Cyclocross?

[Max]

I've been thinking more and more about it these past few weeks. My next bike just might have to be one. I'll never give up on my hard tail, but cyclocross looks like a great twist. I would want to change a few specs on the bike, like cranks, ped's, etc. I think it could be the best of both worlds. So, my question, for those out there who might be interested, is, what are your thoughts on cyclocross.

[Mauriceman]

Your front wheel will be that much more skiddy coming around blind corners. :) But really, if you want something that works good both on and off road, just take yer MTB and put fat, smooth tires that roll good on the street, but still absorb shock off road. Cyclocross bikes look good for cyclocross racing, but I gotta have fat tires. Check the next Dirt Rag for a review of the Rivendell Atlantis, a good road/dirt hybrid bike, but not a cyclocross bike.

[Max]

Very funny Maurice!:) I'd have to get a horn for those blind turns, but I would probably slide further than before. I am a big fan of slapping a pair of slicks on and just riding, but I think it would be a genious concept to haul ass for a few hours on the open road, and then just jump onto a trail and go. Hammer and I were talking it over, he's obviously sold, but other riders I've talked to as well just look at it as an extension of cross country riding. I too would be aprehensive about tire width, I'm some what tall, but I'd give it a whirl. In the end, wider is better, keeping it plain and simple.

[scout]

Cyclecross is a blast. If you are lucky enough to have a race series around you get a bike. You won't regret. It is not an extension of XC, it is a completely different style of riding. You are not riding a rigid MTB with 700c size wheels, you are riding a cross bike. Use a double crank 50/38 and 12/28 or 30 cluster, size 28 to 32 tires. On really steep stuff you won't need lower gears because you will be running and the narrower tires will cut through sand and mud as opposed to floating over it like fat tires. Don't spend alot of money on it, 105 or Ultegra is more than enough. It is a short season, but always fun to look forward to and a welcome diversion in the cold months, plus the races only last 1hr, or 30 minutes for beginners. Remember it is cold outside.

[unclefuzzy]

Talk about the ultimate in versatility! Take a gander at the latest issue first. Read Grant Peterson's article 'Underbike". I'd say that 85-90% of the riding we do (especailly around these parts) could easily be accomplished on a 'cross bike with 38's or 40's. EASY. Or if you keep smaller tires on it, you can rip through some back roads where the pavement is poor to non existant, and use connector trails in between.

Throw on some slicks and knock out a century(or merely a 20 miler) on the good roads.

Put on some fenders and use it for the rainy season on the same gravel roads or become a commuting monster.

Then you may as well put on some racks and paniers and go to grandmas house in Florida(or Arizona as the case may be...).

In short, get one. They're too versitle to pass up!

Marty

[boob]

I don't think the tire width will be an issue unless you're trying to ride really gnarly trails; cross bikes don't work well for that. I ride my cross bike around on some CO trails and it's pretty cool. The main issue is that the trail surface isn't too rough or steep, or you'll screw yourself and/or the bike up; for moderate duty mtb, a cross bike is rad.

[lisatmh]

I'm mostly coming from the other direction -- almost all of my miles are on the road. I got a cyclocross bike as a winter commute bike, and compared to my road bike, the thing was a freakin' tank. Big, big, tires (when you ride 700X25c, 38c looks ENORMOUS). Fenders; my god, ROOM for fenders, who woulda thunk it. Longer fork rake, leading to that "look, ma! No Hands! feeling. Wider bars, less drop between the nose of the saddle and the bars. Lower top end gears.

The main thing my cyclocross bike gave me was way more confidence on my road bike. I NEVER used ride my road bike on anything but pavement; but last week I took a detour on a road ride up some fire roads, and even on my narrow road tires I felt pretty confident. On relatively nontechnical surfaces, a cyclocross bike is also fast.

My road bike and my 'cross bike are similar in some ways -- my road bike is a steel Independent Fabrications, and my cross bike is a Steelman Eurocross. Steelman used to make the forks for IF, and mine is old enough that I think my fork is probably a Steelman fork. The main triangle has basically the same dimensions, but the Steelman has a longer wheelbase, effected by longer chainstays and more fork rake.
You can see them both here: http://www.cadence90.com/spincycle/bikeharem.html

(space)

[unclefuzzy]

I foundn the riding while pregnant section really helpful. OK, I didn't but my wife did. Really informative. She's looking forward to getting lots of funny looks on her rides during later term. Love the Independent SS you built up too! Looks like a nice bike to ride.

