[Phiber]

Roadies ride the roads. Mountain bikers ride the trails. Everyone seems to have their place; they know their proper territory and generally stick to it. Even the sub-generes have a place. However, cyclocross? Are you a Cyclocrosser by yourself? Or just a roadie with knobby tires riding on a trail? Even a mountain bike on asphalt; the pilot is a mountain biker, although often I see 'mountain bikers' whome have never touched a true mountain. On the flip side a roadie on a trail would be called insane. ;) Someone explain this; are we only really classified as Cyclocrossers while racing?

Regards,
-David

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[ddeand]

I'm just re-entering the biking scene after a 25 year hiatus, and it seems that the CX bike is somewhat of a mongrel category. I think you are absolutely right when you ask, "Are we only really classified as Cyclocrossers while racing?" From what I've read and seen, most people use their cyclocross bikes for a multitude of activities. I know I bought my Lemond Poprad to use as a non-technical trail cruiser as well as a road workout bike - I doubt I will ever compete. I could have gotten any type of bike I wanted, but the CX design (and the 853 steel frame) were what sold me.

So, even though I own a cyclocross bike, I am not a CXer. But I read this forum every day!

Dean

[WorldWind]

From my prospective if you ride off road on real single tracks you are a Mtn. Biker. From then on no mater where you are or what you are riding.

[wfin2004]

Back 20 yrs ago I was married and the wife brought home a couple of mid priced road bikes. Behind our house was a massive trail system through the woods. I got a bigger boot out of riding the roadie down through the trails than I did riding on the roads. I guess at that point I realized THAT is the style of riding that I wanted to be a part of. What kind of bike would you call the road bike I was thrashing through the weeds and trying to jump the creeks with?

[Phiber]

I was just curious to know what everyones thoughts were on this subject. It's true that these Cyclocross bikes are now being spec'd differently than road or mountain bikes. They are becoming a breed of their own, in my opinion. My Cyclocross bike was built with Cyclocrossing in mind; not with road biking. It is not a roadie frame; yet it uses some roadie componants. When someone asks me what kind of pimp bike that is, I will reply, "That is a Cyclocross bike." It is not a road bike. It is not a mountain bike. It is not a touring bike, a bmx bike or a vintage/classic cruiser bike. :) It was built for CX.

Breakfast is here.

Peace! I love you guys (and gals)!

[stric]

Hi,
Originally I started out as a mountain biker but slowly I moved onto road cycling and it's been probably at least three years that I haven't been off-road. Road I like but I miss off-road. Cyclo cross appears to be an alternative. But the real reason for CX is probably curiosity. I'm just starting and I'll see how it goes. I ride bikes daily. In the last few years due to work and grad.school load I didnt have much time fore competitive cycling. But commuting on bike is adaily routine for me. CX bike in my garage is not meant for commuting (for that I have another bike) but sometimes it's used for that purpose too.

[EagleEye]

Interested thread! Like wfin2004, I used to take my road bike on the trails around the lake, more than 20 years ago when I was a kid. I have a cheap Huffy road bike and no one ever told not to ride a road bike on trials. :)

When I got back into cycling, I bought a nice road bike and been stuck to the pavement. I never took to mtb for some reason. I always like riding a road bikes. Recently, my memories of my solo rides around the lake trails were so vivid that I decided to go relive it. Well, I don't want to take my carbon road bike on the trials and mess it up, so I bought me a Gunnar Crosshairs frameset. I'm still building it up, but every time I work on my Gunnar, I get flashbacks of my rides around the lake and why I enjoy riding so much. I can't wait to attack the trails again! :)

Like you, Phiber, my Gunnar will be built with CX in mind, but I'm stuck with some of the old road components and can't justify spending money on CX specific components when I alread have 2 other bikes.

[Phiber]

I built mine from the ground up; using mostly high end Mountain componants for the deraileurs and crank and Ultegra shifting componants. With my FSA K-Force bar and Stiffster fork and a few other choice carbon goodies it'll look very sweet. And ride even sweeter. I will upgrade my front deraileur when SRAM brings theirs out. Until then it's an XT setup. I purchased a WTB seat but I am starting to second think that one.. Someday I'll get a nice Italian seat. :)