bbrriiaann113

I am just getting into cyclocross and am wondering what is the best frame material for racing cx? I am mostly interested between alum and ti. Also can anybody recommend good frames either alum or ti. Price doesnt matter

Thanks

flargle

Bite me.

celerystalksme

Racing? Serious racing? Go carbon. Custom carbon, even. Best combination of stiffness, lightness, and comfort. Builder can control where it should be stiff...how stiff it should be...how light it can go...can shape the tubes.

adamt

I would suggest you just get a basic alum frame. Win on it. Get to A and then worry about it.

I decided on a JTS frame myself. I cant imagine that frame holding me back. More than likely - I will be the one holding me back. legs, attitude, dismounts, etc...

I like the Hole Shot a lot, but for the extra cash Id rather get myself an extra or better wheel set. Or take my wife out to dinner to thank her for being ok with me dragging her around the state whilst I put myself in the way of harm...

celerystalksme

adam's suggestion is great too. just get an aluminum frame and race.

aluminum is a great choice too. very stiff...very light. and who cares about the slight comfort benefits of steel/ti/carbon? cx events are short! for the most part...you'll see that most fast racers, semi-pros and pros are riding either aluminum or carbon. only a small percentage ride titanium...same with steel...and probably like no one rides magnesium, wood, or other exotic materials.

bigskyTi

Go Ti. Or go steel. I'd never go with a carbon bike for the purposes of cross. Maybe I'm paranoid, but the idea of subjecting a carbon bike to a cross race makes mer nervous for more than just its shiny finish.
Seems like Ti is best suited to an application that promises lots of mud, bumps, water, dropped bikes, and frequent falls.

flargle

People say that carbon is just as strong as any other material, but two of my pals have had to replace busted carbon frames this year. The most concerning thing to me, is that you might not even see all of the damage from a crash until the material fails catastrophically weeks later. So for me it's not the strength, per se, but the mode of failure that concerns me.

Frames and forks made from contemporary heat-treated steel are surprisingly light, especially if you equate steel with those old Schwinn Varsities. If money is no object, titanium could be even better.

rdubbz

The answer's obvious. Could you ever find a carbon bike this beautiful?



only steel cx for me.

adamt

Lovely! I looked at getting one myself.

I cant believe they did not include canti mounts. Just a shame.

sfcrossrider

You should seek out the builder NOT the material.

https://www.yamaguchibike.com/content/Frames/Cyclocross

https://www.steelmancycles.com/eurocross.html