Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Cyclocross Frame recommendations for a Clyde?

I am 6'-4" and 225 lbs. I have a 62cm Surly Cross-Check which I like a lot; but the frame is on the heavy side for cyclocross racing (and the top tub is a bit on the short side for my long torso & arms).

Are there any other Clyde worthy cyclocross frames that are as strong as the Cross-Check, but lighter, with a bit longer top tube? My road bike has a 64cm frame and a 60cm top tube for comparison.

I'm on a 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, if you can find one around. R6 Alu tubing, RCT carbon fork w/ alloy steerer.
It's worlds lighter than my previous Reynolds 520 (4130 with a fancy sticker) Vassago Fisticuff. My 60cm frame is built up at 21 pounds ready-to-race. That's not a no-pedals, fragile lightweight tires and paper-thin rims on 17g spokes weight, either... That 21 pounds is a ready for a 210 pound dude to hammer on it weight. Although I will admit to it being a singlespeed, so that cuts a little bit of weight; but I don't have lightweight rims or low spoke wheels, and I don't use all sorts of crazy lightweight parts everywhere (I have a carbon crank, that's the only superlight bit.)

The Kona JTS is about the same frame/fork build and capability, as is the the Raleigh RX 1.0, and the Specialized Crux.
Even at 225, you'd be hard pressed to kill any of those framesets.

We could be twins, I am a bit taller and a bit lighter, but darn close enough.

I have been studying this exact same question for months now.

Honestly what I have found is really any of the frames are going to support our weight. If you are really looking for a racing cross frame, and not a cross like frame (cross check, tricross, etc) then the field is wide open.

I don't ever intend to race and the ability to have a rear rack and fenders are important to me, so I am looking more in the lines of a tri cross, or a trek ion, or one of the carbon frames from pedal power (more than like.y how I go).

Depending on your budget I have heard great things about the Ridley frames and the Stevens frames...but their frames cost more than I want my entire bike to cost.

Its true some of the manufactures do stop at 59 in cross bikes and some go to 61, but in a race bike, I think it's designd that way in purpose (higher bb and shorter top tub etc)

Good luck and let us know what you end up with.

I like my Trek XO1, which is set up as my "ride around town", tour, or ride the unpaved "rails to trails" routes. I have 32 slick tires on it. So I don't race, but like the bike. (I'm 215lbs.)

My husband has a Ridley Crossbow and loves it. It's built up with 105 bits taken off a Giant. He liked the Rocky Mountain CX he had before that as well, but felt the bottom bracket was too high. He doesn't do cyclocross, just likes 'cross bikes for road riding on the crappy roads we have here. It's essentially the same as my touring bike, but much lighter.
We've been speculating about possible new Ridley model names:
CrossPatch - for riders with difficult personalities
CrossPurpose - a tandem for couples who don't work well together.
CrossWord - for people with elaborate vocabularies, or maybe sharp tongues.

Thanks guys, I will look into these; I like that the Stevens comes in 62cm:

Stevens Cyclo Cross: http://www.stevensbikes.de/2012/index.php?bik_id=153&cou=US&lang=en_US (62cm largest)
Kelly knobby X: http://www.kellybike.com/2nd_knobbyx1.html (61cm largest)
Kona Jake The snake: http://www.konaworld.com/cx.cfm?content=jake_the_snake#2 (61cm largest)
Specialized Crux: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=52706&menuItemId=0 (61cm largest)
Specialized Tricross Singlecross: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=32208 (61cm largest)
Ridley Xbow: http://www.ridley-bikes.com/pd/us/en-gb/4/512/cyclocross/X-Bow (60cm largest)
Redline Conquest Pro: http://www.redlinebicycles.com/archives/2011-conquest-pro (60cm largest)
Ritchey Breakaway Cross: http://www.ritcheylogic.com/dyn_prodfamily.php?k=472402 (60cm largest)
Raleigh RX 1.0: http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/cyclocross/rx-1-0-12/ (59cm largest)

Thanks guys, I will look into these; I like that the Stevens comes in 62cm:

Stevens Cyclo Cross: http://www.stevensbikes.de/2012/index.php?bik_id=153&cou=US&lang=en_US (62cm largest)
Kelly knobby X: http://www.kellybike.com/2nd_knobbyx1.html (61cm largest)
Kona Jake The snake: http://www.konaworld.com/cx.cfm?content=jake_the_snake#2 (61cm largest)
Specialized Crux: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=52706&menuItemId=0 (61cm largest)
Specialized Tricross Singlecross: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=32208 (61cm largest)
Ridley Xbow: http://www.ridley-bikes.com/pd/us/en-gb/4/512/cyclocross/X-Bow (60cm largest)
Redline Conquest Pro: http://www.redlinebicycles.com/archives/2011-conquest-pro (60cm largest)
Ritchey Breakaway Cross: http://www.ritcheylogic.com/dyn_prodfamily.php?k=472402 (60cm largest)
Raleigh RX 1.0: http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/cyclocross/rx-1-0-12/ (59cm largest)

Look carefully at the actual dimensions, not just the advertised "size". There's a huge difference between some of those. The only one that would come close to my fit criteria (6"5') would be the Ridley. It actually has a 200+mm HT, but, only 585 TT. Some of the others you've listed have head tubes on their largest size of only 177mm (Ritchey). I realize if you're long in the torso and arm, the TT may be of more concern than ST and HT.

I do love the way Stevens presents 4 ST measurements for each size. Complete with explanation of where the measurement is to. Best geometry chart I've seen in a long while.

