Road Racing on your cross bike?
 

I have been wondering if anyone on this forum has used their cross bike for road racing?

Thanks

vjp

Do you mean racing as in sanctioned racing or group riding?

Yes, licenced club racing. I am completely aware of the pros and cons and am, myself, considering it this spring, I am interested if anyone else has.

Thanks

vjp

I have not but I have seen it done.

I've done it, but it wasn't much fun. The BB is higher on a cross bike, so the ability to slam it into a corner during a crit is compromised. A RR would be a lot different as there aren't as many turns.

Roger Hammond (UK Cross champs & Discovery Pro) I believe used to do a winter crit series on his cross bike, and regularly win :eek:

I guess I don't understand this. Doesn't the higher BB allow you more speed in the tight turns? Because it is higher you can peddle, without strike, at a more acute angle. That's why track bikes have such high bb's, no. Or am I just misunderstanding what you mean by "slam"?

It's not about the pedaling I would say. If the BB is higher your whole body has to be higher - with your weight sitting higher on your bike it is less stable cornering. Not to talk about the "slamming":)

yeah and track bikes force you to pedal into corners. I believe actually that the high BB on a track bike is so that you don't hit the upslope wall of the track in corners.

But this doesn't mean you couldn't or shouldn't use your cross bike for road races. Especially since the CX-bike geo lately tends to be closer to road bikes anyway and a lot of the higher BB is only caused by the bigger cross-tires (you shouldn't use those for road racing :) )