Cyclocross - ride with MTBers, on a pseudoCX?

It has been a year, and mostly I enjoy reading the threads at the commuting section.
I obtained this diamondback parkway '96 for free. I understand this is a pseudo cyclocross, isn't it? (it is heavy.....17kg!!)
I have no complaints commuting on it, the last one year, riding it with 700x35 irc roadtour.
But lately, since many of my friends ride MtBs, I am persuaded to ride the trails, and I luckily (I must say lucky, because very few people here have 700 bikes that can accomodate fat 700 tires) got a pair of hutchinson 700x30 knobbies.
Do you guys think I am ready to ride with those mtbers?
All other equipment are stock.

Yeah, go for it. I wouldn't go dirt-jumping, but you should be fine.

For the record, I've gone mountain biking on a slightly-modified cromoly road bike. The only thing that gave me problems was the rear hub, which was completely destroyed.

Go for it! I only have one trail around here that I would say I "need" my mtb for. Everything else, I can and sometimes do use my cross bike. The look on other people's face on the trail is priceless. I have a 135 mm spaced rear, so I use MTB rear hubs and have not had a problem.

I think you will find that you will really improve your skills quickly....definately helps if you plan to race cross.

Robert

It should hold up to it.......trail riding is good, just no jumping. The bike should have the clearance for most trail obstructions.

OK! Here's the problem with riding with "real" MTB's. Suspension keeps the wheels on the ground and allows you to corner LOTS faster than you can with an unsprung bike. If you remember that and ride accordingly you won't be crashing out and hurting yourself trying to keep up with those guys.

I like riding CX bikes a lot more than the full suspension MTB which is sort of like using a .50 Caliber sniper rifle to hunt rabbits.

Full suspension MTB's have developed to the point where they're the only thing you can race with. But they're just no fun to do real rides with. You need to be moving WAY too fast for uncontrolled offroad trails before you start being challenged.

In the days of unsuspended mountain bikes people crashed a lot but real injuries were pretty rare. Now full suspension has people moving so fast that even with full body armor and full face helmets there are people being killed off road.

Give me a CX ride any day.

Go ride some trails. I do.

I don't really like dealing with the roots our Florida trails are covered with but the smoother trails are a blast.

Ron