CX expectations

[wynne]

I love cx bikes, though mine doesn't get as much use since we moved to n wales. When we lived in s London it was the perfect bike for getting out through the suburbs and into the woods and bridleways.

You'd be surprised what cx bikes can take. Look on YouTube for clips of the three peaks. First time you ride it you think - this bike will disintegrate soon, as the fork deflects backwards and forwards and nasty clanging noises come from the wheels, but after a while you gain confidence in it. You do see some people with broken bikes, but most hold together.

Planning to race the n wales cx series this winter after a few years out of racing, which is going to be brutal. Aside from the fitness you get from racing a cross bike, you discover just how grippy those silly tyres can be and you're reminded that there are times when you need to nurse the bike round certain courses. When you get back on a full blown modern mountain bike you can't believe how much grip and control there seems to be.

My biggest recommendation for a quick upgrade on a cross bike is to go tubeless. Relatively low pressures will give you grip without the risk of pinch flats.

 

[The History Man]

Got this home last night. Spent today at inlaws. Very much as described but everything very stiff and tight as had been in a cellar unused for 3+ years. Tyres been left flat. The few steel bolts such as bottle and saddle etc have corroded but other than needing a good lube an a bit of TLC looks to be a nice bit of kit. Pumped up the tyres and had a perch. Steerer is too long for my poor back at 120mm so ordered a 90mm with similar rise to see how that feels. Also cable inners. Everything has been soaking in copius amonts of GT85 for 24 hours now so should loosen up a bit. Will fettle and fit SPDs and ride tomorrow whatever the weather! Pics to follow.

 

[xerxes]

Re:

I've been thinking of a CX bike for a while. I keep looking at those new-fangled carbon fibre, disc braked things they sell at Planet-X. :roll:

 

[kenaltobelli]

anyone thinking of a cx bike have a look at a salsa fargo;
hell of a bike and lots of folk with em love em to bits mines ace lots of things you can do to them'
look on the book of face's

 

[The History Man]

look on the book of faces

closest i could find http://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Poo-Spotte ... 0091917824

 

[mattr]

anyone thinking of a cx bike have a look at a salsa fargo

that's not a cross bike. It's a nobbly tyred tourer.
It'll be rubbish for cyclo cross.

 

[The History Man]

Finally got out after new inners, saddles and straddles, lots of gt85 and a swap to my favourite saddle.

Slightly messed with my head as I did my short mtb loop that starts out on road and then a nice fast trail/path before a stiff climb. Brain saying road bike, speed saying road bike ish, trail saying I shouldn't be doing this. Once I went with it and remembered the extra brake levers it all went smootHly. A couple of adjustment stops but other than running out of gearing on the climb, absolutely loved it. A great thing to train and get fit on as it will let me have the best of both worlds without the extremes of either.

One thing. Can I swap the 9sp road rear mech and cassette for a 9 speed mtb version of both? Would the levers still work correctly? Thinking 32 on the back rather than 24 would make all the difference around here. Or how big can you go with existing mech?

 

[mattr]

That tiagra might even take a 32.
Check the shimano tech docs website.

 

[The History Man]

That tiagra might even take a 32.
Check the shimano tech docs website.

Just had a look and cant make any sense of it. Only found assemblies.

 

[The History Man]

Re:

Crc says 30 for tiagra so will try that for £12