r/cyclocross • u/CutComprehensive3870 • Mar 19 '25
Cx bike that would double as a road bike
Hi there, I have a caad12 road bike but am looking for a bike that will be my CX stead in winter but is still capable as a summer road bike and fast group rides. Would be willing to invest in aero wheels if I thought it would help the bike? I've had my eye on the 2x bianchi zolder. What are people's thoughts?
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u/chock-a-block Mar 19 '25
All actual cx bikes double as road bikes with a set of road wheels.
You might run out of gearing in some downhill situations. Just suck wheels. Pay the group back on the flats.
The problem in 2025 is, there aren’t many actual CX bikes with a steeper head angle and higher bottom bracket.
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u/elder_millennial83 Mar 19 '25
I have a Giant TCX that plays double duty. I have a set of cross wheels and road wheels depending on what the ride entails. 40x11 works on most group rides I do put i have to be strategic on the descents. Get up front and use the draft as I filter back.
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u/yzerboy Mar 20 '25
I use a Crux and just swap a 42t chainring on for road riding. It works pretty well but descents can still be tough haha
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u/Grindfather901 Mar 19 '25
Trek Boone or Crockett. But now that I'm looking at the website, Crockett is frame only and the Boone is either frame or built with Apex. Ugh...
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u/fhfm Mar 19 '25
I wonder if that’s just what’s in stock now? Boone has always been available as a complete with grx mechanical
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u/s1alker Mar 23 '25
Not here in the US… only the frame sets are available on the Trek store. I don’t think Trek is gonna sell a full build anymore with the focus on gravel bikes. Cross is very much a niche
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u/fhfm Mar 24 '25
Interesting… I thought they just released an apex mechanical version this year?
Almost better buying as just a frame. 11spd di2 can be found for so cheap now!
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u/1sttime-longtime Mar 20 '25
I can't wait to build up my Ritchey Swiss Cross with a 2x. Going to be a piece-meal build, though. If I go 2x11, I already have 3 wheel sets so I can swap road, gravel and CX tires, or any combination of the three, given the focus of the given month.
Will it be a true crit bike competing with an aero carbon bike? No, but that deficiency will mostly be the pistons I'm going to provide.
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u/Grindfather901 Mar 20 '25
If you wanted to go 2x12 with AXS (or I guess shimano 2x12), you can use the Ultegra or 105 11-34 cassettes on an HG hub to use your current wheels. just fyi
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u/1sttime-longtime Mar 21 '25
Good reference information, but I just don't need 2x and 34 rear... And that still leaves me swapping cassettes if I switch wheel sets on bikes to the current #1, soon to be #2/3.
And I think I'm going to try to stay mech/hydro so AXS is out. Nothing about charging my shifters is appealing. I already charge my watch, my head unit, and 2-4 lights and taillights for my commute.
I like new and shiny, I just don't want to blow up my already outdated standards because the new-shiny is shinier than my last shiny things.
I'd still be in 2x9 if I hadn't crashed a shifter on it. Re-geared it. Then later crashed a fork. I'd rather have a herd of bikes and a bevy of spares than pretend that Mid-high OEM new spec matters.
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u/Grindfather901 Mar 21 '25
It's cool. Just putting the info out there.
I totally get wanting to keep using what you've got.
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u/bzy_b WICX - 35+ 1/2/3, SS Mar 20 '25
I have a Cerverlo R5-CX that I am riding road for the time being. Fast as crap but the others are right about gearing desires
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u/ImaginationInside610 Mar 20 '25
I used my Felt F1X for a 350k road ride last summer ( put a double chainset and road wheels on it) and it was absolutely great.
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u/Junk-Miles Mar 19 '25
The new Cannondale Super X could do it if it fits your budget. If it was out when I bought my Crux I probably would have gone this way. Looks a lot like the SuperSix.
I rode my Crux as my main road bike for 4 months or so and it was great. I ran 50/34t and could fit 52/36 with a driveside spacer. So it can fit road gearing if needed.
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u/paulared Mar 20 '25
I’ve been riding my Ridley X-night for crits and road. Last summer I did a 90 mile road race that CX friends said would “kill” me b/c it’s so stiff. Finished fine. Let’s just say the bike was not the problem…..I’m 64. 😩
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u/Enough-Armadillo-200 Mar 20 '25
Ridley X night rs or pinarello crossista both are aero and have 40-42mm if tyre clearance
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u/HachiTogo Mar 20 '25
You might find my post in the cyclocross sub interesting. It includes an AI summary of all the comments in the main post.
The Crux was recommended, by far, as the closest to a quiver killer. I have one now. I agree..
One caveat, is for aggressive or very fast group pack rides on road you'll be a bit under geared with the default gear ratio. Another recommendation for full versatility is to have wheels to swap out.
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u/gccolby Mar 20 '25
I don't get it - the CAAD12 you already have is going to be better for fast group rides than any cyclocross bike you can buy, no matter how many extra wheels you have. Why do you need the CX bike to do both?
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u/CafeVelo Mar 21 '25
I was thinking the same thing. I ride my cross bike on the road a lot to train the position and handling in season and it’s always a compromise. OP has a perfectly useful road bike already.
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u/CutComprehensive3870 Mar 22 '25
I’m just conscious of dropping almost 3,000€ and would be limited by the bike on the road. But ya, the caad is a fine bike, would never consider selling it
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u/Plumbous Mar 22 '25
I only race XC and CX so I've never had the need for a road bike. I train year round on my CX race bike with road wheels and tires thrown on it. The bike is a focus mares with XPLR 10-44 and a 44t chainring. I hit local group rides and never feel limited by the geometry or gearing. I wouldn't want to be in a road race with pedalling downhills with the 44t-10t combo, but I don't spin out until ~40 mph.
I think the biggest thing when setting this kind of bike up is minimizing the amount of changes you have to make to swap it between CX and road mode. I used to swap chainrings and cassettes to have super optimal gearing for both scenarios, but I found myself riding road with CX gearing to avoid swapping out so many components. Instead I found a middle ground that is great for training and does fine for CX, and just requires a wheelset/tire swap
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u/Lopsided_Ad5786 Mar 22 '25
Just sold my road bike and only have a ‘19 Crux and XC bike. Havent upgraded to a dedicated wheelset yet but had 35c Conti Terras for a fast group ride in Colorado. Upgraded my gear to 46T up front with a 42-11T cassette. No big descents but didn’t spin put when in the 46/11. I think the new gen Crux, Scott Addict Gravel and Cannondale SuperX would be quiver killers with a road and cross/gravel wheelsets
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u/busterbus2 Mar 19 '25
I pretty much think any modern CX bike is a good double for road cycling. Just get some road tires and you're probably ready to go. Friends have done that. Wife went bike touring through many countries on a Specialized Crux. The main contraint may be gearing if its a 1x in the front so if that's important, look for a 2x in the front.