I have been lusting for a cyclocross bike for well over a year now – I suspect Katie would prefer I just buy one so I stop talking about them all the time. Now that the Boulder Valmont Bike Park announced the inaugural cyclocross race, the desire is only increasing. It burns I tell you…
Trek XO 2
This afternoon around 2 I set out to purchase a Char-Broil Patio Caddie grill at the Boulder Ace Hardware; I arrived to discover that the hardware store had closed. Thankfully the Boulder Trek Store was in the same complex so it was obviously had to not go in. I was really hoping to test a Gary Fisher Presidio but the store did not have one. They did have a sexy red 2009 Trek XO 2 – I was easily talked into taking the bike out for a test ride. In fact, the shop guys told me just to bring it back before they closed at 6pm. Not dressed nor in shape for a four hour I did manage to take the bike for almost an hour. I cruised around the grassy field on CU’s campus and then some dirt trails over by US 36. In the only open field on campus (it is the first weekend – all the students are back and acting frisky outside in the sun) I tried some accelerations and fast turns – the XO 2 handled great. The carbon fork and aluminum frame did an excellent job of absorbing the terrain, though I still want to try out Mr. Fisher’s steel frame. Unfortunately I was spotted by a campus cop and told to slow down before I hit someone. After looking around and not seeing anyone within 50 yards of me I told the officer I would keep it under control. I abandoned CU and headed out to some dirt trails by US-36. I was impressed with the handling in an open area but the tight trails really cemented it for me; I could easily make quick turns without the front end feeling too twitchy. The bike handled drops off the curb with ease and effortlessly bunny hopped small downed branches. The braking proved superb when I had a pair of stoned college students step out of the brush in front of me. I took the bike back to the shop where I was greeted with “Whoa, you got mud on it!”; I can only assume I hit some recently water grass on CU’s campus as it has not rained in Boulder for quite a while. I appologized profusely and offered to wipe the bike down – the shop guy said it was awesome that I actually took the bike off the pavement and not to worry about it. And then he told me I had mud on my face. My only real complaint with the bike was the white bar tape – I obviously wasn’t the first person to test ride the bike as you could already see the tape getting soiled. Obviously not the biggest complaint in the world.
Redline Conquest Pro
With any memory of the grill now erased from my mind I took off for University Bikes in hopes that they would have the Fisher Presidio; again my hopes were dashed. And again I was talked into trying another bike, this time a 2009 Redline Conquest Pro. I lacked the dirt trails but was able to take the bike on some grass at Eben G Fine park; the bike was smooth and the handling in the drops was great. Tight turns took a bit more effort than the XO 2, but I did not really get to compare at speed. I was a huge fan of the handlebars – the shallow drops were extremely comfortable (or comforting seeing as I have never really been in the drops riding off road). The bike was a bit heavier (according to my highly calibrated arm scale) and the paint job markedly less sexy than the XO 2; unsurprising given the price differential.
GT Type CX
On my way home I stopped at Performance and took a quick spin on a 2009 GT Type CX. Like the other two, the Type CX sported a SRAM Rival shifters and derailleurs. The smallest size the store had was a medium – definitely a bit too tall for me. I don’t know if the stem and handlebars change sizes on the small but the stock gear on the medium were too long and wide respectively, for me at least. I felt ridiculously stretched out, though I suspect I would have felt rather upright on a small. I took the bike out for a ride anyways, this time with the Boulder Creek Path as my destination. The bike was not quite as responsive as either the XO 2 or the Conquest Pro in terms of acceleration or handling. It did perform well on the dirt trails on the CU side of the creek, even garnering some cheers as I bunny hopped a branch near more student stoners. The bike was easily the heaviest of the three – whither that is sue solely to frame size I cannot say. The chrome frame was very pretty thought…
I never did buy the grill or find the Presidio; I went home after picking up some toothpaste for the bulldog.
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The efficiency factor is common for both of us, because if the bike is not efficient or is too heavy, we will end up huffing and puffing half way to home.