Building 1st Cross Bike
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Building 1st Cross Bike
I have purchased my first cyclocross frame, a Cramerotti Roveretto, and am currently assembling components. Since it is winter here in Idaho, I will probably move the Campy Record stuff from my road bike over to it and ride it on my trainer, but I will try to purchase parts as the winter drags on. I MTB and road bike quite a lot and race both. I weigh 180 pounds and consider my self an aggressive rider.I had a Chorus bottom bracket installed on the Cramerotti and have a Chorus crank, 39/53. I see all the posts about gearing and this seems high, but I was thinking about putting a 13/29 cassette on it. Does this seem like a reasonable idea to all you pros out there? Also I was going to put Chorus or Centaur components on since I already have some. What is your experience with this set up? Any recommendations for hubs and wheel set ups?
Thanks for any help.
Thanks for any help.
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MikeO,
The components sound really nice. I dont know about racing in idaho, but I dont think you'll ever have much of an opportunity to use a 53 chainring in a cross race. A 48 will serve as a better option. If you're a powerful rider you can probably do most races staying in the big chainring. I currently use a 42 single front chainring and have had two sprint finishes on a flat grassy straight and I have not needed more teeth. I have a 12-27 in the back. I won one of the sprints and lost the other because I was trying to catch up to one of those darn bunnyhoppers! As for wheel setup: Light and strong. I weigh 145 and I cracked my rolf vector pro tubulars this year. I've used spingergy rev x in the past but they are heavy. I currenty like my spox tubulars with gommitalia 30mm.
cb
The components sound really nice. I dont know about racing in idaho, but I dont think you'll ever have much of an opportunity to use a 53 chainring in a cross race. A 48 will serve as a better option. If you're a powerful rider you can probably do most races staying in the big chainring. I currently use a 42 single front chainring and have had two sprint finishes on a flat grassy straight and I have not needed more teeth. I have a 12-27 in the back. I won one of the sprints and lost the other because I was trying to catch up to one of those darn bunnyhoppers! As for wheel setup: Light and strong. I weigh 145 and I cracked my rolf vector pro tubulars this year. I've used spingergy rev x in the past but they are heavy. I currenty like my spox tubulars with gommitalia 30mm.
cb
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Thanks, I should have mentioned that for the most part this Spring and early Summer I will be doing most of my riding on dirt roads. I talked with a friend of mine who set up his cross bike last winter using Shimano and he is using a 38/44 I think on the front. Does Campagnolo even make a 48 or smaller large chainring for the Chorus group.
Thanks
Thanks
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TA makes a 135mm chainring for Campy in 46 and 48 teeth. I just checked cyclocrossworld.com and they sell them on their site.
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Thanks. I checked out their page and sure enough, they have the chainrins. I have slowly been accumulating components from ebay and friends the last week. All I need to shop for is a set of durable, light wheels. Someone recommended Mavic Cosmos. My bike shop has been closed for two weeks while they have been on vacation. He gets back on Tuesday and I can start putting this bike together. We do have ten inches of snow on the ground now, so that might slow down the crossbike riding.
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I have Centaur 9sp on my cross bike. The components are tough and perform very well in bad conditions. I particularly like being able to set the chainline trim when the chain gets all cruddy. I think you'd be asking for trouble if you went 10sp, though. I can see that tight cluster turning to bog very quickly.
I also have a TA 48t chainring on the front. It's beautiful! I find that it shifts perfectly and it's a lot shinier than the Centaur chainring, even after a season-long campaign.
I also have a TA 48t chainring on the front. It's beautiful! I find that it shifts perfectly and it's a lot shinier than the Centaur chainring, even after a season-long campaign.
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when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
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when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
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I have decided to go with 9 speed. I have have a Chorus front deralliur and ergo levers (9 speed). I have a Chorus 10 speed crank, but it should be fine for 9 speed with some chainring changes. I am still shopping for a rear derailliur, maybe Centaur or Chorus, depending on what I find. It does seem like the Centaur rear derailliur can handle larger rear cassettes with out having to use a medium cage.
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I have a 26t on my cassette. My Reasonling is that, if i come to a hill where I need more than 39x26, I'm probably better-off running it.
__________________
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002