shortie needs help finding 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...

[obie]

I don't have my inseam measurements on hand, but I'm only 5'1" (on a good day!) and I very comfortably race on a Surly Cross-Check. I have a long torso too, so presumably there's not much left in my inseam

Is there a local bike club around where maybe you could find a used cross bike to buy or test ride? That way you won't be making such an investment on equipment before you've gotten to try out the sport! (I mean, I'm sure you'll love cross because it's awesome, but there's a lot of great used bikes out there for cheap!)