Is retro cyclocross bikes a thing?

[jimo746]

Failing that, I could always try CX racing on a rigid retro MTB...

Any mtb would do. I think cx is 90% about fitness tbh.
But a retro rigid mtb would be good, I probably did more cx races on my mtb than mtb races bitd!

 

[epicyclo]

The Taylor boys explain at about 17:40

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0QjhGr73Ns&frags=wn[/youtube]

 

[KondratievsBike]

Re:

Don’t know if it’s really a thing but here’s my retro CX bike...

1974(ish) Gitane Country in need of a lot of work

 

[mattr]

Failing that, I could always try CX racing on a rigid retro MTB...

That's another way in, i rode my XC race bike with rigids and Conti XC 1.5" for a season or two when i was without a CX bike.

Any mtb would do. I think cx is 90% about fitness tbh.

Nah, 75% fitness, 20% technique, 4% pit crew, 1% bike

 

[Woz]

And that 1% is further taken down to actual bike 0.8% and the 0.2% being a poor rucksack emulator.

 

[DrJo]

Thread ressurection, I've been trying to find out about a frame I bought some time ago, it's a ti Rock Lobster cyclocross frame, the guy sold it as a 90's bike but couldn't be more specific. I've done nothing with it as I didn't have a matching fork and stem but now I do.

 

[Woz]

Thread bump for @Sm@alite

We still don't see many retro CX pass this way. Have seen an interesting retro Mongoose CX, a Sunn CX and a Miyata CX.

The Alan CX seems about the most available and prices are very reasonable.

A nice later (still traditional styled) race grade Lapierre CX in top notch condition:



https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/velos/2964481404

 

[pwebb]

...very much so, particularly in Benelux countries, though you will probably be left behind by youngsters on the latest carbon ugly thing.

I just posted this very nice example for sale near Oxford https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/sirius-cx-bike-24-frame-853-oxon.501127/

here are build threads for a couple of mine:

Thread 'Orbit CX Build Thread'

Aug 5, 2025

Some folks may remember this coming up for sale recently - I collected from a very nice chap called Paul in Southam - thanks Paul...



quick strip down in the workshop:





Definitely seen some action, I initially rubbed down with paint restorer to see what this frame looks like with just patina to cover up its war wounds...


tbc

• pwebb
• Replies: 24
• Forum: Retro Classic Road

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• 

Thread 'Graham Weigh CX Build'

Sep 27, 2023

My restos are normally vintage steel 1980s MTBs but decided to acquire a similar age CX bike...

arrived in dubious livery and with knackered components - almost nothing working properly and the old deer head front mech worn as thin as a rizla paper!



I was just going to keep this as a winter trainer and hoped some new wheels and a more respectable saddle might be enough ( keeping the green witch for a halloween trick!)


BB seriously clunky and bar end shifters in a very sorry condition and not really possible to rescue...

• pwebb
• Replies: 9
• Forum: Reader's Retro Road Bikes

 

[Woz]

^ Love the Orbit. That would be 126mm OLN right? Can't be many of those old school survivors left.

 

[pwebb]

^ Love the Orbit. That would be 126mm OLN right? Can't be many of those old school survivors left.

yes this is an early frame and not that much tyre clearance - 32mm-35mm rubber only (it is UCI CX spec after all) plus limited axle width unless you reset the frame. More modern options exist - I recently uplifted a couple of Kinesis Crosslight Aluminium CX bikes ( for my daughter so small size needed ) and they can go up to 40 mm rubber or even 45mm and are seriously light machines - able to keep up with Carbon frames. They aren't what I would call 'retro' though but are very affordable and eminently upgradeable: