Newbie...Lots of questions

[Fuji Mommy]

I am thinking about trying cyclocross this year but am a little nervous as I have never done any type of racing and have just started to ride my road bike about 6 months ago. What I want to know is... I am warning you this is probably the stupidest question but here it goes... if I use my road bike do I just get new tires or do I have to get new wheels also? I wouldn't plan on using my road bike forever but at least during the clinics to see if this is something I can even do. Do you use different shoes? How do I train? How much do you carry your bike? Okay, you get the picture, I am clueless so anything to help would be great. I already checked out some other links that were posted on here but I want feedback from people who have actually done it and been the new girl.

Thanks

[Voodoo Sally]

Not stupid questions! That you are considering 'cross is great, and it's not hard to do. Watching a race, if you haven't yet, is a good way to see what's going on at first.

A road bike doesn't work so well for 'cross. The main reason is that once you put on the knobby tires (and you will need them - you won't need new wheels though), there won't be enough clearance between the road brakes and the knobby tires. So you'd need to get different brakes - cantilevers or V-brakes, like for mountain bikes.

Once you take care of the tires and the brakes, you could do 'cross on your road bike. That's what they did in the old days. Nowadays, they make bikes that are designed in many ways just for 'cross. The frame angles are more "relaxed" than on a road bike, so the bike is more stable and forgiving. The fork tends to be beefier. People tend to run some easier gearing, and even use a mountain derailleur on the rear.

You'd want to use shoes with lugged soles. Any shoe as long as it's not a smooth-sole road shoe. Clipless pedals are the norm in 'cross racing, but the mountain type, not the road-only type. You could do 'cross on flat pedals, if you had to.

Also, if you have a mountain bike, especially a hard-tail one, you can do 'cross on it. There is no rule in 'cross about what bike to use, as long as there are not bar-ends on the mountain bars. You will almost always see a few people racing 'cross on mountain bikes. It's a good way to see how you like it before getting a 'cross bike. People eventually make the switch, because a 'cross bike is faster than a mountain bike. It has the bigger wheels, skinnier tires, and is lighter.

Don't worry too much about training until you have some races under your belt. You'll figure out what you need to work on. Just figure out how to race 'cross at first.

There may be one to three places on a course where you need to carry your bike. People sometimes make a big deal about the technique for this, but don't worry too much about that, either. You can figure out the technique for it later, and it's not that crucial anyway.

Let us know how you make out!

Sally

[Fuji Mommy]

Thanks so much for your reply. I have a couple more questions though now. Like I said earlier, I am completely new to this whole biking thing so bare with me. Could you explain lugged soles and hard-tail mountain bikes? I have clipless pedals on my road bike but I use mountain bike shoes so would those be considered lugged soles? Also, I have a mountain bike but I have no idea if it is a hard-tail or not. All I know is that I tried to pick the thing up to see if I would be able to run with it or not and oh my was it heavy!

Sarah

[Voodoo Sally]

No problem. A lugged sole is one that is knobby, for increased traction. If you have mountain bike shoes, chances are that they have lugged soles.

A hard-tail mountain bike is one that has no rear-end shock absorber. Many mountain bikes these days have a rear shock, which is nice, but it makes the bike heavier, and isn't necessary for 'cross. It sounds like your mountain bike is heavy, and you therefore you probably wouldn't want to haul it on a 'cross course.

[velogirl]

actually, even if you switch brakes, you probably still won't be able to mount cross tires on your road bike -- there most likely won't be clearance at the seat tube and/or chain stays and fork for the larger cross tires.

but, depending on your courses, I've seen road bikes race cyclocross -- crazy if you ask me, but it can work if you don't have super-loose or rocky/rooty courses. here in northern california, some of our courses are pretty flat, hard-packed and fast (and typically dry until at least December).

[Voodoo Sally]

actually, even if you switch brakes, you probably still won't be able to mount cross tires on your road bike -- there most likely won't be clearance at the seat tube and/or chain stays and fork for the larger cross tires.

Good point. I got to wondering about that.

[cwodiva]

as far as racing goes, cross is one of the easiest sports to get started in. The only pressure really is the pressure you put on yourself. There are beginning fields, and you can pretty much race it at your own pace. (not like road racing at all) There are some heavy duty people out there, but the majority of people are doing it for fun. Maybe your local LBS can loan you a bike? I had a friend loan me one for the first few races, until I got my own. My first cross bike (all I had was a road bike, no mountain bike) was a used bike for $400. It lasted for two seasons and was great fun.

Steph

[Fuji Mommy]

I thought I would let you all know where I am in my venture to try cross. I decided that with all that was suggested that my road bike wouldn't work, so I purchased a Bianchi San Jose. I was all excited to give it a try and had visions of how much fun I was going to have. Well I went to my first clinic and OMG, all this mounting and dismounting stuff is hard and I started to feel like a total loser. Currently I am still pretty scared to try to dismount and remount but I am trying to concur my fears. I just hate how I am so afraid to try new things yet other people just get out there and do it. Some day I am going to be as good as I am in my dreams! Practice makes perfect (or in my case, just better than I am now)!

Oh, I forgot to mention that the bike I got is a single speed. I thought it was a great idea because of the lower cost and all but dang I don't know if I am a strong enough rider to ride single speed. Anyone's thoughts on single spead?

[Sheesh]

Fuji Mommy - I can't comment on the single speed because I've never ridden one. But, regarding the mounting and dismounting, I recommend that you don't get too caught up on doing it "correctly" right from the beginning. If that part scares you, just do it how you're most comfortable doing it. I saw quite a few women doing cross their own way last year and it looked like so much fun that I'm trying it this year. I know that the technical stuff takes time and practice, but until then, I'm just going to try and have fun.

Good luck and keep us posted on how your first race goes!

[Voodoo Sally]

You got the bike! That is half the battle right there. I am afficionado of steel frames and singlespeed bikes myself, so I am pretty keen on that Bianchi San Jose you got.

I too wouldn't worry too much about the mounting and dismounting part yet. You will see others who are not smooth or quick with that at a race, and it's not a huge deal. Get off and on as best you can as you feel comfortable. I learned the dismount from reading instructions online. I learned the mount from watching people do it.

Now, about a singlespeed. I ride a singlespeed mountain bike sometimes, and a singlespeed commuter a lot, and I have to say, sister, it ain't always easy. I do singlespeed for fun, but I don't do singlespeed when I race 'cross. Riding singlespeed requires quite an effort. A possible advantage in 'cross would be that you'll probably pass your competitors on the uphills, as they downshift. At any rate, you'll have the coolest bike in the race!

[Kalidurga]

Velonews.com has some decent videos on dis-/re-mounting. Go here and click on How-To in the menu bar across the top. The guy makes a good point to practice it slowly until you get a feel for proper positioning.

[KDNYC]

No experience with cross racing or mounts/dismounts, but the 42x17 is considered a manageable *road* gear. You will still need to power your starts, which will either take strength or eventually build it, lol.

It might be worth getting a 16T (harder) or more likely an 18T or 19T (easier) cog depending on how difficult or manageable the gearing feels for you. You can usually bump a cog up or down 1 tooth without changing the chain. Surly cogs are supposed to be very high quality and they make cogs in 19T.

you can't go less than 16T in rear cogs, so if you find the bike lacking in power, you'll want to add a larger 46 or 48 chainring in front. (Three teeth in front = one rear tooth in rear). But with cross riding I don't expect this'll happen.