Cyclocross - Okay, what is Cyclocross?

Is it racing? What's the difference between a cyclocross bike and a touring bike or a road bike?

thanks

Let the worms flow from the open can.

Cyclocross is like Google.

It looks hard when you see someone else do it....

Cross is an exasperating battle waged by racers on a short 1 ~ 2 mile loop. The bikes can range from road bikes to MTB bikes. The preferable bike is the cross bike due to the extra clearances for mud and other debris buildup. On these bikes, racers face high speeds, on a multitude of terrain ranging from asphalt, dirt, mud, sand, snow, ice, and grass. Races are held in any weather conditions.

The racer’s rhythm and spirit can be broken by designing a course with forced dismounts such as steep hills, stairs, long deep sand pits, mud bogs, or man made barriers. In these circumstances the racers must continue by dismounting the bicycle and running with it.

The event is timed. Thus, you know just how long the torture will last. Races last for half an hour for beginners, 45 minutes for intermediates, and a whole hour for the season veteran.

Why do it? It really is a lot of fun to ride tall skinny tires in the dirt. It’s fun to see and hear about everyone’s theories on running with the bike. It’s interesting to such a wide range of bicycle setup. The pit areas are constant celebration of bikes, going hard, deep heavy coughs, and sometimes a beer or two. You wouldn’t want to go that hard if it was a really nice day, but it seems to make sense when it’s crappy out.

JimmyMack,

That last post was a thing of beauty. That IS cyclocross, sir!