| Re: 700C or 29" "cyclocross?"
<bigjim@backpacker.com> wrote in message
news:1169996579.233635.49200@j27g2000cwj.googlegro ups.com...
>A cross bike will handle mild to moderate trails as well as a mTB. If
> you put moderate tires on it you be fine on the road and in light off
> road. My C'dale xr800 came with the green wildgripper sprints- they
> were fast on road and hooked up off road plus looked great. After one
> got a slice I was unable to find the green ones anywhere. Mythos
> Slick work great off road but a but slow on road. Geax Revert is good
> both on and off road . I just put on some Panaracer Urban Max since I
> just moved and there are no trails near by. I used to be near the
> D&Rcanal (AWESOME ride). The $499 Ibex has very low end
> components .The Motobecane Fantom is a better bet. Triples arent
> needed. MTB's are heavy but I can climb most hills with just a double
> on the cross bike. Dont bother eith 29 . They are just a trend and
> parts,tires etc are costly compared to 700c.
>
>
I purchased an Ibex Corrida in 2002. It has even lower end components than
the 'cross bike. We're talking Shimano 3300---but it's worked flawlessly.
The Corrida is my grocery getter, so it's frequently dirty and abused. It
gets ridden in the rain, taken offroad, locked to racks, and generally
beaten on. It's never so much as even missed a shift.
The OP stated that he wanted "granny gears" and that he couldn't afford to
spend a lot on a new bike. The Ibex seems to fit his needs perfectly. I
happen to think the Motobecane looks like a heck of a deal also, but the
wheels are suspect(I like lots of spokes), and the bike screams "STEAL ME".
A Surly Karate Monkey set up with a drop bar, discs, and fenders would make
a NICE foul weather commuter, though.
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