Economic pothole bomber
Written: Apr 30 '01 (Updated Aug 13 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Inexpensive, tough, reliable
Cons: None considering the price
The Bottom Line: The Crossroads is a big bang for the bucks cruiser that won't drain your wallet. Great for the recreational rider.
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| akshobhyavajra's Full Review: Specialized Crossroads |
Updated e-opinion after 8 months of riding:
Frame: The 2001 Specialized Crossroads has a curved top / down tube designed chrome-moly frame with forged seat collar and dropouts. Chro-Mo is a steel that has been alloyed with small amounts of Chromium and Molybdenum, a material used for most higher-quality bicycle frames and forks. Hence, the frame is a good value considering the overall cost of the bike.
Groupset: The 2001 Crossroads uses mixed Shimano gruppo consisting of a Shimano Nexave 300 front and a Shimano Acera rear derailleur. The bike comes with Sram GripShift shift levers, SunTour cassette and “no-name” crankset and chain.
Again, considering the overall cost of the bike the quality of these mixed components is more than adequate and I have had no major issues with this bike over the last 750 miles.
The Crossroads is a hybrid bicycle (also known as "cross" or "fitness" bicycle). Hybrids are a cross between a mountain bike and a touring bike. The best of them have the handlebars and control levers of a mountain bike, with the frame, gears, wheels and brakes of a touring bike. In the case of the Crossroads the triple crankset and rear cassette are geared similar to a mountain bike.
Since I did not care for either the suspension seat post or the soft saddle I replaced both. I also replaced the standard pedals with a clipless shoe/pedal system called SPD or Shimano Pedaling Dynamics. These changes however, are strictly a matter of personal taste.
The Crossroads is versatile for around town to run errands as well as for recreation. I have added handlebar extensions, a luggage rack with a stretch net as well as lights, bottle cages and a frame pump – making it a decent bike for charity rides up to 50 miles as well as a workhorse.
I initially purchased the Crossroads to replace a cheaper hybrid. What I did not realize was that the Crossroads has a lot of surprising features for its relative low cost, including a quick-release wheelset and seat post, adjustable alloy stem and easy upgrade ability.
The Cr-Mo steel frame makes for a comfortable ride just like an 853 frame. The SRAM GripShift makes changing gears easy even for a novice rider. The derailleurs will require an occasional adjustment, but that is to be expected with a lower end mixed gruppo. This is a minor issue which is easily resolved by the local mechanic during a regular bike tune-up.
One of the best features of the Crossroads is the Specialized Nimbus EX tire with Flak Jacket. These tires are virtually bullet proof and perfect for any paved road surface - regardless of potholes.
This bike is a great commuter and does reasonably well on a charity ride, though I prefer road bars for longer distances. Are there better cycles available in this category? You bet, but you would be hard pressed to find a better value. With proper care the Crossroads can give you many years of service.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
akshobhyavajra
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Location: Boca Raton, FL
Reviews written: 31
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
~Carpe diem - vita brevis~
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