Help! Need advice fast!

Thanks for your .02! Would you mind offering another?

Excuse me if I seem very unknowledgable here ... I am! But this is a 10 speed whereas I'm used to 24 speed. I know my husband's bike is a 21 speed and I notice a huge difference between his and mine (both hybrids) ... will a 10-speed do me?

You don't have the bike yet and your race is this weekend?  Don't buy a new bike.  You don't want to use it the first time during your race.  That's not enough time to get it fit right and get used to it. 

Put some slick tires on the hybrid you have and spend time looking for a new bike after the race.  No reason to rush into a decision.  I've seen lots of people do races on mountain bikes and hybrids.

Thanks to both of you. This bike seems like such a great deal (2006 bike for $200 including delivery) ... I'm torn.

Yes this is a sprint and maybe I shouldn't be concerned about time, but I'd hate to do all this training and then be so far behind because of my bike ... or worse, spend so much energy trying to keep up on a slow bike that my legs are too tired for the run.

 And unless I win the lottery it's not like I'll be ready to buy a good bike over the next year, either.

 Decisions decisions!

Even if you don't get fit by a professional fitter, you still have to do some fit adjustments. It's not going to work for everyone straight off the shelf.

And how long would you have the bike before the race? You mentioned "delivery".  Will you be able to ride the bike before you buy it to make sure it fits right?

Oops, just found out it's 20 speed!

 As for delivery, I can get it by Thursday if I order it right now!

I say save your $200 since you have a hybrid already and are only go to a cyclocross.  You can buy a new road bike on bikesdirect for under $400 that will be money better spend IMO than going from hybrid to cyclocross.

As far as gearing it depends.  A 10 speed means 2 rings in front and 5 in back and a 24 speed is a triple front and 8 speed rear.  Lets say the 10 speed has a 39-53 and 12-25 and the 24 speed is a 53-42-30 and 12-25 you have same gearing in the back an slight easier gearing becuase of the 30 vs the 39 so on hills the 24 speed will serve you better. 

Say for instance you have a 18 vs 20 speed. Both have 53-39 and 12-25.  You essentially have the exact same gearing other than the 20 speed has 2 gears in the middle (which should make for slightly smoother gearing).

For better description go to www.sheldonbrown.com and look at his gearing calculator

I say save your $200 since you have a hybrid already and are only go to a cyclocross.  You can buy a new road bike on bikesdirect for under $400 that will be money better spend IMO than going from hybrid to cyclocross.

As far as gearing it depends.  A 10 speed means 2 rings in front and 5 in back and a 24 speed is a triple front and 8 speed rear.  Lets say the 10 speed has a 39-53 and 12-25 and the 24 speed is a 53-42-30 and 12-25 you have same gearing in the back an slight easier gearing becuase of the 30 vs the 39 so on hills the 24 speed will serve you better. 

Say for instance you have a 18 vs 20 speed. Both have 53-39 and 12-25.  You essentially have the exact same gearing other than the 20 speed has 2 gears in the middle (which should make for slightly smoother gearing).

For better description go to www.sheldonbrown.com and look at his gearing calculator as I know in my head what I am trying to say but can't really explain it.