Road Racing on your cross bike?

[vjp]

I have been wondering if anyone on this forum has used their cross bike for road racing?

Thanks

vjp

[MrPolak]

Do you mean racing as in sanctioned racing or group riding?

[vjp]

Yes, licenced club racing. I am completely aware of the pros and cons and am, myself, considering it this spring, I am interested if anyone else has.

Thanks

vjp

[jfmckenna]

I have not but I have seen it done.

[damocles1]

I've done it, but it wasn't much fun. The BB is higher on a cross bike, so the ability to slam it into a corner during a crit is compromised. A RR would be a lot different as there aren't as many turns.

[Iffacus]

Roger Hammond (UK Cross champs & Discovery Pro) I believe used to do a winter crit series on his cross bike, and regularly win :eek:

[jmgorman]

I've done it, but it wasn't much fun. The BB is higher on a cross bike, so the ability to slam it into a corner during a crit is compromised. A RR would be a lot different as there aren't as many turns.

I guess I don't understand this. Doesn't the higher BB allow you more speed in the tight turns? Because it is higher you can peddle, without strike, at a more acute angle. That's why track bikes have such high bb's, no. Or am I just misunderstanding what you mean by "slam"?

[ejpres]

I guess I don't understand this. Doesn't the higher BB allow you more speed in the tight turns? Because it is higher you can peddle, without strike, at a more acute angle. That's why track bikes have such high bb's, no. Or am I just misunderstanding what you mean by "slam"?

It's not about the pedaling I would say. If the BB is higher your whole body has to be higher - with your weight sitting higher on your bike it is less stable cornering. Not to talk about the "slamming":)

[jfmckenna]

yeah and track bikes force you to pedal into corners. I believe actually that the high BB on a track bike is so that you don't hit the upslope wall of the track in corners.

[ejpres]

But this doesn't mean you couldn't or shouldn't use your cross bike for road races. Especially since the CX-bike geo lately tends to be closer to road bikes anyway and a lot of the higher BB is only caused by the bigger cross-tires (you shouldn't use those for road racing :) )