shortie needs help finding bike!

[celerystalksme]

Standover is likely to be more of an issue for you with cross bikes, if you have a short inseam, because cross bikes often have higher bottom brackets so the bike is taller overall. Compact geometry is probably going to be mandatory for you.

Trek makes the XO1 for around $1500, looks like a solid entry level bike. XS is 47cm, but standover is 74 cm...

Also Felt F1X, which comes in 49cm, but again has standover of 74.4...

Specialized Tricross, similar... Nothing seems to have a standover of much less than

Are you absolutely sure you're measuring correctly? I'm about your height (5'6" actually) but have an inseam of 80cm. My legs are not freakishly long (in fact I'm a little long-waisted). I have a 52 cm Bianchi Axis that fits me well. (hmmm, looks like they've downgraded the Axis from 105 parts to Tiagra... annoying...).

Wonder why your first choice for a cross **race** bike is steel? I could see that for general riding, but alu is going to be stiffer, snappier, probably a bit lighter (unless you shell out $$$$$) -- seems a more logical choice for racing?

What's your budget? Sounds like it's actually a little more flexible than you're letting on ?

i'm positive i'm measuring correctly. and i can BARELY clear the top tube on my XS '07 specialized roubaix expert compact rival...which has a stand over clearance of 724mm. why steel as my first choice? mostly comfort...i'm afraid aluminum might be too jarring of a ride (i have ever ridden aluminum, but the conjecture i've read about the ride quality makes me wary of them)...not to mention aluminum might be the most fragile material in the even of a crash (either aluminum or a poorly designed/manufactured carbon frame)...

budget? haven't REALLY set one. since this is my first cross bike, i'm was hoping to spend less than $2K...but if i have to, i'll go custom and break the bank...if i hate the sport, i can use it as a commuter and around-town bike...

[VeloVT]

why steel as my first choice? mostly comfort...i'm afraid aluminum might be too jarring of a ride (i have ever ridden aluminum, but the conjecture i've read about the ride quality makes me wary of them)...not to mention aluminum might be the most fragile material in the even of a crash (either aluminum or a poorly designed/manufactured carbon frame)...

Consider that wide, knobby tires, even on pavement, have a VERY different ride feel than skinny road tires. Also much of your courses will be dirt/grass/mud/sand. My first road bike was aluminum (just upgraded to carbon), and it's not nearly as bad as it is portrayed, in my opinion. Definitely harsher than carbon or steel, but the jarring comes not so much from *big bumps* like you'd encounter on a trail, but from constant road chatter that doesn't get damped. However, as said before, wide low-pressure tires will eat that up, and it isn't likely to be as big of a deal on non-paved/gravel surfaces.

As for crashes -- steel bends, alu fails. Which is stronger depends on the alloy, but I wouldn't say steel is necessarily *generally* stronger. It is easier to weld back into shape though, so a wrecked frame may be salvageable.

Anyway, people have material preferences and that's fine, I'm not trying to convert you (not like I'm a massive aluminum fan or anything), I just think it's probably worth at least testing a few, you may find it a bit racier feeling than steel while not being quite as harsh as you expect...

(Edit: by the way, please cut me a little slack if this post and/or the previous one seemed a little, um, lacking in social graces... it's way past my bed time, I'm tired, I spent all day taking exams but for some reason I'd rather read about bikes online than go to bed... go figure ).

[celerystalksme]

(Edit: by the way, please cut me a little slack if this post and/or the previous one seemed a little, um, lacking in social graces... it's way past my bed time, I'm tired, I spent all day taking exams but for some reason I'd rather read about bikes online than go to bed... go figure ).

no worries! your post was perfectly fine. i've even soften my position on aluminum frames. how about this though...lets say i don't enjoy cyclocross...will the aluminum frame be a little too rough on pavement for commuting?

[VeloVT]

I don't think I can answer that . Depends on the bike and on the rider's preference. I commute on my cx bike, with cx tires and with road tires, and it's OK with me, but I think it's pretty individual (and does differ from bike to bike).

Good luck!

[Sheesh]

Have you told your LBS what your plans are for future bike purchases? Given the amount of money you're likely to spend in the future, I'd think a shop owner would go out of their way to help you find a cross bike that works for you, in the hopes of getting your repeat business on the other stuff you mentioned. At least, that's what my favorite LBS would do.

RE: commuting on aluminum - my first road bike was aluminum and I used it as a commuter. I then upgraded to carbon, and sold the aluminum. But, when I bought my cross bike, I got a Redline Conquest Pro in aluminum and it makes for a great commuter!

Good luck finding a cross bike that fits! Careful, cross is addicting!

[SheFly]

I agree with Liza on the steel vs. aluminum comments. I race 'cross A LOT, and do it on an aluminum frame (actually two of them ). You would have to have a VERY SERIOUS crash to break an aluminum frame, and with the amount of carrying involved, it is MUCH lighter than the steel alternative (I am actually thinking about moving to carbon...).

Like others, my first road bikes were aluminum, and I loved them (till I discovered carbon). That said, my winter commuter is my old aluminum cross bike, and I put A LOT of road miles on it very comfortably.

SheFly

[celerystalksme]

I agree with Liza on the steel vs. aluminum comments. I race 'cross A LOT, and do it on an aluminum frame (actually two of them ). You would have to have a VERY SERIOUS crash to break an aluminum frame, and with the amount of carrying involved, it is MUCH lighter than the steel alternative (I am actually thinking about moving to carbon...).

Like others, my first road bikes were aluminum, and I loved them (till I discovered carbon). That said, my winter commuter is my old aluminum cross bike, and I put A LOT of road miles on it very comfortably.

SheFly

well...i'm pretty sure the ONLY frames that'll fit me are Bianchi and MAYBE Pinarello. so i'll probably end up with aluminum or carbon. the pinarello looks sorta nice...so does the bianchi...

i'll have to see what i have to do in order to get my LBS's to order the smallest size without me buying it first...