starla

My commute is about 10.5 miles each way. Roughly 1.5 miles of that is on gravel road. And I'm not talking cute little gravel, either. I'm talking about teeth-jarring 2" diameter gravel.

I'm gonna be in the market for a new bike soon. I'd like my bike to double as a possible touring bike but it would primarily be a commuter. My question is, can I get a more knobby tire and put it on a bike such as the Kona ***** Inc, and be okay on that hellacious gravel, or would I be better off just getting a 'cross bike? Will that work? I imagine that I'd have a second wheel set eventually, for touring.

The 'cross bikes I like that are in my price range are the Specialized Tricross Sport, Raleigh RX 1.0, Bianchi Axis, and Cannondale Cyclocross 5. But are these too racy? Should I look for something more relaxed, and if so, any suggestions?

Or am I just completely off? I appreciate any and all input!

cyclist5

I ride a Trek XO-1 CX bike. It works for my commute which ranges from 11-15mi to sometimes 20. It ate gravel fine. The thing with cross bikes that you like is if you want to go faster just put on some skinnier tires or if you want to go off-roading put on some knobbies. I go everywhere with mine, including the 20+mph group rides with guys riding road-racing bikes.

FunkyStickman

A cross bike should work fine, just make sure you get big enough tires to soak up the gravel. My 10 mile route has about a half mile of gravel, so I understand where you're coming from. I use 40mm tires (1.5") and I may even go wider than that.

nycphotography

Just about any CX bike would be perfect for that gravel road. If not 28mm slicks, Ritchey speedmax pro (very low profile knobs).

I happen to have a Blue CXC (lugged carbon CX bike) w/ 105 and AC aluminum wheels... that I should have sold but haven't gotten around to yet.

I raced it 6 times a couple years ago, lost the will to drive to CX races the following season, and there it sits, barely used. I think it's a 57, but I'm not sure. If you (or anyone else) are interested, send me a PM and I'll see what I can sell it for.

Camilo

My commute is very similar. I have a cyclocross bike with 32mm road tires. I have mine set up with a road triple drive train rather than typical cross type crank and cassette.

The road tires (minimal - mostly cosmetic - tread only) work the best on wet or dry pavement, and in my opinion, unless you'll actually be riding on grass or mud, work well on gravel too. I wouldn't buy treaded tires unless you actually plan to do trail riding.

It works very well on the horrible large gravel/chuckhole/washboard portion of the commute, is smooth and fast on the pavement, and soaks up the cracks, manhole covers, etc. on the city streets.

I have the cockpit set up pretty much the same as my road bike and the frame has eyelets for fenders, and a rear rack.

It's almost as much fun - actually often more fun - than my lightweight road bike.

Mardmakarm

I recommended Gios ****io to you, very comfortable for daily commute and able to load much enough for longer tour.

paperbackbiker

Totally digging my Surly Cross Check. I don't have those kinds of dirt roads to deal with, though some would say that the poorly paved/ patched roads in New England might as well be dirt. I weighed down my Bontrager rack and panniers with about thirty pounds today - no problem.

tarwheel 

A cross bike would work as well as bikes such as the Bianchi Volpe and Salsa Casseroll that are sort of a road/cross/sport touring mix. My Casseroll has canti brakes and can handle tires up to 38 mm. I just bought some 32 mm cross tires (Ritchey Pro Max) to install when I plan to ride trails, gravel roads, unpaved paths, etc.

starla

Awesome...this is just what I wanted to hear! Now it's just a matter of saving a little and trying them out!

Hopslam

Connondale's T-1 & t-2 touring models & their cx counterparts are or were the same frame , different forks . I have a 08 T-2 that was built up from a bare frame (new $600) very stable ride . And yeah I do lots of gravel.

Take a look/ride on one

cheers

chipcom 

YMMV, but I kinda like the older xcross frames that sported a higher BB. Modern conventional logic says that the higher BB is of no benefit, but one of the big reasons why my old 80-something Bianchi is still my favorite bike and hasn't had its old, ugly frame replaced by a new one, is the BB height.

happa95

I second the Bianchi Volpe vote.

waynesworld

I can certainly recommend the 2010 Kona Jake, as I recently got one and love it. They've changed the geometry this year, with a 1cm shorter chainstay, and different head tube and seat tube angles. I'm not sure what this would mean to you. Or me, for that matter.

I would think a ***** Inc would be fine, as long as it fits big enough tires, if you like the ride. I've only seen pictures on the web.

phx1973

+1 on either the Bianchi Volpe or Surly Cross Check

nashcommguy

Same thing here. I've got about 1 mile of gravel road and part of it is pretty rough. The bike I chose is this one: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._cross_cx2.htm It's got a rack, bags, lights, fenders, etc. Got it in May of 2008. Over 15,000 commuter/utility miles...still going strong. Changed out the stock tires to Schwalbe Marathon Plus 28mm as most of my 40 mi rt commute is on pavement and the stock tires were too soft. Mine's yellow. Just recently did a strip down/re-pack/lube, etc. Great bike for the money. Comes 90% assembled. Took 4 days from order date.

cyclist5

Out of curiousity is Trek not a big bike company for commuters? I've been here a few months and nobody seems to ride Treks for commuting. I ride my XO-1. But everyone else is Surley, Cannondale, Biannichi, Kohna, etc. Kinda makes me feel out of place :/

exile

Test ride them all and see which one you like. I know the CC will fit fatter tires, but I am not familiar with the others.

exile

Trek is still a big company. However they seem to have more competition. Without BF I don't think I would have heard about Surly, Kona, or Bianchi. I would have just gone to a LBS and bought whatever they carry. The 3 LBS in my area sell Cannondale, Specialized, Trek, Giant, and Redline.