Wikipedia says:
Cyclo-cross (sometimes Cyclocross, CX, cyclo-X or 'cross) is a form of bicycle racing. Races take place typically in the autumn and winter, and consists of many laps of a short (2.5–3.5 km or 1.5–2 mile) course featuring pavement,wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike whilst navigating the obstruction and remount in one graceful motion.
That's my new Specialized Tricross cyclocross bike. I'm excited to go play in the cyclocross races this fall. I rode my new bike into work today and it was great to have a bike that can run over so much more stuff than my road bike. It was more like riding a bike through the neighborhood as a kid: riding through grass, off curbs, through gravel. Good fun.
Will you need body armor for these races? Do you get to knock people off their bikes? ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat makes this bike specific to Cyclocross? I don't know bikes well enough, so forgive me if I'm ignorant, but couldn't you just use a rode bike or mountain bike? Does it weigh less? Is it bigger or smaller?
ReplyDeleteCyclocross has its roots in road cycling and the bikes are pretty close to road bikes. The tires are wider and higher profile (to eat up bumps) and the frame is built differently to accommodate that. The brakes are typically different (to handle dirt/mud/snow/etc). Cyclocross frames have different geometry too, so that you're sitting more upright. Usually a cyclocross bike will have lower gears than a road setup so you can climb up the steep hills. My cross bike weights more than my road bike, but that's more a matter of my wallet and priorities than anything. I could build a 15 pound cross bike if money were no object.
ReplyDeleteYou could make a road bike work on a cyclocross course, and I'm sure I'll see a lot of that at the races. I don't think my road bike would survive, especially with the amount of tumbling that I'm sure to do. :) You could also use a mountain bike on a cyclocross course, but it would be way slower because the bike is heavier and not as nimble.
Now THAT is the kind of bike race I could sit back and eat Cheetos while watching :D
ReplyDeleteCool. Thanks for edjumacating me. Happy trails!
ReplyDeleteHa.. even if you are freezing your fingers ;)... Not a sport to be found on tv yet I think...
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of that seat? Is it stock or did you go looking for it?
ReplyDeleteThat's the seat that came with it. I don't hate it, but then again I've only put about 15 miles on it. It definitely has more padding than my road saddle, but I think that'll be good for cross. One thing I like about the Specialized saddles is that they come in different widths.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was shopping for a new saddle, the bike shop let me test drive them for a couple days to try them out. I tried a Fizik, but it didn't work for me. I'm pretty happy with my Specialized Toupe. They make a women's specific one that Christine tried out. She didn't care for it, but your mileage may vary.
I really want a fat saddle.. But of course my weight weenie mechanic thinks I need something light and sleek... I'll have to find some kind of compromise. The one I'm trying out now appears to be comfortable but is not. John has ordered me a women's saddle that is split down the middle. Selle Italia SLK lady gel flow... (215 grams... whatever that means ;) We'll see.
ReplyDelete