Cyclocross - Urban Cyclocross

I'm not sure if it actually exists, I pretty much made up the term "urban cyclocross" to describe the way I use my CX bike here in Manhattan, which is far away from those romantic muddy Belgian fields where CX bikes belong. While I hope to one day get my CX bike into the fields and into the mud (and maybe even into a race), right now my "CX" riding is limited to a more concrete and asphalt setting. Near my apartment is Riverside Park, the northern part of which includes twisty, hilly, and crusty bike paths and random staircases where I practice my dismounts and mounts. Likewise, I work my bike handleing skills weaving in and out of taxis, pedestrians, homeless people, and random other urban stuff. Going over the George Washington Bridge is an obstacle course in and of itself. Actual dirt and off-road is pretty limited here, and most of it is illegal to ride on and subject to fines and summonses.

So, does anyone else here ride "urban cyclocross"? If so, any special gear you use? For example, I swapped out my Hutchinson Pro Cross tires (28c) for Specialized Infinitys (32c). These tires are heavy and require a crobar to get off the rim, but are bombproof against many of the elements to be found on a NYC street (can anybody reccomend an easier tire to remove from a rim that still has some flat-proofing?). Also, I'm considering riding with a Camelbak system to hold my pump, water, tools, keys and phone to keep those things off my frame for easy shouldering up stairs.

Urban cyclocross; a revolution in cycling or a temporary way to play around until I make it to the fields of Belgium?

I'm not sure if it actually exists, I pretty much made up the term "urban cyclocross" to describe the way I use my CX bike here in Manhattan, which is far away from those romantic muddy Belgian fields where CX bikes belong. While I hope to one day get my CX bike into the fields and into the mud (and maybe even into a race), right now my "CX" riding is limited to a more concrete and asphalt setting. Near my apartment is Riverside Park, the northern part of which includes twisty, hilly, and crusty bike paths and random staircases where I practice my dismounts and mounts. Likewise, I work my bike handleing skills weaving in and out of taxis, pedestrians, homeless people, and random other urban stuff. Going over the George Washington Bridge is an obstacle course in and of itself. Actual dirt and off-road is pretty limited here, and most of it is illegal to ride on and subject to fines and summonses.

So, does anyone else here ride "urban cyclocross"? If so, any special gear you use? For example, I swapped out my Hutchinson Pro Cross tires (28c) for Specialized Infinitys (32c). These tires are heavy and require a crobar to get off the rim, but are bombproof against many of the elements to be found on a NYC street (can anybody reccomend an easier tire to remove from a rim that still has some flat-proofing?). Also, I'm considering riding with a Camelbak system to hold my pump, water, tools, keys and phone to keep those things off my frame for easy shouldering up stairs.

Urban cyclocross; a revolution in cycling or a temporary way to play around until I make it to the fields of Belgium?

I don't know about anyone else but it sounds fun to me.

Tim

Sounds to me like an everyday ride.

Try the Rivendell's options:

http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/tires_tubes/10011.html
http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/tires_tubes/10070.html
http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/tires_tubes/10043.html

Grant rides where ever his wheel is pointed as do I. You can ocassionally see me riding my Eddy Merckx Ex-Pro down a muddy trail in the winter because I felt like it. So I have a lot of experience falling on my can or repairing flats in the pouring rain.

That's why I have to select the right bike in the morning so that I won't be on the Colnago C-40 when some rock strewn path beckons.

A Camelbak is not a bad idea. You can still shoulder your bike with it. Just make sure the drinking tube is routed on the opposite side you use to portage your bike. I have the Camelbak Rogue, which holds a lot of water and has enough room for the essentials: spare tube, pump, cel phone, small toolkit and snacks. I've worn mine for a few cyclocross races (minus the tools and snacks) and have not had any problems with it.

I'm afraid I don't have any urban-cross tire options. We have an abundance of off-road trails here in fly-over country, so I mostly run Continental Twisters, which are pretty hardy, yet easy to put on and take off.

hey jpearl
, i'm going to be getting a crosscheck one of these days for some urban cross myself. see you out there. I heard VanCortlandt park has some trails, have you ever tried them?

heh sounds like an average day back in boston, we're setting up an uban cross/ally cat race hopefully for december, perhaps you should come up. oh and i run randoneurs 35c on my rob roy

http://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking/p/COMPTRCR/TR3060

http://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking/p/COMPTRCR/TR2111

How about these tires?

Thanks for posting those. They look like perfect hard trail cross tires and a good all around treaded tire.

hey jpearl
, i'm going to be getting a crosscheck one of these days for some urban cross myself. see you out there. I heard VanCortlandt park has some trails, have you ever tried them?

I haven't tried Van Cortlandt yet, but shoot me a PM when you get your crosscheck and we'll head up to the Bronx to give it a shot.

BTW (for Lunacycle), I'm picking up an Eastern Mountain Sport Flume, which is just like the Camelbak. Very low profile and minimal, perfect for "Urban Cyclocross", or "UCX" as it possibly can become (don't take me seriously on that). Plus, I found one in blue and Silver to match my Cannondale Cyclocross.

And Alexi, I'm always up for a trip to Boston. There's an Italian restaurant, Giacamo's, in the Back Bay district that is one of the best Italian joints I've ever been to.