I'm looking at getting a new ride to get to work, I just got a new job and it is going to be about 22km each way- so a good ride everyday.
I read the getting started thread on this board and been perusing the internet. Would a cyclecross bike be a good choice for commuting? I have always ridden an older Apollo race frame but I am tired of downtube shifters and wouldn't mind something from the past decade!
I like the idea of having some tires for road riding and another set for cruising through stanley park. Not to mention cyclocross racing looks like a good time I could see myself getting into.
I guess my main questions are:
Is the geometry good for city riding? Is it very maneuverable but still conducive to longer rides?
Are disc brakes worth avoiding? I've seen a few with discs and it makes sense for winter riding, but I have heard they are banned in racing (keep in mind, if I actually do race I'm looking at the beginner/fun races). Do they add that much more rotational weight?
Is it realistic for me to find a decent used bike for $400-700? If I can convince the wife, I could probably go closer to a G, in that case I may start looking at new bikes.
Where is a good shop in Vancouver or the GVRD to find cyclocross bikes? I checked out WestPoint Cycle, they had some good looking Rocky Mountains but not much else in this category.