FWIW, I have every type of bike you can imagine, and I race road, MTB and CX. In the winter, I train on my CX bike with fenders - it's aluminum (vs. carbon), and this year will have disc brakes. Why? Where I live, the winters can be harsh, and having a "beater" bike for winter riding is a really good idea. The disc brakes will be especially good in the bad weather, protecting the rims, and allowing me to actually stop . Oh - and when I finally make the switch to my road bike for training? It's like I've grown wings! Nothing better than the first couple of rides on the carbon roadie after a winter of training on the heavy bike.

He might not get it, but it's YOUR purchase. The CX bike is a great purchase, IMO.

SheFly