If you're considering buying a cross bike, and you already ride a road bike, haven't you been told something like, "If you buy a cross bike, you'll definitely end up wanting a road bike!"?

"If you buy a cross bike, you'll want a road bike" is a common cycling saying that all riders know.

Why you'll want a road bike

The reason you'll want a road bike is simply "because you'll come to understand the difference in bike performance."

With a mamachari (commuter bike), as long as it gets you around safely, there's no problem. If it's convenient with a basket, rust-resistant, and sturdy, that's enough, right?

However, once you start riding a cross bike, you'll first notice the difference from a mamachari. You'll be surprised that a bicycle can be so light and ride so fast! You'll experience the excellent performance of the bike. Eventually, you'll start to think, "I want to go even faster," and begin to explore how to achieve that.

As you research, your knowledge of sports bikes will deepen, and you'll come to understand the differences in bike performance, ultimately leading you to the conclusion: "If you want to ride fast, a road bike is the way to go. A cross bike has its limits."

The moment you realize that there's a limit to how fast you can go on a cross bike, you'll start wanting a road bike!

Do you fit the description? These are the people who will want one.

Specifically, these are the types of people who will want to buy a road bike. If you fit the description, you'll surely want one too.

Those who gave up on a road bike and bought a cross bike instead

If you try to buy a road bike, even the cheapest models cost over 100,000 yen. Add necessary parts, and it quickly reaches 200,000 yen.

If you want a road bike but don't have that much budget, you might have no choice but to opt for a cross bike.

However, if you're left with the lingering desire for a road bike, you won't be satisfied even with a cross bike, and you'll inevitably want a road bike.

Those who think a cross bike can ride like a road bike

People who have excessively high expectations for a cross bike often find that when they actually ride it, "it's not what I expected." This is especially common for those who want to ride as fast as a road bike.

The disparity between the imagined performance and reality—such as it not being as light or as easy to gain speed as expected—becomes a source of dissatisfaction. Eventually, they begin to regret not choosing a road bike over a cross bike.

Those whose cycling companions ride road bikes

If you're the only one on a cross bike and everyone else rides road bikes, you'll definitely want a road bike.

At a slow pace, you won't notice much difference, but when riding at a certain speed or for long distances, a cross bike won't be able to keep up with a road bike. Once you experience that, you'll want to switch to a road bike.

If you start wanting a road bike

Even after buying a cross bike, you still want a road bike!

In such cases, owning both a cross bike and a road bike is one solution. While it costs to have two bikes, if you use them for their respective purposes—one for daily use and one for cycling—you can enjoy cycling while appreciating the advantages of each.

If you don't have the budget to buy another bike, customizing your cross bike's parts to approach road bike performance is recommended. Start by changing the tires, which are easy to replace. Even just switching to narrower tires will make a difference in how easily you can pick up speed.

Cross or Road? Key points for choosing a bike

After all, if you choose correctly when buying your bike, the probability of wanting a road bike later will be low, right?

If you want to choose the perfect bike for yourself, knowing the following points will make your bike selection easier.

【Points to consider when choosing】

・Understand the difference between cross bikes and road bikes

Basically, a cross bike is a "city bike" created by combining the performance of a road bike and an MTB. It is designed with an emphasis on ease of riding and convenience for daily use.

On the other hand, a road bike is a "bike specialized for speed." Therefore, it has no unnecessary features, and daily usability is not taken into account.

Both cross bikes and road bikes are "bikes for riding on paved roads," but since their intended uses are fundamentally different, it's important to understand that there will naturally be differences in performance.

・Decide on your riding purpose

Decide what you want to do with your bike. For example, will you ride it daily for commuting to work or school, or for enjoying cycling on weekends?

If you just vaguely want a bicycle, you won't know which bike suits you best and will have to choose from an enormous variety. If city riding is your main purpose, a cross bike. If you want to enjoy riding fast, choosing a road bike will help you avoid disappointment.

A cross bike is the gateway to the world of sports bikes

A cross bike is a sports bike positioned between a road bike and an MTB. As you get used to riding, you'll probably become clearer about how you want to enjoy cycling.

If you want to ride faster and further, step up to a road bike. If you want to try gravel roads or mountain trails, step up to an MTB. As you get hooked on the world of sports bikes in this way, it will eventually become a lifelong hobby!

Buy a cross bike and enjoy your cycling life!