Look carefully at the actual dimensions, not just the advertised "size". There's a huge difference between some of those. The only one that would come close to my fit criteria (6"5') would be the Ridley. It actually has a 200+mm HT, but, only 585 TT. Some of the others you've listed have head tubes on their largest size of only 177mm (Ritchey). I realize if you're long in the torso and arm, the TT may be of more concern than ST and HT.

I do love the way Stevens presents 4 ST measurements for each size. Complete with explanation of where the measurement is to. Best geometry chart I've seen in a long while.

I'm 6'6" and ride a 60cm RL Conquest Pro without any issue. I didn't have to go throwing a crazy setback post or 130mm stem on there to make it fit, either. One of the things to remember with CX is that you're going to be stretched out when racing because most of your time will be spent on the hoods. Additionally, you're a bit more upright than a standard road racing position (level or positive rise stem is common) so you don't need as much length from saddle to bars.

Other considerations for racing
- It's OK to be a little bit bunched up; you're only racing for an hour, tops.
- Take your remounts into consideration when chosing a frame size. A really tall frame means a hefty leap.
- Take unplanned dismounts into consideration when chosing a frame size. You don't want to get caught in a pack on a loose sandy hill behind some guy who stops everyone dead when he loses traction, and then end up clanging your stones on the top tube when you put your feet down and sink in a bit.

My other bikes, for comparison, are a 62cm Cross Check set up for randonneuring, and a 64cm late 80s Trek 400 set up similarly. My previous race bike was a 60cm Vassago Fisticuff (rigid 29er with super-slack geometry.)

I am 6'-4" and 225 lbs. I have a 62cm Surly Cross-Check which I like a lot; but the frame is on the heavy side for cyclocross racing (and the top tub is a bit on the short side for my long torso & arms).

have you considered having a frameset built for you?
Lennard Zinn buys ad banner-time that appears here,
big frames is what he does..

one is using Magnesium.. a lighter metal than aluminum.

Well, I did the "fit calculator" at http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO for a road bike; then subtracted a cm from the top tube recommendations. Surprisingly it came out shorter than what I had originally assumed.

The 61cm stock frame Motobecane Fantom CX "Cross3" http://www.motobecane.com/cross/fcx3.html seemed to fit perfectly. I was able to buy a used frameset from a local cyclocross racer (don't know the exact year - but it is grey with white decals).


Motobecane Fantom CX Geometry: 61cm
SEAT TUBE, CENTER TO TOP 61cm
EFFECTIVE TOP TUBE LENGTH 590
CHAIN STAY 430
BB DROP 67.0
FORK OFFSET 45.0
HEAD TUBE ANGLE 72.0
SEAT TUBE ANGLE 72.0
WHEEL BASE 1040
STAND OVER HEIGHT 841
BB HEIGHT 283


It looks really well made. From what I gathered the 7000 series aluminum frame comes from the Kinesis plant in Taiwan and is identical to the Fuji Cross Pro & Fuji Cross Comp framsets. The front fork is steel and heavy - any recommendations for a light carbon cross fork that can hold up to my 225 lb weight?

For reference: I ride a 63cm Bianchi road bike with this geometry (and it fits like a glove).

A. Seat tube (center-to-top) 630
B. Top tube 595
C. Chainstay 418
D. BB drop 70
E. Fork rake 40


F. Head-tube angle 73.5
G. Seat-tube angle 72.5
H. Wheelbase 1019
I. BB height 270
J. Standover height (inches) 34


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The fit calculator asked for:

My Measurements

Height: 76.00 in
Sternum Notch: 61.00 in
Inseam Length: 35.00 in
Arm Length: 27.50 in
Shoulder Width: 19.00 in
Flexiblity: 5
Weight: 225.00 lbs
Foot Size: 12.00 USMens


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Then it spit out:

Recommended Road Sizes

Frame Size center-to-center: 59 cm
Frame Size center-to-top: 62.5cm
Overall Reach: 71.94 cm
Saddle Height: 78.50 cm
Handlebar Width: 46 cm


Recommended Mountain Sizes

Frame Size center-to-center: 19 in
Frame Size center-to-top: 20 in
Overall Reach: 71.94 cm
Saddle Height: 78.50 cm
Handlebar Width: 46 cm

See about getting a Ritchey Comp Carbon Cross fork. They're reasonably priced, hovering around the $190 - $210 range, and with an alloy steerer instead of full carbon, there's less worry about breakage.

I don't know if Redline sells the RCT fork on its own, but I've been loving mine on my Conquest Pro. The upper blade has a massive beefy profile with a slight bulge to the canti posts; there's no flex to that upper section.

If you're going carbon, you'll want to look for one with a crown mounting hole for a cable hanger to reduce brake vibration, a.k.a. the dreaded carbon squeal.

I'm 6'2+ and rode a Giant TCX in a large size. Its a good, solid frame for the price and the XL should fit you fine.

The Giant TCX (XL size) http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/tcx.2/9022/48878/ has the same top tube as the Motobecane frame that I bought. Thanks for the confirmation.


I'm 6'2+ and rode a Giant TCX in a large size. Its a good, solid frame for the price and the XL should fit you fine.

A few images to compare the new Motobecane race bike (under construction) to the road bike, old Cross Check, and a monster-cross (just for fun).252793252794252795252796

I ride a Kona Jake (lowest end Kona CX bike) at 310lb and the frame has never, ever been an issue. It's a 60cm and, IMO, it's a little big for me ever though I stand 6'5" but I have a weird leg-to-torso ratio.