ML

[Rotifer]

Ah, I get my Cyclocross bike on Friday. We have alot of fire roads around here and the ability to link up road rides with dirt is something I am excited about! Nice bikes Lisa. One question - are tubulars worth the hassle, well, how much of a hassle are they? This is my first season racing cx with a cx bike (I've always used a mt bike) and have considered purchasing a tubular wheelset. I remember training at a park with a guy who had a tubular tire roll of his rim - didn't look fun.

[stump ss]

I got a Voodoo (yes, the now-defunct company) 'cross bike about 2 years ago and haven't missed my old ride bike since. It is true freedom being able to go on a road ride that involves dirt, gravel, mud, and other things that keep roadies and cars at bay. One of the classic rides in Albuquerque is Around The Mountain, about 65 miles with a 8 to 10 mile dirt/gravel climb up the backside of Sandia Mountain. An epic 'cross ride! If you aren't going to do road racing, it is the only way to squeeze in non-singletrack miles in my mind. A little heavier but solid. FYI, I wouldn't necessarily recommend the Voodoo if somebody was shopping for a used one. It is OK considering how little I paid for it (pro deal when I worked at a shop) but there are better rides out there.

[oldskoolsteel]

Two words for you: get one.
I use my lemond for everything but the most gnarly trails. you be surprised how well a 32c can handle. All it takes is more finess w/ lungsand legs of steel.

[lisatmh]

Thanks for the compliments on my bikes! Yes, the Independent SS is a wonderful bike to ride, a nice upright position. It's a beautiful, indestructible town bike, and I have put some fun components on it, including some rare Campy Euclid MTB parts (cranks and seatpost, only made for one year during the early 90's), sort of as a joke, the whole idea of Campy making MTB parts is inherently funny. I bid on some of the levers on Ebay and was glad I lost -- theyre fugly. The IF SS isn't SS anymore, though -- I put in a seven speed Shimano enclosed hub (like a three speed hub, with all the gears inside). I did this because hauling Mr. Baby and his gear in the trailer with one speed up a hill is just not any fun. Right now, that bike is pretty heavy, but it's built for cargo, not for speed.

As far as tubulars are concerned, I got them in a period of deep romance with Coppi and Bartali and other midcentury road bike heroes, y'know, people who didn't even have shift levers and had to change gears by yanking on the chain with their hands; I liked the idea, and people whispered that there just wasn't anything like the smooth, silent ride, the great cornering from the totally round profile, the adrenalin rush from flying down a mountain and knowing if your rim heats up anymore your tire will roll off the rim and you'll be history...

Okay. Everything that everybody says about the ride is absolutely true. There's nothing like it. It's fast, the tires make absolutely no sound at all on the road, it's like your bike doesn't exist down there. Cornering is tremendous. It also makes your bike feel totally different, because a good set of tubular rims is wicked light (if you've ever upgraded your wheels to something really light you'll know what I mean). I personally have had great success with tubulars, even in bad conditions in the winter. One winter my clincher set was out of commission, and I rode Tufo Rhinocross rugged cyclocross tubulars (now there's a tiny little cult for ya, cyclocross tubulars) for three months, and I never got a flat.

If you do get a flat you are basically totally hosed. It's time to call someone with a car and go home.

A new set of wheels is pretty expensive, though, and I'm not sure tubulars can be justified in any rational way. Which makes me wonder why people are so hopped up about tubeless MTB tires, especially since getting a flat in the middle of the woods would bite even worse than on the side of the road.

[Rotifer]

Thanks for the info on tubulars. I road my CX bike last night on a local gravel/dirt road and trail circuit, damn that bike is fast (Redline, King, Mavic, RaceFace, Ultegra) and it handles far better than I thought it would. The tires don't wash out in deep gravel and it climbs like mad. Wow.

[Max]

What type of bike did you get Jeff? It sounds great! Word!

[Rotifer]

It's a modified Redline Conquest Pro .. picture (same frame) (http://www.yellowjersey.org/mhrlconqblu.jpg).