cyclocross

[velogirl]

Anyone else race cyclocross here? Went on my first cross ride of the season with two of my teammates (both have brand new cross bikes). I'm stoked for the season to begin. It was very interesting to see how my fitness has improved since last summer. We ride at a mtn bike trail with some steep climbs and I was able to ride everything. Last year, I did some hiking (blamed it on the cross gearing, not the lack of fitness). Small victory but I'll take it.

Anyways, lots of fun. Rode the trails, then I taught my teammates how to mount & dismount and we practiced skills for about 20 minutes.

Hey, Jeff & Susan! How about a cyclocross forum?

(unless I'm the only one -- can't talk to myself)

[BikeMomma]

--can't talk to myselfWell you can, but....uhhhh :p heehee

Anyone else race cyclocross here? Went on my first cross ride of the season with two of my teammates (both have brand new cross bikes). I'm stoked for the season to begin. It was very interesting to see how my fitness has improved since last summer. We ride at a mtn bike trail with some steep climbs and I was able to ride everything. Last year, I did some hiking (blamed it on the cross gearing, not the lack of fitness). Small victory but I'll take it.

Anyways, lots of fun. Rode the trails, then I taught my teammates how to mount & dismount and we practiced skills for about 20 minutes.

Hey, Jeff & Susan! How about a cyclocross forum?I like that idea too. I don't know much at all about cyclocross, but would like to, so a thread all its own to ask questions in would be great.

Sounds fun, Velogirl....good job on the fitness improvement. That's a great feeling, huh?

[Kalidurga]

Having bought a 'cross bike earlier this year purely for the versatility of it, I'd love to see folks discussing it here so I can learn more about it. I definitely plan to get out and watch some races this fall.

It could be very entertaining to see velogirl post back and forth to herself about it, though...

[spokewench]

Don't feel alone - I'm a cyclocrosser ! I'll talk to you if no one else will!

It's great fun! Although I haven't started practicing yet. Our season starts here around October sometime. So, I'm just riding my mountain bike mostly this time of year. The trails are great cause we get rain this time of the year and they are tacky and fun.

:)

[limewave]

I've done one cyclocross event two years ago. It was a blast. I no longer have that bike though. I wondered if there was anyone lingering on this forum that was into this sport.

[bikerHen]

I soooo want to get a Cyclocross bike. Not so much for racing but daily commuting and maybe touring someday. I would love to hear more about these bikes. The ones I've seen just make me drool. :D Would one be happy with a cyclocross bike as her daily ride with the wider tires and all? And, would I be really stupid to spend the bucks to have one custom made, just the way I want it? bikerHen

[mtbdarby]

Hopefully Renee (Madisongrrl) pops on here. I know she's having one custom made and plans on racing. Where are you girl??? I spoke with some Mad Forcs this past weekend at the underdown race. Dave Bell is supposed to tell you hi from me:D They did good there - you're gonna have to put this one on your calendar next year. And the 24-9 race too!!

[SheFly]

Have a brandy-new cross bike in the stable this year, and after a great year of road racing, am now tapering to try some cross racing this fall. I am pretty psyched to try this out, and figure that the MTB origins will be a help....

I think a new forum for cross is a great idea.

SheFly

[tulip]

I love watching cyclocross, or at least I did when I lived in France. I would like to give it try. I've been wanting to do some mountain biking again; maybe I'll try 'cross instead. Either way, it's an opportunity for a NEW BIKE (just don't tell my checkbook).

[chickwhorips]

BF has a cyclocross bike and i want one so bad. i just have my mtb. he use to do some racing and i've watched it and it looks like so much fun.

i've been drooling over a few bikes, but i think they are man bikes. anyone know of any good girl bikes out there?

[Kalidurga]

Would one be happy with a cyclocross bike as her daily ride with the wider tires and all?

The 'cross bike I got (Specialized TriCross) has 32cm tires, so they're not super wide. I've never ridden a true road bike so I don't know how different a thinner tire would feel, but I feel like my TriCross is plenty responsive and quick.

[spokewench]

Don't know if anyone makes a woman's specific cross bike - it is such a small nitch that bike makers may not think there is enough interest?

Anyway, I ride a Redline 50 cm. They also make a 48 cm I think. You should be aware that there is toe overlap on these bikes tho. Doesnt bother me, but it might other people.

