Cyclocross..tell me about it :-)

[Harryburgundy]

Been thinking that for all the 'real' off-road stuff I do, I may as well have a road bike...but then I want to go off as well....so cyclocross is the answer...right?

Why the silly cantis when V's would be better...or disc?

If I ride 17" Mountain bike with 22" top..what would a good size cyclocross be?

Should be much faster on-road, yes?

Any particular makes to look out for bearing in ming I am a tart

Ta
Carl

 

[REKIBorter]

As with top notch road bikes the more exotic sounding make you have never heard of the better the bike must be.

 

[Steve Kish]

One of the big diffos between cyclo cross and mountain biking is that part of the technique of cross involves running uphill with the bike on your shoulder rather than trying to ride up it, hence the greater emphasis on a lighter bike with thinner tyres.

 

[Harryburgundy]

One of the big diffos between cyclo cross and mountain biking is that part of the technique of cross involves running uphill with the bike on your shoulder rather than trying to ride up it, hence the greater emphasis on a lighter bike with thinner tyres.

Sod that...I like climbing not carrying

 

[barry2017]

You are a candidate for a beefy touring bike. I used to ride my old Galaxy along paths that you couldn't get a 4 wheel drive up.

Really, really wish I still had that bike.

 

[stedlocks]

I have a Kona Jake (the cheapest of the cyclox bikes they do) and its a fantastic bit of kit.....I have 2 sets of wheels and 3 sets of tyres.
23c road tyres, 32c knobblies and 32c touring tyres.

You can then mix and match ....I have taken it everywhere, and the only thing it isnt really good at is very technical, rooty singletrack......the majority of the time it is spot on.

And yes, it is quicker on the road, even with the knobblies on!

Get a brooks saddle on there and ride it all day as well.....it has full rack mounts sct.

The ride is interesting too!!

 

[kaiser]

You are a candidate for a beefy touring bike. I used to ride my old Galaxy along paths that you couldn't get a 4 wheel drive up.

Really, really wish I still had that bike.

Indeed, sounds like something I've been wanting to build. The Kuwahara I have should be getting gears and semi slick tyres to go with the drop bars. Ultimately I want a Singular peregrine on drops with a 11 speed alfine hub and discs. As for cross bikes I've heard people say they are ideal for what your describing, I've also heard cross racers say its a bad idea because the bikes are designed for a very specific reason, racing for 1hr on mild off road.

 

[barry2017]

What Kaiser says is exactly what I think.

If money was no object, I'd probably have something like this built:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/harleyphotos/3426648648/

 

[Augustus]

Why the silly cantis when V's would be better...or disc?

If I ride 17" Mountain bike with 22" top..what would a good size cyclocross be?

Should be much faster on-road, yes?

Carl

personally I love cx bikes. (a few of me and the mrs's pictured).

I think there are two ways of looking at them.

a) not that good off road and slower than a road bike on road, so what's the point?

b) good enough off road for a bimble, way quicker on road than an MTB.

I like - b.

I like that it's a great all rounder. I use it much more than the mtb now. Don't get me wrong, nothing compares with those days I take the mtb out and remember why they are so much fun on proper off road days. But I just like that I can go out form the door, 10miles to the hills easy enough, then head off road and through the woods, have some fun, see some off roadness and nature and then spin home fast and efficient afterwards.

Plus, it does have a sense of smugness coming out of the woods next to the 120mm gang on effectively a racer. Or worse, overtaking one down the South Downs Way like I did on Sunday.

As for cantis, i'm about to put V's on as I'm fed up with them nopt stopping me.

I'm 5ft 8in and use a 52/54. I believe you drop a size or so from your road size. But I don't have a road bike, so I couldn't tell you if that's the case. Makes sense though to me.

I love 'em. And they make for great winter riders too. because they make you go off road enough, but don't tend to make you clug along thinking mtb'ing is over for another 6 months.

AND...

They improve your off road riding skills. Because you have to know what you are doing to ride rooty singletrack on 30mm tyres at 80psi on drops with rubbish brakes.


GET ONE.

 

[Shamus]

I love my CC.
I ride with it more than my road bike.
Only problem on CC-bikes are brakes, but you can live with them.
Now I have 50mm carbon wheels with tubular Tufo 32mm crosstyres.
It almost feel like road bike, but more comfortable and you can go and ride on gravel