Exercise R Us

Question:

Cyclo-cross racing continues, at least in some parts of the world.  There are pro and amateur World Championships, etc.  In the U.S., at least at the cyclo-cross races I’ve been at, there is an amazing menagerie of bikes- converted road bikes, "hybrid" bikes with drop bars etc added and mountain bikes too.  The USCF rules specify that there can be no protruding handle- bars, so the MTB’ers are suppposed to take off their bar-ends or turn them down, but enforcement of this seems spotty (having seem pictures of last years Nationals which included a MTB with bar-ends pointing merrily upwards and forwards). The classic cyclo-cross bike is a specialist breed:  basically road geometry with a higher bottom bracket, extra wide clearance at the fork crown and seat/chain stays, cantilever brakes,  single chainring with inner and outer protectors and a bar-end shifter for the rear derailleur.  A cyclo-cross bike tends to be very light since it is hoisted over major obstacles; a MTB tends to be much heavier and this is a handicap if there’s lots of running. Ideally, a cyclo-cross course is about a mile in lenght (at least in the US), consisting of about 1/3 of each lap on pavement, 1/3 on turf riding and 1/3 on turf running- usually broken up into many sections.  Obstacles may be man-made or natural. How about other countries?  Cyclo-cross is a minority sport within a minoroty sport here is the US, but seems more significant in other countries especially Switzerland.  Or at least, as far as I can tell from the media coverage here in the US. Try it- it’s the most fun I’ve ever had on a bike! Tim

Response:

The proper term is cyclOcross.  Cyclecross is something you do on a bridge. Pete

Response:

: I am curious, how are cyclecross run nowadays? Do they allow : mountain bikes? They allow mountain bikes, as long as there are no bar ends on the handle bars.  That is the only restriction, as far as I know.   : What are cyclecross bikes like? Are they just racing geometry : road bikes with thick tires, and low gears, or are they a : special breed that’s neither road bike, nor MTB? Do cyclecross : bikes have some clearance on their top tube like on MTBs? ‘Cross bikes usually have a higher bottom bracket and are not so stretched out in the top tube as a road bike. They use cantilever brakes and bar end shifters (although STI is a popular option).  There should also be lots of clearance in the fork and rear triangle for mud.  I actually use an old Team USA Raleigh from about 1986 (let’s hear it for steel bikes).  I had someone braze on some cantilever brake bosses and just used my road rims with knobby 700c tires (from Specialized).  The original tire size on the bike was 27", but I have it set up for 700c.  It’s also an old bike, so it has more rear-whell claerance than a newer bike. In any case, even though cyclocross is a winter sport (usually) you should start right now.  Just use an old frame.  Cyclocross will get any fat butt in shape (it did mine) because it’s really really hard to race. Think about it: it’s popular in Belgium, so it must hurt a lot. I like cross more than MTB and even more than road racing.  I know a lot of the top riders out here (Carolyn Donnely, John Frey) do it.  So does Bart Bowen ( who wins every cross race put on out here).  So try it.  

Response:

Before mountain biking became popular, there was a sport call Cyclecross that exist to this day. I never seen one, but I recall that it was a muddy affair of biking down dirt roads using a special road bike, and running over obstacle carrying the bike. I am curious, how are cyclecross run nowadays? Do they allow mountain bikes? What are cyclecross bikes like? Are they just racing geometry road bikes with thick tires, and low gears, or are they a special breed that’s neither road bike, nor MTB? Do cyclecross bikes have some clearance on their top tube like on MTBs? Paul

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