I am going to going to enter a my first cross race in about a month from now and I am wondering if a person can expect to be competitive on a mountain bike, at least for cat c? I am doing this first season basically to have fun and learn how. However I would like to at least be finishing better than last next season. suggestions?

It really depends on how bulky your bike is. I race for fun, I own a litespeed road bike and have a f600 Cannondale mountain bike. The idea of now buying a cross bike is unlikely. Considering there are only 8 fall races for cross - and the struggle of how I would use it for the rest of the year that my road and mountain bike cant do. My cannondale is very light, I have conti cross tires that work very well for the races, nice tread, narrow 1.5 I believe. The only drawback is the carry of the bike on the climbs. I suppose if cross racing was a full season, I would consider a cross bike - who knows.

i raced my first season on a mtn. bike. i never won...but i was never last. the following season i bought a cx bike and now i'm typically in the top 1/2 of Cat C.

the cx bike makes a HUGE difference...for me at least. plus...it's so much more entertaining while riding the trails.

you can win on a mtn. bike. i've seen it in C's and B's. haven't done it, but seen it.

You know,if you have the training and the dedication to race competitivly, you could do it on any bike.

I am going to going to enter a my first cross race in about a month from now and I am wondering if a person can expect to be competitive on a mountain bike, at least for cat c? I am doing this first season basically to have fun and learn how. However I would like to at least be finishing better than last next season. suggestions?

I did my first cross race on my mountain bike just last week. Finished close to last place (25th out of 33 or so riders), and I worked pretty hard.

My bike isn't very svelt, it weighs about 26 lbs with kinda fat tires and has a suspension fork. I think a lighter bike with smaller tires would certainly help, but I don't think it would push me up 25 positions. So for now I'm going to concentrate on my training and not worry about the bike. It'll just be a plus later on.

I saw a guy last year win a B race on a mountain bike. You can do it but I believe you are at a slight disatvantage especially on the pavement. Like others say the way to finish better is to train. I've never seen a pro on a mountain bike so I guess that is saying something. But in mens c you'll see a lot of guys with them. Most importantly have fun...

I've never seen a pro on a mountain bike

From what I understand pro and elite classes are REQUIRED to ride 'cross specific bikes so you won't see pros on them.

I'm interested in the cyclocross thing, but can't get a cross bike just yet. I'll be doing exactly what your thinking and others have done. I think the big thing is to have fun, and train (which will lead to more fun - you know not spitting up your lungs during the race :) ).

I'll probably just get some "road-like" tires for the bike. The gearing is actually already road-like, since I never got around to changing the chainrings out, and the bike is quite light so portage shouldn't be too big an issue (hardtail). Good luck to you!

I'm interested in the cyclocross thing, but can't get a cross bike just yet. I'll be doing exactly what your thinking and others have done. I think the big thing is to have fun, and train (which will lead to more fun - you know not spitting up your lungs during the race :) ).

I'll probably just get some "road-like" tires for the bike. The gearing is actually already road-like, since I never got around to changing the chainrings out, and the bike is quite light so portage shouldn't be too big an issue (hardtail). Good luck to you!


I am actually looking for a decent hardtail frame to build up for next year, I have a couple of Cannondale road bikes but dont want to trash them cross racing. I will probably like you just stick some cross tires on there and have fun with it.

Get these tires for your MTB:
http://www.store.yahoo.com/cyclocrossworld/concroscounp.html

This to is my first year racing cyclocross, and as a back of the pack rider I resisted the urge to purchase a cyclocross bike for my fist year. I have a great mountain bike that I have been riding; a hardtail Klein that has great suspension and much needed disc brakes. I decided that even though riding a true cross bike might move me up two or three places on the finishers list, I am going to wait untill I crack the top ten before I make the move to purchase a cross specific bike.