Is gravel swallowing up cyclocross?
#26
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It appears that I was the victim of a Cyclocross Magazine April Fool's joke (see article here).
It's been well over a decade since my last CX race. Apologies to all for my gullibility.
It's been well over a decade since my last CX race. Apologies to all for my gullibility.
Last edited by Rolla; 10-28-20 at 09:35 AM.
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#28
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Even on Dutch and Belgian forums there doesn't seem to be much talk about tire widths being enforced. Only a 33/35mm tyre width and the necessity of drop bars.
The general consensus for your local CX race is that anything goes and the course needs to be designed for best results on a CX bike.
Some complaints over CX bikes dominating certain MTB races.
Fun tool. Also is great at showing the difference between a Specialized Crux (33mm tyre CX) and a Koga Beachracer Pro (60mm tyre BR).
Both are racing bikes on sand, but definitely different disciplines. Would be fun to see how a BeachRacer would hold up in a CX race though.
The general consensus for your local CX race is that anything goes and the course needs to be designed for best results on a CX bike.
Some complaints over CX bikes dominating certain MTB races.
https://bikeinsights.com/
Go to this sight and plug in the different bikes frames and you can see the difference in real time. I found this to be very inlightling but you will still need to go to the sight and see what tire clearance, mechanicals, tires, hubs, etc. This will at least give you an idea of what changes you would make if you wanted.
Hope this helps, Frank.
Go to this sight and plug in the different bikes frames and you can see the difference in real time. I found this to be very inlightling but you will still need to go to the sight and see what tire clearance, mechanicals, tires, hubs, etc. This will at least give you an idea of what changes you would make if you wanted.
Hope this helps, Frank.
Both are racing bikes on sand, but definitely different disciplines. Would be fun to see how a BeachRacer would hold up in a CX race though.
#29
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My first "cross bike" was good at enforcing the tire width rule but a few years back I just tossed a drop bar on an early 90s c-dale after losing my custom cross and ran that for the season and didn't have any trouble. Also ran my gravel bike which is a slightly older design last year and no one but me complained about the tires. Unfortunately with 38c tires the thing jammed up with mud on a couple course where 33c tires wouldn't have been a problem.
My new cross bike I used old tires which are 33c that were left over from years ago but will probably toss 35c tires next year and just wear out the old ones in the mtb trails this year. Doubt anyone will care.
My new cross bike I used old tires which are 33c that were left over from years ago but will probably toss 35c tires next year and just wear out the old ones in the mtb trails this year. Doubt anyone will care.
#30
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I can't think of a course in my local series where anything much wider than 35s would be a significant advantage. Wide tires are good in sand, and some mud conditions, but they also add weight and get bogged down with mud buildup (plus less frame clearance can be an issue when it's wet/grassy/muddy).
The added weight of larger tires is definitely a disadvantage on courses that have lots of hairpin turns (slower to accelerate out of them), climbing, and power sections where speeds are higher.
There are a few MTB racers in my local series that do well on MTBs with XC race tires, but I have a feeling those guys would be as fast or faster on CX bikes. They're also on sub 20lb XC MTB race bikes, sometimes with rigid forks.
The added weight of larger tires is definitely a disadvantage on courses that have lots of hairpin turns (slower to accelerate out of them), climbing, and power sections where speeds are higher.
There are a few MTB racers in my local series that do well on MTBs with XC race tires, but I have a feeling those guys would be as fast or faster on CX bikes. They're also on sub 20lb XC MTB race bikes, sometimes with rigid forks.
#31
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I'm thinking
- tires that wide at ultra low pressure woudn't have the sidewall stability to hit those really hard turns
- I do need traction in grass, not flotation
- often our races have an artificial hazard - mud from a hose, someone bring piles of snow, or its just fall weather. my beach racer tires are a nightmare if anything (other than sand) is wet. Its literally like riding on ice - as flotation and mud is a horrible combination.
- not sure they would really have the traction for some of the climbs I do, although they would be great on a dry rough downhill.
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The only times my CX bike seems to have an advantage over hard tails is on fast gravel rides, where I can climb faster (due to weight) and I can decend faster due to gearing (2x is wonderful) and an aero advantage. I guess on a CX course I can cut a tighter/faster corner than a modern mountain bike can - this I need less power to accelerate out of the corner and get back up to speed.
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I went the other way around and raced my first season on a hard tail MTB. I had a good time, so I bought a used CX bike for the next season.
My advice to the OP is to ride whatever you already have or borrow an old MTB for your first couple of races. Find out if 'cross is your thing. There are significant numbers of riders who show up for one race and never come back.
Brent
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Yes!
I went the other way around and raced my first season on a hard tail MTB. I had a good time, so I bought a used CX bike for the next season.
My advice to the OP is to ride whatever you already have or borrow an old MTB for your first couple of races. Find out if 'cross is your thing. There are significant numbers of riders who show up for one race and never come back.
Brent
I went the other way around and raced my first season on a hard tail MTB. I had a good time, so I bought a used CX bike for the next season.
My advice to the OP is to ride whatever you already have or borrow an old MTB for your first couple of races. Find out if 'cross is your thing. There are significant numbers of riders who show up for one race and never come back.
Brent
I ended up buying a CX bike about halfway through that first season, but I was already looking for an excuse to buy a new bike at that point and the CX thing just worked. I ended up selling my MTB a few years later because it felt so heavy and slow in comparison, and eventually sold my road bike as well since it felt redundant.
This year, with no CX racing on the calender I've been using my CX race bike more as a road bike... so now I'm thinking of buying a pure road bike again.
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#35
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I'm considering getting into CX and I've just been sort of casually shopping around for bikes in the sub $2000 (US) category. But as I'm looking at manufacturers, most of them that specify models as being cyclocross bikes are generally above that price range. Is there really much of a difference between a gravel bike and a cyclocross bike, and for under $2k should I be looking at these lower end gravel bikes? or am I pretty much just overthinking this and low end gravel bikes are low end CX bikes?
For reference, I've 'raced' CX on a drop-bar Pugsley (just for smiles), Breezer Radar Pro (gravel bike), and Kona Dew Drop (commuter bike with knobby tires). I like our Wednesday Night CX series in Minneapolis, $20 per race, no license required, serious CX riders use it for training, and others (like me) are looking for fun with bikes and some beers.
For gravel, I typically race 4-6 gravel events every year, ranging from 50 miles to 240 miles and I've races all three of the bike listed above on gravel - The Breezer is my go-to bike on gravel, but if there's a fatbike prize, the drop-bar Pug is fun alternative.
#37
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It's a DAMn fools ride
Here's a thread I started about The Day Across Minnesota - The DAMn - Day Across Minnesota
And I think it's super cool that there's a documentary on Amazon Prime about this ride - https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Spirit-...2J/ref=sr_1_10
Here's a thread I started about The Day Across Minnesota - The DAMn - Day Across Minnesota
And I think it's super cool that there's a documentary on Amazon Prime about this ride - https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Spirit-...2J/ref=sr_1_10
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#38
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Have a CX and a gravel bike. Both work well.. I’m too old and broken to race but both bikes handle gravel roads well.