My carbon road bike is in the shop getting a new bottom bracket bearing, so today I rode my nearly new aluminum cyclocross bike (with road tires) 70 miles with friends.

Last night I was dreading this ride. I knew a fair amount would be on rough chipseal. My previous bike was an aluminum road frame (2010 Cannondale Synapse 5) with carbon fork, just like my CX frame.

So, imagine my surprise when I found this frame to dampen vibration nearly as well as my road bike. Huh? Color me surprised!

I told DH that if my first bike had been a Redline Conquest that I may not have even felt the need to upgrade right away. It's ~4#s heavier than my road bike, but it was still a pleasure to ride, even up some pretty steep hills (that's when the added weight and loss of wider-range road gearing would have been nice).