Who races cyclocross? What's the perfect bike? (1 Viewer)

[mcewan13]

How many fellow mudders are sado masochistic fools?
CX season is well underway here and I'm testing the waters.

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To make things worse on myself, I've enrolled my kids in the Kidde Cross and they love it. This means that 10 mins after I finish my race, I line up w/ my oldest and run another lap around the course to assist him w/ the run ups & obstacles.

So, I'm on the hunt for the perfect CX bike. I'm torn between going the traditional CX route or building up a Monster-Cross. For now, I'm borrowing a friend's Mountain Cycle Stumptown. It's a collector's item, so I don't think she'll sell it to me. What do you ride and why?

 

[semlin]

nice photos. i thought cyclocross bikes were urban road bikes built beefy enough to hop curbs. what terrain do you race on?

 

[Kent]

Our first race is this weekend. Nice to see the mud jersey in action.

I've been wondering where the pics are of fellow mudders in action with the jersey. I'll try to get pics this weekend.

Anyway this is my CX bike...

Stigmata with Rival group and Ultegra tubless wheels

 

[DailyDrive_FJ45]

I run a Surly Crosscheck set up 1x9 with a WIDE mountain cassette (11-34) and XT rear derailleur.

I've also run a few races on my 29er, but I prefer the Surly...it's just faster for the courses around here.

I think it's less about the bike and more about the tire choices... If you can, run tubeless! I have been and it's great! They're easier to service if you flat, and you don't have to worry about rolling one like you do a tubular...

 

[ravewoofer]

I'm a big fan of tubeless. I'll never go back to those slow, pesky inner tubes. My wheel set up is Crank Bros. 26" Cobalts with a 2.1 Kenda UTC Nevegal. No need for Stan's goop either in MA.

 

[Toyote]

I'm all the way in. I'm on a Speedvagen cx from their first gen. 2007 I believe. I've raced on all sorts of cx bikes: Ridley, Seven, Kelly— and going custom (w/ a local builder) just felt more right: fit, balance, mojo. As for wheels, which are probably the most important ingredient for racing aside from your own personal motor, FMB tubulars on ceramic coated rims have changed the way I will forever race cross.

 

[nat]

I built the wife's cyclocross bike on a Rock Lobster frame with ultegra components. She came up with these old deep section Mavic wheels, they are pretty cool. Its a nice bike, tough and light.

 

[mcewan13]

i raced a few CX races this season on a borrowed Mountain Cycle Stumptown. This is the bike that got MC put out of business when the big S decided that regardless of the fact that it was made in Portland and named after one of Portland's nicknames, it was too close to the name of the Stumpjumper. Anyway, I absolutely love this bike and am on the hunt for one.

I also want to try a carbon 29'r mated to some light CX racing wheels. I'll never be able to keep up w/ the roadies, but my mtb skills are helpful in the mud and tech sections.

...and on whatever CX rig I end up with, I'd like to be able to run an extra wheel w/ alfine 11spd rear hub for winter commuting.