Cyclocross - about to pull the trigger on a Ridley but.....

about to pull the trigger on a Ridley X-Ride but the lack of water bottle bosses has me a bit worried. Do I really want to have bottle in my jersey????????? Why Ridley why???? How many of us will be racing these in UCI races.......

Will you be racing or riding on the road?

If you're racing cx, you REALLY don't want bottle cages.

If riding on the road you really don't need a race oriented cx frame.

Will you be racing or riding on the road?

If you're racing cx, you REALLY don't want bottle cages.

If riding on the road you really don't need a race oriented cx frame.

Both, road and racing......
Ok newbie question...where do you guys carry your water during a race?

You don't. It's only an hour.

EDIT: OK some guys carry a bottle in a pocket. I just drink what I can before, and toss my bottle (and jacket, to be retrieved later) before the whistle.

Ahhhh, Ok thanks. Guess I could use a velcro cage for the road rides. I see now where a cage could really get in the way in a CX race.

or ride your road bike on the road.

You will really end up w/ different setups for road and cx. different pedals, different fits, etc.

the only time I really ride my cx bike on the road is during cx season when i'm going to the park to do my intervals and dismount -> shoulder -> run -> remount drills.

or ride your road bike on the road.


I am stripping down my winter road bike (Specialized E5) for the CX build so that leaves my Serotta as my lone road bike. No chance it will ever see a Cleveland winter.

Gary racing cross, heck yes!

A cross race will last an hour tops if you're racing A's. Take a sip of water before you start and you're in business until the end.

Gary racing cross, heck yes!

A cross race will last an hour tops if you're racing A's. Take a sip of water before you start and you're in business until the end.


What have I gotten myself into.....:cry:

I am stripping down my winter road bike (Specialized E5) for the CX build so that leaves my Serotta as my lone road bike. No chance it will ever see a Cleveland winter.

Ah but how much water do you really need in the winter?

Or maybe even use a big ol fredly camelbak for the winter since the "hot thing on your back" won't be an issue.

Or maybe a Rival group from a certain forum member to put your E5 back on the road? Or build up a frankenbike from whatever you can find?

about to pull the trigger on a Ridley X-Ride but the lack of water bottle bosses has me a bit worried. Do I really want to have bottle in my jersey????????? Why Ridley why???? How many of us will be racing these in UCI races.......

Take a look at the Pinarello cross. I, too, looked at the Ridley, and really wanted a bottle holder. There is something I read about water bottles not being allowed in Belgium for cross racing, so that's why Ridley does not use them. I'm not sure that is true, so please don't shoot the messenger. Pinarello has one set, and is an equally gorgeous/well built bike.

Ah but how much water do you really need in the winter?

On the road I try to drink a bottle every hour or so but not out of necessity....just habit.



Or maybe even use a big ol fredly camelbak for the winter since the "hot thing on your back" won't be an issue.

Not a chance......:D



Or maybe a Rival group from a certain forum member to put your E5 back on the road? Or build up a frankenbike from whatever you can find?

I work at a fairly large shop and have a sweet parts deal :)
I have a lot of biking experience and pretty decent knowledge but this cross stuff is all new to me. Steep learning curve and thanks for your input and help!

I'm pretty sure ALL Ridleys can be had with bottle mounts, just have to specify when ordering. Talk to your dealer.

There are custom Ridleys?!?!

As far as I know, the Crossbow is the only model that has bottle cages.

The X-ride and above are pure race machines...they are not winter trainers, rain bikes or commuters. They are about as specialized as it gets for cross racing. As such, no bottle cages, no fender mounts, etc. If you want something that can to double duty on the road, you may want to look elsewhere.

Gary, you could try something like the tri people use. Something like this (http://www.trisports.com/misicasamo.html) shouldn't be in the way for cx (remove the bottle) but would mounted and ready to hold a bottle when you ride on the road.

about to pull the trigger on a Ridley X-Ride but the lack of water bottle bosses has me a bit worried. Do I really want to have bottle in my jersey????????? Why Ridley why???? How many of us will be racing these in UCI races.......

There are about 100 different methods for putting a bottle cage on a boss-less bike:

http://recklesscognition.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/methods-for-attaching-water-bottle-cages-without-screws-and-bosses/

The second most sensible place to put a bottle on a *racing* cross bike is on the bars. The most sensible place to put it is on your back in the form of a hydration pack with a mouthpiece, like most half-sane MTBers do. A bottle inside the frame will get in the way of shouldering the bike.

Thanks everyone. I did pull the trigger on the Ridley. While I do think there are better frame choices for a dual purpose bike... I just like the feel of a raw race bike with no comprimises. Ill just stuff a bottle in my jersey pocket or use a velcro cage if needed.....no biggie.

As mentioned you really don't need a bottle on there. My Fuji has 2 mounts but one has tape permanently over it. During the season I ride around with a bag in my trunk that has a bottle cage and bolts, hex wrench, and my light. During the week we go on training rides and I put the cage and light on. When done I take them off...

...cages just get in the way while shouldering the bike, grabbing the bike, throwing the bike at your competition, etc. You really DON'T need the water during the race. Just starting out our races here are 20-30 minutes...

....how many crits have you raced without taking a sip because the action was too hectic...cross is 10 times that. You can't take your hands off the bars to drink even if you wanted to.

I have never found myself wanting a bottle while racing. When I rode the bike for commuting I used the 1 bottle mount or had a bottle in my pocket as mentioned.

As mentioned if it is a cross bike that's going to be raced....it just shouldn't have cages on it IMHO

As mentioned if it is a cross bike that's going to be raced....it just shouldn't have cages on it IMHO

The more I thought about it the more it made sense not to have a cage on during cross. We stock the cage below in the shop. It simply has a velco strap that is easy on easy off. That is what Ill use on the training rides.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31FVDFFYQJL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

The more I thought about it the more it made sense not to have a cage on during cross. We stock the cage below in the shop. It simply has a velco strap that is easy on easy off. That is what Ill use on the training rides.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31FVDFFYQJL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

If your training rides and commutes are less than an hour (each way) then you really don't need them for that either.

If your training rides and commutes are less than an hour (each way) then you really don't need them for that either.

often times they are way longer

None of you are racing in AZ, I guess.

Some of our early season races have temps in the 90s. For most of those, we do handups (I know, not legal). Also, on one course that only had suitcase-style dismounts, I did mount a bottle cage since the best place to drink was on a paved section far from the pit.

Yeah...here in Chicago the first 1 or 2 races in our series might have and have had hot weather but it really only affects the big guns. We're tailgunning for 30 minutes....I can do a mid-summer crit without water for 30 min.

Personally I like the saying that on every lap in cyclocross you have 100 things you have to do and on your best day you might get 50 of them right....I'd hate to add 'drinking from a bottle' to that list.

..I'd hate to add 'drinking from a bottle' to that list.

Which is why I prefer a keg :)

Here is a picture of the Ridley almost done. I am still awaiting the correct seatpost and I need to wrap the bars and I think that should about do it....

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/ridley/ridley_2.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/ridley/ridley_4-2.jpg

Nice Ridley.

BTW... my Blue has 105, but for cross I think I'd prefer Rival.

Why? Because only one part of the lever pivots, and with winter gloves and in cold weather w/ cold frozen hands, its easier to shift.