Cyclocross - how much abuse can a cx bike take?

Just wondering where one should draw the line on riding a cx off road

totally depends on the bike. i use my double cross to ride the same trails others ride with mtb's. on the other hand there are cx bikes out there that imo are barely off-road worthy.

This is near the exact question I was going to ask...

I have a 2005 Lemond Poprad. I have taken in on some very rough single track in the desert and mountains. I am surprised how much abuse it can take, even more surprised how true the wheels still are. The only problem I started to have is that my rear derailler won't keep adjustment.

But I wonder if it is just too much for the bike. But I also love the trail riding on this bike, so fun.

Al

I bunny hop speed bumps. o_o

Just wondering where one should draw the line on riding a cx off road

I did some trail riding with mine just this weekend,drawing a shocked look from a MTBer. I would'nt be doing massive drop offs and stuff, but especially if you have a good steel frame, you can but it through the grinder and it will still be fine. Don't know about alumminum, though.

I was gingerly with my Steelman Eurocross for about the first nine months I had it. I've been getting increasingly aggressive with it to the point that people on mountain bikes are starting to think I'm nuts, but they may not realize it's a cx and not a roadie as I'm running slicks for the summer. I still avoid any drop-off further than a standard curb (5-8 inches) and don't go up much of anything, at least not yet. So far, grass, roots, gravel, and down cubs for the last four months and no trouble, even with 130 psi 23mm slicks. With 75 psi 44 mm knobbies, I'd imagine I'll be even more aggressive.

Does anyone have a story about going over the line? Busted fork/frame?

I have been slowly testing my CX bike for the past couple days. Today I think I'll bomb a curb and see what happens. I don't imagine much of anything, but you never know. I won't be going up, just flying off. :)

These new gear ratios are taking some getting used to!

I have been slowly testing my CX bike for the past couple days. Today I think I'll bomb a curb and see what happens. I don't imagine much of anything, but you never know. I won't be going up, just flying off. :)

These new gear ratios are taking some getting used to!
Off a curb should be no problem at all, even on a regular road bike. On single track I've been going off 2ft drops, poping over 6" rocks, riding thru trails with 3-4" loose and fixed rock. No problems at all, most amazingly is wheels are still true as new. I imagine that I'm not doing the headset nor hub bearings any good though.

Al

I have CX specific wheels; I'm not too worried about them. Just wondering about my winwood fork. :) It seems pretty beefy, though.

Off a curb should be no problem at all, even on a regular road bike. On single track I've been going off 2ft drops, poping over 6" rocks, riding thru trails with 3-4" loose and fixed rock. No problems at all, most amazingly is wheels are still true as new. I imagine that I'm not doing the headset nor hub bearings any good though.

Al

What kind of bike, especially frame material? I'm not that worried about hub or headset bearings, I'm worried about major frame damage.

i was coming back from a muddy ride the other day via the college. I was totally caked in mud. i passed a pack of frat guys and they looked totally shocked and one guy even stated the not so obvious by saying "that guy went thru mud on a road bike?"

So, as far as i can tell most people, maybey not even riders know a cx from a road bike. You have to know what to look for i guess.

' Cross Bikes are plenty tough. I use mine as an unsuspended mtn bike and I will ride any of the trails in my area on it. I have it geared with 50/34 x 27/12 and I can climb all but the steepest climbs. I love seeing the faces of mtb'ers when I catch them on a descent! I think the reason I dig my 'cross bike so much is because it reminds me of mtn biking before suspension. You need to have skills and be able to pick a line. I also race my 'cross bike as well. In case you are wondering I have a Lemond Poprad w/ True Temper carbon fork/ dura ace/ ultegra/ pauls brakes/ fsa compact cranks/ 2 wheelsets 1 Kysriums 2 Bontrager Race Lites

Let'er rip on that 'cross bike!

Its a Poprad with steel frame and fork (stock)
Of course this is only 70mi or so of trail riding.
Al

Dude, it's Corvallis in October; everything you ride is going to be mud! You can probably do just about anything with a cross bike up to 2-foot drop! Then again the mud gets so thick in this part of Oregon that you need to be a good runner. You know Corvallis has two awesome cyclocrosser’s, Ryan Trebon and Barry Wicks, seek them out see if they ride their Kona Jake The Snake everywhere, or rides their Kona Mtb. everywhere!