Cyclocross - Bike input from racers wanted

If you RACE your cross bike please share the details about your bike in the RACE forum. I'm considering a new RACE bike for 2009 and wanted some feedback from people about their RACE bikes.

Thanks.

I raced a Surly Xchek this year

great riding fame and fork, but obviously heavy

I got a 57cm tt instead of a 58cm tt which is my normal size and this was a bit of a mistake as the head tube was really short and I had to use a lot of spacers to get a good cross fit

Also, the 132.5mm spacing is goofy and it does not work well with 130mm. A bad choice if you ever flat during a race.

I used Neuvation M28sl wheels run tubeless with Hutchinson bulldog tires. I really liked this combo, but I am going to try tubies next year

46cm Salsa bell lap Hbar. I dont think the flred drops did much for me and I will be using a lighter and traditional drop next year

Ran a 9spd drivetrain with a single ring. Ultegra shifters and der with a 42t front ring and 12-25 in the back. I used a spot chainring guard on the outer ring and dog fang on the inside. I only dropped my chain once and it was due to a poor set down after a carry

Used CB candy SL with Sidis and had good luck with them

cant think of anything else that may be important right now

I would like to pick up a single speed racer for next year. The Surly is on the list. Thanks for the reply.

I would like to pick up a single speed racer for next year. The Surly is on the list. Thanks for the reply.

no problem

you looking for a 56cm on the cheap?

Moved my post to the Race forum. Check it there.

raced on a crosscheck also, and hated it. and it was a pretty rad build.... thomson post and stem, 105 group, 1x9 with (with fsa carbon chainguard and a chain watcher, never threw chain riding this setup), those new chris king cross hubs to open pros... so yea, pretty decent build.

it was heavy and i didnt like the geometry for racing... this bike has a made a pretty good messenger bike though, so im keeping it around. i personally feel that for cross racing id like a more compact geometry, tighter wheel base but with a higher headtube, and also id like the cable routing all on top... and it like it to be MUCH lighter.

also i started with season with an alpha q carbon post that i snapped... and im a pretty light guy (6'1 and 155) and the post was set up nowhere near the limit... but sloppy remounting in packs, and also some rough sections in a race were to blame... so ill wait until my technique is perfect before i consider a carbon post again...

messed around with my gearing alot, ended up with 44t in front, with one wheelset 12-27, and one 11-34.... had better luck with the 11-34 for reasons that ended up having me decide my front ring was too big and id like a tighter range in the back...

also ordered my hubs before id ever raced cross, and got the 36h and really with i would have gotten 28h. lighter would be way better, plus the tires take alot of the impact and force and i weigh nothing.

i built an iro single speed cross bike with a ritchey wcs all carbon fork with my ksyrium equipes... but didnt race it at all... the superbowl of singlespeed cross will be its first race, but thats a month away... so ill let ya know.

used specialized sport mountain shoes. cheap. and it showed. ripped them up 3/4 into season.

so yea, messed around too much... i was changing stuff all the time... stem heights and angles, gearing etc... so next season im gonna have my bike set up for racing well ahead of time and spend a bit more time on cross technique preseason to tune in my fit and gear.

im thinking about a jamis supernova or a redline conquest pro (changing out some stuff) or maybe getting a moots, or a custom frame but probobly not yet...

hopefully by next year ill have alot more figured out and hope this thread will help me to do that, and hope this was helpful...