on the frame and stretch. But feel a little extra standover height might be good for off pavement riding.

I have a 29er that is large, has a suspension fork and gave some thought to skinnier tires. But admittedly, it's standover height is pretty tall thanks to that suspension fork.

I have no intention of racing, but maybe some gravel rides in the future. Maybe even a bike to take on trips that is more versatile than either of my road bikes, or my oversized 29er.

tdilf

Cyclocross frame sizes are fairly close to road frames (but really depends on the geo). Going from 58/60 down to a 54 is a big jump though.

shoota 

54cm is too small for you. Old school CX geo means you go one size down from your road bike, new school CX geo means you get the same size.

zjrog

I appreciate the input. I knew the older thinking. Been out of the loops a few years.

Going to look anyway, to see what components are on the bike for a later project.

I tried a smaller hybrid a few years ago that just didn't work out, so a too small cyclocross bike won't cut it...

chas58

I don't need the extra standover heigh for Gravel (like I do for mountain bike riding). You might be able to get an extra 20mm out of the stem, but it sounds as if the top tube is 40-60cm too small for you.

Caliper

A lot depends on what "gravel" means to you.

If you are like the guys out west and it means a drop bar mountain bike ridden on techy terrain then you may want something with more standover clearance, but probably with a sloping top tube so that there isn't too much drop to the bars. If you ride 58/60 on a road bike, I think you will have a painful amount of drop on a 54cm frame.
OTOH, if you are more on midwest gravel which means a fat tire road bike on dirt/gravel roads then I'd go with similar or slightly larger sizing to your road bike.

Personally, one of my gravel bikes is an older touring frame with zero standover height. Yes, standing astride the frame means I am "just touching" the top tube. No issues with it because I'm not doing MTB things with the bike. Heck, for some time I ran road pedals (Look brand) on the bike with no troubles. Aside from the rare occasion of cross traffic at an intersection, I rarely unclip over the course of a ride under maybe three hours. The more upright position can be more comfortable for longer rides on bumpier roads though and helps with seeing the scenery if you want to be a bit more touristy.

zjrog

I am out west, Utah, west of Salt Lake City. Due to a bicycle crash nearly 8 years ago, I have no intent to be super gonzo ever again. Super technical offroad is just not going to happen. My 29er is almost too big for me to ride off road anyway. It has the same stand over as my 58cm road bikes. Now, I grew up in Kansas, just north of the Dirty Kanza race. Rode a Sears Free Spirit 10 speed on gravel roads and cow trails because I didn't know any better in the late 70s...

So. I thought about a second set of wheels with 38 to 45c tires for the 29er. Still an option. I have ridden it on some desert trails, and I think that is where this bike shines for me. Do I need a cyclocross bike? Probably not. But the 29er is overkill, and heavy. And none of my road bikes can fit over 28c. Well. 32c fits the rear of my KHS which was originally a 27" wheel bike, but 28 is the biggest the fork fits, it was off a 85 or 86 Nishiki Prestige. I agree then, the 54 cm bike might be too small. But still worth looking at for the group, maybe I can fnd a proper fit frame.

86az135i

I ride a 56 on road and 56 cyclocross. The cyclocross fit wasn't perfect, so I sized down 10mm on the stem. Good to go. There's always a little flexibility. But a 4-6cm drop is a lot and minor adjustments will not get you the fit you want.