Again, sure, any reasonable organization is going to make sure they don't abuse their host venue, so to speak. Just like crits and other sanctioned road races have marshals and closed courses. The problem is all the random delinquent kidults that really have to be told to get offa my lawn! Not unlike the ones who make a nuisance of themselves racing where they shouldn't.

How does one deal with terrain vibration and such with no suspension...I can just picture it as painful on joints.

Squishy tires. I did notice my back was getting seriously sore after my first race over the weekend. But with squishy tires...not as jarring as you would imagine.

Occasionally, I would forget to unlock my front fork on my mountain bike and I would feel it in my wrists. Even then the bike has much bigger and softer tires and the suspensions gives in just a little bit, than I would assume this thing to have. I might be too brittle to even think of riding that bike.

Nah, give it a go. It really isn't that bad. The course gets beat down and is relatively smooth...it's not like mountain biking over rocks and jumps...

Riding light and loose and letting the bike do its thing.

The same way we did 30 years ago when all mtbs were rigid frame. You learn to balance and float.

Meh.....When I want to play in the dirt, I ride my hardtail.

I really dislike this trend towards having a different bike for every use someone can invent.

Actually, I probably used to ride cx on a gas pipe 10 speed....It was called being a kid.

Cross is not new.... Races are popping up more places but it's been going on for quite a long time. In Europe for even longer.

I will agree that the bikepacking and adventure bikes are getting nitpicky with the actual differences from a CX or disk road bike but it doesn't effect me any so who cares.

Also, a lot of the vintage steel road bikes had room for bigger tires than pure road bikes today, so does that mean they were really cyclocross bikes?

That kind of was my point saying we were basically riding cx stuff as kids on our gas pipe 10 speeds in the early 70's. We just didn't need specific bikes to do it.

That is what they started on... All CX was something to do when the weather went to **** and they wanted to do some different training.(early 1900's here.. )

here's the Badger doing CX


This week I rode my CX, road bike, and mountain bike. All were fun and all had a different feel. Being stuck doing one activity gets dull for a lot of people so mixing things up is good for your brain and body.

This thread is drifting away from the original posters intent. Let's keep the thread on topic. Otherwise it gets closed.

If you want to discuss CX issues, we have a separate forum for that here:

Recreational Cyclocross and Gravelbiking - Bike Forums

That's a pretty ignorant blanket statement right there.

There are lots of reasons people who value handling skills put in the trainer time.

Sure, people don't all fit stereotypes, but you know what he's getting at - all the "roadies" who essentially define themselves as such by limiting themselves - as soon as the weather gets less than perfect, they decide it's trainer time instead of taking advantage of the learning environment that the season provides. Folks who don't fit the stereotype aren't really "roadies."

So people who don't fit a stereotype of their group aren't really members of their group? huh?

Wash your bike afterward, lube. good to go. It's a tool not a jewel.

reminds me, I should put some car wax on my frame again. helps dirt wash off easier

Aren't CX bikes actually the answer to your dislike of specific bikes though? A CX bike is like a swiss army knife. With a couple of different wheelsets and some fenders you can go from a road machine to a weekday commuter to an endurance gravel ride or a CX race bike all in a matter of minutes.

There are at least a few guys in my area who've ditched their road bikes altogether and now just ride CX bikes year round. On fast group rides they just run road wheels with 23-25mm tires and seem to have no problem keeping up.

BF: If "get off my lawn!" became a forum.

That's a pretty funny statement.

love that he goes back to re-do the little wall and ride up the curb of the stairs when he didn't get all the way to the top on the first go around.

CX racing in the Winter, fitness is maintained, but now the European Pros ,on the road calendar , go to Australia where it's Spring..

Yep, Sven is a bad ass and is retired so he can have some fun to entertain the crowd. The fact that he hopped the barrier the 2nd time with like 3' of runup is also insane. '


I have 28 slicks for my 2nd wheelset and do OK, only issue is my 46T big ring.. which if i changed to a 48 I don't think I would have any issues keeping up with even our A group. I get dropped on downhills anyway and it's not due to spinning out. #climberproblems. But yea, I have a few friends who ride CX frame all the time.

just yes yes yes

this is the thing. the only thing. the push towards having "different bikes for different things" is 100% an industry tactic to sell stuff. I ride my road bike on the grass sometimes too - and I have 28mm tires even on my race bike. I now know that I'll be crucified . . . if you can catch me