When it is a technical course, I ride my hard tail Klein mountain bike. It is lighter to pick up than my redline too. I lose some in how the bike rolls with the Klein, but gain in the technical and am more confident so it all comes out in the wash so to speak.

I'm 5'4". My torso is not the regular short torso of many women but I'm older so I like to bring my bars closer and higher cause I'm not so flexible anymore.

[Susan Otcenas]

Hey, Jeff & Susan! How about a cyclocross forum?



Jeff's on it. Stay tuned. :)

Susan

[Surlygirl]

Surly makes a small cross bike called the Cross-check. I'm 5' tall and have the 42cm. I have one and have had 32 tires on it and 25. I've also put a tubus rack on it, fenders, STI shifters and touring gearing. I did switch out the front fork for a carbon one as I used it mostly for the road. Its a great little versatile bike. You can buy the frame and build it up the way you want it. Its not light being steel but its also not out of reach price wise.
www.surlybikes.com

[tulip]

Luna Orbit. Ask mickchick.

[BikeMomma]

Jeff's on it. Stay tuned. :)

Susan
Sweet....thanks Susan & Jeff. You're awesome!

~BikeMomma

[velogirl]

I don't of any women's specific cross bikes, but here's a link to one of my fave little people -- Kerry Litka. (http://kerrylitka.com/crosstips.html) She's got parts of her website dedicated to small riders and cyclocross as well. Custom is definitely a good option if you're very small.

My first cross bike was a Lemond Poprad which I bought in 2001 simply to commute (I had never planned to race cross). One of my teammates now races on it even though it weighs about as much as a car. The new Poprads are much lighter and nicer, with a carbon fork and disk brakes.

My second cross bike was a custom Luna Orbit. I raced it two seasons and then converted it to a single speed cross bike and raced that last season. I'm now trying to sell it if anyone's interested. It's beautiful and super-light, but it's got toe overlap and I hate that (and I'm 5' 10").

My third cross bike was a Ritchey steel Break-Away, which I actually bought with the intention of touring with it (but it didn't arrive in time for my tour). So, I kept it and raced on it most of last season. I just sold the frame tonight.

My current cross bike is a Ritchey titanium Break-Away. It was the prototype frame that Ritchey used for InterBike and other trade shows and I was very fortunate to get it for cross nationals last year. Very cool, super light, and rides like a dream! I think it's a keeper (at least for a while). The only down side is that it's very boring looking because it's just brushed titanium (and most cross bikes are painted crazy-bright colors). So I'm adding some pink bits here and there to liven it up -- pink Candy pedals, pink Fizik Arione saddle, pink rims. Looks much more fun now.

During cross season, I retire my road bike and ride my cross bike on the road. I have a second wheel-set that I throw on (with road tires -- 23s).

I have a lot of bikes. It's a bit overwhelming sometimes. I see clients at my home where most of my bikes are stored and one question I almost always get is "which one is your favorite." I don't have a favorite -- they all serve a very different purpose. But, if I only had one bike, it would be a cyclocross bike. They're so darn versatile, especially if you get one with eyelets for racks (so you could tour with it). I know a couple of road racers who race road on their cross bikes. And we ride mtn bike trails on them all the time (there are occassional gearing issues, but most stuff is rideable).

[bikerHen]

Velogirl, Can you tell me a little more about riding on a titanium frame? Heavy or light? Smooth or bumpy? I'm looking at Redlines titanium frame for the bike I want to have built. What I've read sound good, but I've never ridden on one. The geometry of the Redline frame is close to my current ride, so the LBS owner thinks it would be a good choice. It is boring to look at! Can you paint titanium? :rolleyes: bikerHen

[velogirl]

You can definitely paint titanium, but most folks don't do it. I won't do it to the Ritchey because the logos are etched/engraved on and it looks kinda cool.

Ti is great. I've had one ti road bike and my current hardtail mtn bike is ti as well. It's the best of both worlds -- lightweight like aluminum but solid-feeling like steel. No frame material would be truly damping on a cross course (which in CA is typically hard and bumpy), but on the road you'll feel super-comfortable on ti. My ti road bike is the most stable descender I've ever ridden -- it's rock solid. Yet it feels quick and light too.

If you can afford it, ti is a great frame material. BTW, ti frames are going up in price apparently (I only overheard the conversation at the shop).