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How many people here ever take their cross bike on a "real" mountain bike trail?

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Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational) This has to be the most physically intense sport ever invented. It's high speed bicycle racing on a short off road course or riding the off pavement rides on gravel like : "Unbound Gravel". We also have a dedicated Racing forum for the Cyclocross Hard Core Racers.

How many people here ever take their cross bike on a "real" mountain bike trail?

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Old 01-30-09, 09:04 AM
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MTB is the only suitable bike for trail riding.
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Old 01-30-09, 11:38 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
MTB is the only suitable bike for trail riding.

You may want to take a look at this site...
https://www.xo-1.org/

This guy might know what his is talking about form his resume...
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Old 01-30-09, 11:40 AM
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Those aren't trails - they're hard packed dirt roads. Same as pavement. Riding on cobblestones is just dumb no matter what the bike.
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Old 01-30-09, 12:30 PM
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apparently you just looked at the pictures and didn't actually read anything....

actually read this article he posted, as I said this guy has the resume...
https://www.xo-1.org/2007/09/mountain...eeds-them.html
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Old 01-30-09, 12:37 PM
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I've ridden many gnarly trails and technical fireroads on my cross bike. You just have to pick better lines than on a suspended bike.

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Old 01-30-09, 12:43 PM
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I don't even have a proper CX bike (or gears for that matter), just an old steel roadie with CX tires.



Unfortunately, I died after taking this photo.
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Old 01-30-09, 12:44 PM
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You mean you actually have to have some technique and maybe even slow down a bit on the downhill instead of bombing down with 5" of suspension....

I'm all for fully decked out downhill rigs if that's what gets you going, just don't discount a bike on it's looks... What do you think Tom Ritchey and Chris Chance rode when they first started riding "mountain" bikes? I bet they didn't look much different than a cross bike...maybe a bit fatter tires (but not much)

swap the bars for some drops and not much difference framewise...
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Old 01-30-09, 12:46 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by caloso
Unfortunately, I died after taking this photo.
Sorry to hear that, I guess you should have listened to the mainstream and bought a crazy plush DH bike... RIP
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Old 01-30-09, 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by caloso
I don't even have a proper CX bike (or gears for that matter), just an old steel roadie with CX tires.

Unfortunately, I died after taking this photo.

I'm sorry to hear that. Can I have your sweet bike?
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Old 01-30-09, 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by threeflys
What do you think Tom Ritchey and Chris Chance rode when they first started riding "mountain" bikes? I bet they didn't look much different than a cross bike...maybe a bit fatter tires (but not much)
most of them were riding bikes that looked like this:


but that's a bit beside the point. i highly recommend the documentary "klunkerz."
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Old 01-30-09, 01:19 PM
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Originally Posted by dirtyphotons
most of them were riding bikes that looked like this:


but that's a bit beside the point. i highly recommend the documentary "klunkerz."
That looks like 40 pounds of pure awesomeness.
Last edited by caloso; 01-30-09 at 01:19 PM. Reason: spelling
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Old 01-30-09, 02:06 PM
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Old 01-30-09, 06:47 PM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
MTB is the only suitable bike for trail riding.
It must be those gnarly mountain trails you have just west of Boston. Here in the Canadian Rockies a cross bike works just fine for trail riding.
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Old 02-02-09, 02:06 AM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by dirtyphotons
most of them were riding bikes that looked like this:


but that's a bit beside the point. i highly recommend the documentary "klunkerz."
Is it bad that I want one of those?
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Old 02-02-09, 08:45 AM
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Most of us want one of those.
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Old 02-02-09, 08:47 AM
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Originally Posted by MIN
I've ridden many gnarly trails and technical fireroads on my cross bike. You just have to pick better lines than on a suspended bike.

I really like this photo.
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Old 02-02-09, 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Saddle Up
Most of us want one of those.
Or a contemporary update on the theme:
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Old 02-02-09, 09:26 AM
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don mcclung does it much better...


my friend's:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/skottty1223/766198392/
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Old 02-02-09, 09:27 AM
  #44  
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Originally Posted by flargle
Or a contemporary update on the theme:
Not sure about that gaping seatpost hole.
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Old 02-02-09, 09:57 AM
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Obviously, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but it is one less route for water to get in the frame fwiw. I'd take any of the above.
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Old 02-02-09, 12:26 PM
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Since we've gone off topic this is my attempt to capture the flavor of the old klunkerz using a modern bike...

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Old 02-02-09, 12:28 PM
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That's an exceedingly long chain stay. How does it handle?
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Old 02-02-09, 01:43 PM
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Very stable.
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Old 02-02-09, 03:36 PM
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That thing is SWEEET! Is that a coaster brake I'm guessing?
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Old 02-02-09, 04:30 PM
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It's front brake and fixed gear rear.
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