CX bike to the woods today.

No particular reason, just wanted to see how the cyclocross bike handled on real singletrack.  As to expected, it was very different than a mountain bike.  In the twisties and sand (Briar Patch & Couch trails), it wallowed like a pig.  In the more open stuff (Badlands, Pine Lizard), I could open it up and knock out the miles.  Surprisingly, it handled better when I grabbed the handlebars in the drops.  This lowered the center of mass, gave best access to the brakes, and the extra bends in the bar gave a little more flex than, say, riding up on the brake hoods.  Riding in the drops all the time gets tiring, but it does allow the bike to carve. 

Ultimately, this bike has the soul of a road machine, but it can handle dirt just fine too.