There is a good old rule in cycling which states that “The correct number of bikes to own is n+1. While the minimum number of bikes one should own is three, the correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned. (…)” Until now, I had only a road bike, and a mountain bike, so I desperately needed a third one. Living in Belgium, I had no doubts that it needed to be a cyclocross bike, which I can still ride almost as fast as a road bike, but I can also ride it on any surface (gravel, grass, mud, etc.), and in any weather condition without feeling bad about the bike. And because you can only be a real Belgian cyclist if you do cross in the off-season.

So from now on I will ride mostly with this bike in the cross season (October to February), and only use the road bike during these months if the roads are perfectly dry, salt free, and I really need my fastest bike to keep up with somebody (e.g., group rides with the team). I have only ridden a few kilometres with it so far (to the photo location and back), but I can already tell that it feels great!