Road Bikes

[8Ring]

I would definitely go with the Douglas titanium frame. (I've been riding a Samson Ti frame bike with Ultegra 6700 for 5 years and I love it.) A good Ti frame will last a lifetime and will laugh off minor crashes that will send carbon fiber frames to the bike hospital. A Ti frame has a "livelier" and more comfortable ride than an aluminum frame. Make sure the frame is the right size for you. I also strongly recommend getting a professional bike fit. A properly fit bike will help you avoid various aches and pains that might come during longer road rides.

I'm also not convinced about replacing carbon fiber forks and frames every 7 years. I don't think carbon fiber parts will deteriorate simply through the passage of time. The type of riding is more important. One year of cyclocross riding will probably put more stress on the components than many years of riding on reasonably smooth roads.

[TheBelly]

I would definitely go with the Douglas titanium frame. (I've been riding a Samson Ti frame bike with Ultegra 6700 for 5 years and I love it.) A good Ti frame will last a lifetime and will laugh off minor crashes that will send carbon fiber frames to the bike hospital. A Ti frame has a "livelier" and more comfortable ride than an aluminum frame. Make sure the frame is the right size for you. I also strongly recommend getting a professional bike fit. A properly fit bike will help you avoid various aches and pains that might come during longer road rides.

I'm also not convinced about replacing carbon fiber forks and frames every 7 years. I don't think carbon fiber parts will deteriorate simply through the passage of time. The type of riding is more important. One year of cyclocross riding will probably put more stress on the components than many years of riding on reasonably smooth roads.

Carbon doesn't need to be replaced unless it becomes unserviceable. Same rules apply to an aluminum/titanium/steel frame. Older carbon frames 'may' have different types of resins that 'may' break down over time (with the application of EXTREME heat and use), but unless the carbon actually breaks, then it should be fine for a lifetime. Carbon can be repaired, but it should be repaired professionally. If a crash will destroy a carbon frame, chances are it will also send a titanium frame to the scrap bin as well. I will pick carbon over titanium any day of the week. Titanium is an isomorphic substance (I think that's the right word) in that it will bend and flex the same way in all directions. Carbon can be layered to give different characteristics in different directions of stresses.

Frame size: The overall top tube length, stack height, and reach are the key components to a good bike fit. everything else can be adjusted using the finishing kit and/or component choices. I have used a frame that was technically too small for me, but I made up for it with a longer stem (130mm vs my normal 110mm) and a longer seat post (400mm instead of a standard 350mm). It's not difficult to get a smaller bike to fit, but it's almost impossible to get a bike to fit right if the frame is too big.

A cyclocross frame is more than just a road frame that has fatter tires on it. It is designed and engineered to perform the tasks needed of cyclocross racing.

[TheBelly]

I did a century on Monday. Wasn't too difficult. I needed to eat more and keep the nutrition up. I almost bonked at mile 95, which meant the other folks on the ride must have been REALLY hurting.

[Honey Badger282.8]

My goal is to do a century by July. My first real ride on the bike was 30 miles so I think that's a realistic goal.

[TheBelly]

My goal is to do a century by July. My first real ride on the bike was 30 miles so I think that's a realistic goal.

The longer rides are completed with nutrition and nothing else.

There's a requisite level of fitness needed, yes, but mostly it's all about staying fed and hydrated.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

A cyclocross frame is more than just a road frame that has fatter tires on it. It is designed and engineered to perform the tasks needed of cyclocross racing.

Like so many other things cycling, cyclocross frames are truly becoming a blend along a spectrum between road and true Cx. That X-fire mentioned earlier is much further on that spectrum designed for racing, but so many "gravel grinders" are creeping towards some Cx characteristics. That is not a disagreement with you, just an observation that the whole thing has been an interesting phenomenon to watch the evolution. Salsa has been really making their own way with some of their "cross" bikes. I love what they are constantly doing, but so often I'm just not sure what to do with it. I wouldn't race it Cx, and I wouldn't want to do big road miles on it constantly either. I guess just ride for fun. And FWIW, I have done a century or two (for sure Buffalo Classic) on my old Crossbow with cantis, true Cx TT routing, and the 46/38. Definitely didn't break any land speed records.

[TheBelly]

Like so many other things cycling, cyclocross frames are truly becoming a blend along a spectrum between road and true Cx. That X-fire mentioned earlier is much further on that spectrum designed for racing, but so many "gravel grinders" are creeping towards some Cx characteristics. That is not a disagreement with you, just an observation that the whole thing has been an interesting phenomenon to watch the evolution. Salsa has been really making their own way with some of their "cross" bikes. I love what they are constantly doing, but so often I'm just not sure what to do with it. I wouldn't race it Cx, and I wouldn't want to do big road miles on it constantly either. I guess just ride for fun. And FWIW, I have done a century or two (for sure Buffalo Classic) on my old Crossbow with cantis, true Cx TT routing, and the 46/38. Definitely didn't break any land speed records.

I used a CX bike for the 'commute' from work to the room here. It was a great amount of fun to basically hooligan my way the 1.7 miles in between. Traffic? No problem!

I see the environment getting saturated by the niche markets: Aero, Lightweight, Endurance, TT, Tri, Gravel, CX, etc., etc. I have two: a lightweight and an aero. I mostly ride the lightweight bike (Helium SL).

[roberth]

Like so many other things cycling, cyclocross frames are truly becoming a blend along a spectrum between road and true Cx. That X-fire mentioned earlier is much further on that spectrum designed for racing, but so many "gravel grinders" are creeping towards some Cx characteristics. That is not a disagreement with you, just an observation that the whole thing has been an interesting phenomenon to watch the evolution. Salsa has been really making their own way with some of their "cross" bikes. I love what they are constantly doing, but so often I'm just not sure what to do with it. I wouldn't race it Cx, and I wouldn't want to do big road miles on it constantly either. I guess just ride for fun. And FWIW, I have done a century or two (for sure Buffalo Classic) on my old Crossbow with cantis, true Cx TT routing, and the 46/38. Definitely didn't break any land speed records.

The Ridley is a racing Cx bike, probably overkill for my girl but she loves it and rides it all over the place. We'll change out the tires if we're doing a no-dirt road ride, then we'll see what is faster, my Cervelo R3 or hers.

I used to ride a Specialized Tri-Cross, I sold that and bought a Salsa Cutthroat which is a drop-bar mountain bike that acts like a Cx. It is a ton of fun, I put a drop-seatpost on it so I could run down steep hills better.

I still long for a pure Cx but I wouldn't ride it much b/c the Cutthroat is so versatile.

[TheBelly]

We'll change out the tires if we're doing a no-dirt road ride, then we'll see what is faster, my Cervelo R3 or hers.

Her bottom bracket is faster than your bottom bracket.

BBRight? ugh!