Been yearning to race CX for a while now. Just never got around to getting a proper Cx bike. I've been shopping for a Cx frame/bike for a few days. Not sure if I want to build or buy complete. Only complete that really intrigues me is the Felt Breed. But it's a little more than what I want to spend ($1,300). I may end up going with the run of the mill Cross Check. Don't know much about All-City Nature Boy or Pake C'Mute. EDIT: In search of a San Jose as well.
I rode a Nature Boy briefly, and even participated in one CX race with it. I said if I ever did another cross race, it would be on my SS 29er. I'm planning to give it a shot this season. I just don't understand how "cross geometry" is actually suited to CX riding, which can be as technical as MTB riding.
On a related note, the local SSCX dudes in Bellingham are absolute monsters. Fast as f***.
I ever did another cross race, it would be on my SS 29er. I'm planning to give it a shot this season. I just don't understand how "cross geometry" is actually suited to CX riding, which can be as technical as MTB riding.
I always wondered why CX guys don't run flat bars. Seems like you'd have way more control even with a 23" flat rather than drops. Is it just tradition, I mean CX started as a way for roadies to keep riding in the off season, right? Am I too MTBcentric?
Yes, CX is a conservative discipline compared to XC. CX is a lot like racing a "one-design" class in yachting or motor sports, where each competitor has a nearly-identical vehicle. XC is a lot like racing a "construction class," where each competitor gets to design their own vehicle within the parameters of certain rules. Yes, technically CX bikes are designed by rule rather than being exactly identical, but the rules are much narrower than the rules for XC bikes.
CX bikes are not necessarily the fastest possible design for a CX race, however should you race an MTB and win, you aren't really beating the folks on CX bikes in a CX race, it's more like you're in your own class and happened to have left the start line in the same wave as a bunch of CX racers.
It's part of the fun and challenge of the sport to slither around on narrow, severely underpressured tires and to figure out how to bunny-hop the barriers with a bicycle frame that isn't really set up for trials-y maneuvers. CX races include sections that are specifically set up to challenge riders on CX bikes. For example, there are usually off-camber grass sections that are child's play to ride on MTB wheels but test a rider's balance on 34mm tires.
I agree it defies logic in a certain way, so I like to think of it as a nostalgia sport, much like racing penny-farthings. FWIW, my guess is that if you could use any production bicycle, a weight-weenie full rigid 26er would do the trick. There isn't that much to roll over where a 29" wheel would provide an advantage.
All that being said, CX events are fun, and most citizen's events permit entrants to ride whatever bike they please. If you're having fun, it's a great way to taste the sport without spending big bucks on a pair of sixteen pound bikes with deep, aero-sectioned tubular rims.
I ran my ss mtb in the casual local series last year, and I'm planning on running my San Jose this year, although I'll be faster on my ss 29er... It's tough to get used to tiny x35 tires after being on a 29x2.4 ardent!
I always wondered why CX guys don't run flat bars. Seems like you'd have way more control even with a 23" flat rather than drops. Is it just tradition, I mean CX started as a way for roadies to keep riding in the off season, right? Am I too MTBcentric?
Not kool. Im sure you know roadies. If something isnt traditional, they are not interested. That goes for flat/riser bars, v brakes and stuff. Its just a super conservative crowd.
And drop bars are great BTW. I have a set on a mountain bike and they kick ass(even in the technical stuff). tons of leverage and multiple riding positions. Its also possible to get aero which could be important in racing cross.
Last year was my first CX season and I raced a Niner Air 9 Carbon set up SS. We had an extremely muddy series, so I'd mount narrow CX tires on my Crest rims and I ended up winning the overall season title (never won an individual race, but lots of 2nds and 3rds..best 8 out of 10 races).
This year though two races in, I've gotten pretty much gotten spanked in each of them. Hopefully I can have a strong second half of season.
Last year I did, and in September I was all psyched to race CX again, but then I started thinking all serious like and that's no fun (i.e. training and practicing), so I'm just going to ride my bike until mtb racing season starts again.
There was a local series last year where there were a half dozen races within 20 minutes from home that didn't return this year, so that's part of it too (I did enough traveling for the mtb racing).
I have been racing on a Raleigh High Life which I just sold for the new Twin Six model. Really good frame. Slots for belt if so desired. Lots of fun, I highly recommend trying it.
I did a CX race with my 1x1 with Transition 32 wheels, 2.1 SB8's and disc brakes... basically a tank. I came in last but it was fun as hell.
Bought some 29er wheels and slapped some 700x42 tires on there and it came out a little lighter than before. Might switch out the Torsion bar to the dirt drop Cowbells later.
I'll probably still come in last but this time, nobody will lap me!
I think it's the UCI that's the over-conservative group here, banning lots of things before they become too popular and change the look of the sport too much. CX riders seem to be a bit more progressive than the roadies I know at least. Disc brakes do seem to be catching on pretty quickly now that they're UCI legal, and I've seen lots of v-brake conversions and a whole heap of 1x10 cross bikes posted online by riders
I'm considering ditching my drop bar 29er conversion that I've been using for road and gravel and picking up a Fantom Cross Uno as my winter beater for the same purpose. Gears are pretty nice to have on the road (especially without the worry of indexed shifting) but there's something about SS that just always draws me back in!
I haven't checked enough to know how close the geo is, but the On One Pompetamine is another disc brake drop bar bike with clearance for cross tires and cranksets.
You should check out the Redline Conquest Pro SS frame. I saw one at Interbike and knew it had to be mine! Now I'm just waiting to find out if it's gonna be here in time for my birthday or Christmas.....
This thread totally reminded me of something I'd read on Sheldon Brown's site recently. "If you want to race fixed gear cross, make sure you are comfortable with all sorts of flying dismounts and lots of off camber skidding stuff. Prepare to be utterly uncompetitive, but a crowd favorite." That last sentence is awesome.
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