what makes a good cross race bike?

[Lithuania]

With only 1 week left in the local race schedule I am already looking towards next year.

This was my first year racing and I did it on a stock bianchi san jose. Obviously this isnt the ideal rig for racing so I am going to upgrade to something else next year.

My problem is I dont really know what makes a good bike. I mean I can look at plenty of ads and all the big companies but what they are telling me doesnt mean anything to me. So what should I be looking for?

I am not sure if I am going to go geared or not next year. Does anyone make a highish end single speed frame for cross?

[bitterken]

In my experience, the bike in itself matters little as long as it fits you properly and you can portage it well. Things that matter more are gearing and tires. These should suit the courses you race. However, you can still just run one set of tires and gears for an entire campaign of races. Apart from that, don't skimp on brakes (the pads are particularly important) and wheels (should be strong and fast) - factory built/manufacturer spec'd bikes usually put on cheap wheels and brakes in order to keep costs down while offering Ultegra-level drive trains...I don't get it.

[flargle]

Does anyone make a highish end single speed frame for cross?The Bianchi Roger is a sexy beast.

You'll nearly always place higher riding a geared bike than singlespeed. Just a fact of life. But placings aren't the end-all be-all, and you can get a lot of satisfaction from racing the pared-down way. Also, some larger CX series have singlespeed divisions which have some really good riders. It all goes down to why you are racing, and what you want to get out of it.

Which also goes to the question of what bike to get. It depends on your goals, your budget, what kind of riding you want to do (just racing? commuting? light touring? road group rides? etc), what your priorities are, etc. If you get those things figured out, then the list of bikes can get narrowed down.

[Lithuania]

The Bianchi Roger is a sexy beast.

You'll nearly always place higher riding a geared bike than singlespeed. Just a fact of life. But placings aren't the end-all be-all, and you can get a lot of satisfaction from racing the pared-down way. Also, some larger CX series have singlespeed divisions which have some really good riders. It all goes down to why you are racing, and what you want to get out of it.

Which also goes to the question of what bike to get. It depends on your goals, your budget, what kind of riding you want to do (just racing? commuting? light touring? road group rides? etc), what your priorities are, etc. If you get those things figured out, then the list of bikes can get narrowed down.

Well this is my first season racing and ive been averaging 15th and another local guy has been winning C races and getting top 5s in B races so I dont see any reason I cant place higher as is with a little more training.

The bike I am looking for is strictly a race bike. I wont be doing touring, commuting, casual, etc riding on it. I have other bikes for those type of rides.

As far as budget is concerned I really dont have one. Thats not to say I am looking for the most expensive bike out there because while I do believe in you get what you pay for I also believe in plenty of things being over prices simply because of the label on them.

[dirtyphotons]

for a strictly race bike with cost as no object, those ridleys that c3 was riding yesterday look pretty good.

[vpower]

bianchi roger is no longer in production so if you want one, get a hold of a bianchi dealer and see if they have one or if you can get one.

I'm trying to figure out what I'll be riding next year and these are some random thoughts going through my head:

I still like steel better than aluminum for the ride quality. I ride faster when it's a little less rough. the bikes I've ridden with the carbon seatstays FEEL a lot more like steel bikes than aluminum (to me anyway)

if you're getting something aluminum and you can swing it, I think it's worth it to get an ultralight tubeset like the scandium, easton or kinesis

I'm slowly getting over my carbon-phobia. I raced bike with carbon fork, seatstays and steertube most of the season. I crashed it and nothing catastrophic happened, but the amount of carbon in a bike still makes me stop and think for a bit.

I work in a shop so my options are a little more limited (if I want to get a deal anyway)

I'm bouncing back and forth between the major jake and the jamis supernova. my other options would be the bianchi cross concept or the felt f1-x. I really like the cross concept, but it's a pretty pricey. The felt f1x is a great bike, but doesn't go with my slightly more relaxed feel = more confident handling and faster riding tendencies.

oh yeah and the salsa chili con crosso looks awesome.

[Lithuania]

for a strictly race bike with cost as no object, those ridleys that c3 was riding yesterday look pretty good.

Yeah I saw those too but I dont want to get sucked into something simply because it looks good.

[Lithuania]

the bianchi roger has disc brakes i dont think i will be looking at it

[flargle]

the bianchi roger has disc brakes i dont think i will be looking at itWhat's your objection to disc brakes?

I think the Redline and Kona CX bikes are very nice.

I wouldn't worry too much about what wheels it comes with, as you would presumably be getting a tubular wheelset and using the stock wheels in the pit.

[Lithuania]

What's your objection to disc brakes?

I think the Redline and Kona CX bikes are very nice.

I wouldn't worry too much about what wheels it comes with, as you would presumably be getting a tubular wheelset and using the stock wheels in the pit.

i dont have any objection to disc brakes. Ive just never had them and dont think I need them. plus doesnt the uci not allow them or something like that :p

[cardstock]

i feel like I need to permanently save this in my clipboard.

UCI rules only apply to the Mens and Womens Elite races at the specific UCI races and events. If you are not racing in either of those two races, only the standard USAC rules apply.

[Lithuania]

i feel like I need to permanently save this in my clipboard.

UCI rules only apply to the Mens and Womens Elite races. If you are not racing in either of those two races, only the standard USAC rules apply.

I know thats why I did :p

[p4nh4ndle]

It all goes down to why you are racing, and what you want to get out of it.


this is the best advice here

[M_S]

What about a Van Dessel Country Road Bob? Curvey :D

[Ronsonic]

What makes a good cross race bike is invisibility. You don't see it the whole race, you don't even think about it. You just do what you've trained yourself to do and then when the race is over you dismount, lean on it and puke. Until then you never looked to see where any part of it was - okay, maybe a peak to see how bad you're cross-chained, but that's it.

Make it fit you. When you get it right the transition from sitting to standing is super smooth and the bike is stable when you hammer like hell, standing, sitting or just kinda floating over the saddle on the bumpy stuff. Get parts you trust and dial everything in and snug it down so you've got nothing to worry about.
Bike fit is proportionate to how hard you hammer. Adjust it for how you ride. Don't compromise reliability, if you're afraid you'll pinch flat at 30psi, run 35. Don't use any part you're afraid might be a little too cheap. Don't use any part you cherish and must mind. If you weight more than 190 you've got no business with anything weight weenie approved.

All the other stuff, steel, tubular, campy, titanium, shimano is relatively less important than fit and confidence. It really is just a tool for the racer.

Ron

[sfcrossrider]

You can't go wrong with a Ridley IF they fit.

[p4nh4ndle]

I'd second the opinion on fit. for some other applications (just jammin' around town, some road racing, club riding) you can get away with a less than perfect fit. but if you're serious about racing, and cross in particular, since you'll be on and off the bike possibly a dozen times during a single race, you really have to get it right or suffer later. have you considered a fit session? any better shop should be able to set you up on their size cycle. then you can look for stock frames whose dimensions are close to your custom ideal. it won't cost more that a hundred bucks.

[Lithuania]

i race road too and I have had fittings done for that. Should I get a separate fitting for cross?

so forgetting about fit, im definitely getting something that fits right, what should I be looking for in a frame specifically? Ive only ever ridden steel road bikes with the current beast being made up of s3 tubing.

what makes ridley so good for example?