Cyclocross - Single Speed, all you need?

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ridethecliche
06-30-09, 08:31 PM
I've been thinking about trying cross for the first time this fall. I've been racing road and I think I have a couple of options.

I can either sell my mtb and buy an old bontrager steel frame mtb and race that for mtb and cross. It's pretty light and would be much lighter than my current mtb.

The other option would be to buy a single speed cross bike since I can get a decent team deal.

I was hoping to use the cross bike to train in the winter a little bit, and I was hoping to get a few cross races in as well. I just want to try my hand at it so I might just go to a few first and possibly try borrowing a bike or racing with my MTB to see what it's like.

I was just wondering if you guys and gals thought of just racing a single speed.

I'm in CT and will be racing in the area.

Thanks!

lastOffTheBack
06-30-09, 09:03 PM
Go 1X10 (42/12-27) . Ive raced SS for years with so so results. Get some crit's in before cross and you will be set.
hbsyncro
07-01-09, 12:47 AM
there might be demo bikes at your races.

ridethecliche
07-01-09, 07:02 PM
Go 1X10 (42/12-27) . Ive raced SS for years with so so results. Get some crit's in before cross and you will be set.

I love me some crits ;)
Andy_K
07-01-09, 11:31 PM
If you want to win, you might need gears, but you can totally race and have fun, and probably even do pretty well, on a singlespeed. I found myself using one gear most of the time last year on my 3x9, so I'm thinking about racing singlespeed this year. Of course, around here we have a special singlespeed category.

Also, even this question is answered on the Sheldon Brown site (though not by Sheldon):

http://sheldonbrown.com/singlecross.html