Cyclocross - Road racing
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Laurel Lane
11-08-09, 05:06 PM
I'm new to the forum and was happy to see a special place for cyclecross bikes. I have two and ride them all the the time with tires in the 28-32mm range. Most of my mileage is on paved surfaces. I was thinking of doing a few local road time trials this coming spring. A club a few towns over has a weekly race all through the good weather.
My question is: If I put 25mm slicks on my cross bikes will I be giving up much in performance to conventional road racing bikes? These time trials are low-key, local things. Do any of you run narrower tires for road racing on your cyclecross bikes? Thanks.
knobster
11-08-09, 05:41 PM
Not much. I haven't noticed much difference from the road bikes I've owned and now only own cross bikes for their versitility. I think you could modify your cross bike setup to get you into more of a race position (lowering handlebars, flip stem) which may help with aerodynamics and in turn make it just as fast as a road bike. Gearing shouldn't be a problem in this situation.
stevage
11-08-09, 11:44 PM
Why not go 23mm? But yeah, it's a perennial topic of discussion. Roadies insist CX bikes are much slower. Prove em wrong.
sd_mike
11-09-09, 12:10 AM
I haven't noticed CX bikes being slower. Mine does well enough.
jonestr
11-09-09, 01:28 AM
I broke my road bike der. hanger last month so I did some of my on road training on my cross bike. It is fine for hills and flats, but once I get it over 40mph, it is not fun anymore, and I definitely wish I was on my road bike.
Crack Monkey
11-09-09, 08:44 AM
but once I get it over 40mph
Yeah, but most of us mortals only do that once in a blue moon - downhill, with a tailwind, and all that.
To the original question - ride what you have, add 23mm tires, drop the stem a spacer (or flip it), and have fun.
Edit - the only big thing might be the gearing. Most road compact cranks will have a 50t big ring - your cross bike probably has a 46t. So, you might want to swap that too.
flargle
11-09-09, 09:19 AM
You're only racing against yourself in a time trial, anyway. I guess some guys get really into time trialing, trying to beat their best 40K time, win their state age group, etc etc, but at that point you get a TT-specific bike, rent or buy Zipps, etc.