Cross Tech requirements

[iggyrides]

Hey folks, I'm an old mtb racer thinking of having a go at cross. It looks like mtb racing used to before the bikes started looking like motorcycles... Anyway, I have a few questions.. I can't afford another bike and remain married, but I do have an old merlin ti frame that is not disc compatible so i'm thinking it might make a decent cross bike if I use drop bars, a rigid carbon fork (I have one already) and some narrow 26" tires. Any input as to what the tire width regulations are to race cross? I am having difficulty finding 26" tires narrower than 1.95"... I was hoping to find maybe 1.5" or so, but they ara all too slick. Also maybe I could use 650c wheels, but have not seen 650c cross tires anywhere....

Commet at will..
Thanks,

Ig

[shapelike]

I think it really only matters if you're doing UCI elite races. Otherwise, use what works.

[iggyrides]

Thanks, any input on finding narrow mtb tires? I'd still like to avoid using a full on fatty on the back. when I raced mtbs, I found tha the narrower tires actually got through deep mud better than the fatties w'o packing up so much. From what I've seen, mud is a pretty typical element on cross courses.

Ig

[Greenfast]

Get some 1.5 Continental Cross County tires, that is what I ran when I did cross on my MTB. http://cyclocrossworld.stores.yahoo.net/concroscounp.html

[iggyrides]

Thanks man, I dig contis and Continental just bough the company I work for... maybe they'll hook me up with tires... doubt it.

Ig

[jpearl]

Hey folks, I'm an old mtb racer thinking of having a go at cross. It looks like mtb racing used to before the bikes started looking like motorcycles... Anyway, I have a few questions.. I can't afford another bike and remain married, but I do have an old merlin ti frame that is not disc compatible so i'm thinking it might make a decent cross bike if I use drop bars, a rigid carbon fork (I have one already) and some narrow 26" tires. Any input as to what the tire width regulations are to race cross? I am having difficulty finding 26" tires narrower than 1.95"... I was hoping to find maybe 1.5" or so, but they ara all too slick. Also maybe I could use 650c wheels, but have not seen 650c cross tires anywhere....

Commet at will..
Thanks,

Ig

If you want to score a new CX bike and remain married, the trick is to build up LOTS of brownie points with your spouse. Recently, I helped my wife's friend with some graphic design for her business, and was able to buy a new set of race wheels, guilt free. If you do lots and lots and lots of nice things for your spouse (massages, dishes, cooking, cleaning, and other general sacrificial heroics), you should be able to buy a new bike and remain in a state of marital bliss, though it sounds like you'd be safer pursuing some $1100 stock racer than a multi-thousand dollar TI race frame.

Remember, brownie points; know 'em, use 'em, live 'em (and BTW, if you meet my wife at a race, don't let her know I'm doling out advice like this).

[bitterken]

Unless you're racing in the Elite UCI races, things like max tire width, drop bars, canti brakes, etc. isn't going to matter. So for your first couple of races, just use your favorite MTB as is. No need to dump $ into a bike that you know is sub-optimal for the races. Besides, if you're a strong MTB'er with solid tech, you're really not going to be at a huge disadvantage.

Also try to bring you're wife to the races. Not only are spectator friendly, she'll see how much of an advantage an actual 'cross bike is and hopefully let you get one.

[acorn_user]

Remember that drop bars will put you a lot further forward. You might find that the top tube is way too long (I did).

[somnambulant]

Unless you're racing in the Elite UCI races, things like max tire width, drop bars, canti brakes, etc. isn't going to matter. So for your first couple of races, just use your favorite MTB as is. No need to dump $ into a bike that you know is sub-optimal for the races. Besides, if you're a strong MTB'er with solid tech, you're really not going to be at a huge disadvantage.

+1

That's what I did for my first race and I placed exactly the same as I did in the next two races with a proper 'cross bike. The races might not be as muddy/soupy as you think either, depending on your local conditions. My season has been almost totally dry... not even a square foot of proper west-coast slop. It's kind of unfortunate actually, I was actually hoping to get good 'n dirty! :D