Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - 'Cross Clydes

Our local cyclocross season starts up this weekend. As soon as I can recover from a few MTB injuries, I plan on giving it a go on my mountain bike.

I've always really dug cyclocross bikes though and this would be a perfect excuse to buy one.

Any clydes racing cyclocross out there? I'm curious what you ride and how it works for you in racing.

I'm going to race next year when my weight is lower and fitness is better. I'll be riding this newly purchased beauty:

2008 Felt F1X (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=346196)

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/6333/182.jpg http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/9803/180.jpg

I would buy one if I had the money. Maybe after I sell my CAAD9 frame.

So, what is the big differences in a cross bike compared to anything else? Remember I am new to biking and am trying to learn. The bike above looks like a road bike to me. There is a little tread on the tires that might be a little wider than my road tires. Other than that it looks to be a road bike. Please help the confused.


Askel from advrider huh!!!!!

So, what is the big differences in a cross bike compared to anything else? Remember I am new to biking and am trying to learn. The bike above looks like a road bike to me. There is a little tread on the tires that might be a little wider than my road tires. Other than that it looks to be a road bike. Please help the confused.

There might be quite a few subtle differences, but for me- all I care about is fitting those fatter knobby tires. This in turn requires a few modifications over a typical road bike to do so- wider clearances and cantilever style brakes.




Askel from advrider huh!!!!!


We're everywhere, man. :D

For starters, a cross bike usually has different brakes than a road bike, which allows it to accept much larger tires. A modern road bike is typically designed for short-reach dual-pivot caliper brakes that generally can't fit tires much larger than around 700x25 (or sometimes x28). Much larger than this and the tire will rub against the brake caliper arms. A cross bike using cantilever, linear pull, or disc brakes can usually go much larger. I'm not sure about that Felt, but some 'cross frames are designed for tires as large as 48mm.

Also, in the case of the cantilever and linear (aka V-brakes) rim brakes, they can be tuned to retract farther away from the rim when the brake lever is released. This gives more mud clearance than caliper brakes (not as much of an issue for discs), so the brakes won't clog up as easily.

Finally, 'cross bikes often have a different geometry than road bikes, including a higher bottom bracket for better ground clearance. A lot of people find that they need a frame one size smaller than their road bike to get a proper fit with a 'cross bike.

Thanks for the information, as I wouldn't have ever noticed. I don't know if there is such a thing as a cross series near me, but it would be worth looking at. Maybe they would have a clydes class I could participate in. See how I didn't put compete in there.