to MONSTERCROSS or not to MONSTERCROSS...?
So I've been thinking about getting a MONSTERCROSS bike for a while. Like, 5-6 years. Basically I could use a bike like this to race cyclocross, for endurance racing on easier courses (ala Leadville, Cheq. Fat Tire 40), multi-terrain (paved, gravel, dirt) rides and maybe winter road riding. I'm thinking of buying this bike, putting a rigid fork, drop bars and road shifters and compatible brakes on it, and I'd be good to roll wit ha +/- 19 lbs cross bike. Problem is, even with selling the fork, brake, bar, shifters etc that I will be removing, I figure its still going to cost me $2600. Too rich for my blood.
But I can maybe come up with the funds if I sell a couple bikes. My beloved Salsa singlespeed mountain bike was my primary bike for about 6 years and has been set up as a singlespeed for the past 4 years. Truth be told, I'e been too busy with Good Oak to ride it much for a while now. I rode it like twice last year and this year have done just two laps on it as my back-up bike at an endurance race. In my Bicycle Master Plan it gets downgraded to commuter bike in 2-3 years anyway. But a lot of good memories on that one. The other bike is my Miyata fixed-geared bike, which was my road bike for 7 years, but today serves me as a fast urban bike or winter road bike. But I also use my touring bike as a fast urban bike and the new monster cross bike would probably be equally proficcient as a winter road bike. If I sell the singlespeed, the fixie and some other gear we have laying around, the net cost of the MONSTERCROSS bike comes down to about $1000, which I think we could swing.
But would I ride this new fabulous machine enough to make it worth the trouble, expense, and sacrifice of two good, long suffering bikes? The diversity of this bike is very appealing. Then again, my touring bike can do about 70% of this, stuff, but not as well. Last year I used it as a poor-mans cyclocross bike. Its a bit heavy and slow for the job, but truthfully, right now, so am I. I don't think it could ever be a very good endurance racing bike due to the weight and rear tire size restrictions. My singlespeed isn't the greatest back-up bike for endurance races cause after a few hours of riding a fully rigid single speed isn't a much better option than a broken geared bike with a suspension fork. But once I get back in shape I would probably miss the simple fun of the single speed ride. The fixie is just so fun to ride... I would miss that, but do I need it?
So many questions no good answer. What do you think?
But I can maybe come up with the funds if I sell a couple bikes. My beloved Salsa singlespeed mountain bike was my primary bike for about 6 years and has been set up as a singlespeed for the past 4 years. Truth be told, I'e been too busy with Good Oak to ride it much for a while now. I rode it like twice last year and this year have done just two laps on it as my back-up bike at an endurance race. In my Bicycle Master Plan it gets downgraded to commuter bike in 2-3 years anyway. But a lot of good memories on that one. The other bike is my Miyata fixed-geared bike, which was my road bike for 7 years, but today serves me as a fast urban bike or winter road bike. But I also use my touring bike as a fast urban bike and the new monster cross bike would probably be equally proficcient as a winter road bike. If I sell the singlespeed, the fixie and some other gear we have laying around, the net cost of the MONSTERCROSS bike comes down to about $1000, which I think we could swing.
But would I ride this new fabulous machine enough to make it worth the trouble, expense, and sacrifice of two good, long suffering bikes? The diversity of this bike is very appealing. Then again, my touring bike can do about 70% of this, stuff, but not as well. Last year I used it as a poor-mans cyclocross bike. Its a bit heavy and slow for the job, but truthfully, right now, so am I. I don't think it could ever be a very good endurance racing bike due to the weight and rear tire size restrictions. My singlespeed isn't the greatest back-up bike for endurance races cause after a few hours of riding a fully rigid single speed isn't a much better option than a broken geared bike with a suspension fork. But once I get back in shape I would probably miss the simple fun of the single speed ride. The fixie is just so fun to ride... I would miss that, but do I need it?
So many questions no good answer. What do you think?