Much of the information that you’ve included here runs against what most others (almost everyone) are saying on the internet. If 2 pounds keeps you from keeping up with your buddies, you have an engine problem, not a bike problem. I even got into a few mountain bike races this year and found them to be a ton of fun. Im a strong enough rider I can take a beach cruiser out to most single track in PA and make it through it. It's like bringing combat boots to a 5K run. Would a CX be a good option? Neil and Scott have a blast on their bikes and find out. But I just don’t see much reason to get one otherwise – the deck is stacked against them. I want something with more speed and comfort, and the ability to get low and into the “drops.” I was comparing the ’13 Madone 3.1 or 2.1 road bikes with the Ion CX. The short answer is yes, and many people actually prefer to ride mountain bikes over other types of bicycles on the road, such as the purpose-built road bikes, which are made for specifically for the smooth travel on roads. The bike will be too fragile or illegal for cross-country mountain bike races, and not perfect for road races (especially with the gearing.) 3T is evolving its gravel bike … As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As long as the general idea behind a cyclocross bike is still the same, it’s not going to be a great road bike (and vice versa). CX bikes are a great option in two other cases. I currently ride my bike everyday to work in town everyday, so i need something light and easy to ride on the road. I’ve riden chain gangs with riders on cross bikes and they’ve had no issues with gearing riding 46-39 chainrings and a 27-12 cassette. A former Cat 1 road and mountain bike racer (professional class on the regional circuit), he is now a cycling coach (USA Cycling Level 3 Certified) and sports nutrition coach (Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified). - cyclocross bike = all terrain bike = mountain bike - road bike = race cycle. It is truly something that depends on your legs and fitness. Cyclocross or Touring Bike. She is a registered, licensed dietitian. Everybody starting in mountain bikes just pictures the one mountain bike used for everything. Mountain bikes are best suited for traveling over rough terrain. It is a great bike to own for this reason, but if your looking for something to perform in situations its not intended you will be sadly dissapointed. For example, you can put slick tires on a cross bike and race the road. I've recently started trail riding on my mountain bike and i love it, but my bike is really old (circa 1992 steel Trek with Deore LX). Chances are that if you’re new to road cycling that you’re gonna spend a major portion of your riding not only in the smaller gear set, but in the smallest gears of that gear set. Member . These adaptors can simply be pushed in and pulled out of the front mount to match your road, cyclocross, mountain biker, enduro bike, or whatever other contraption you might have. I’ve owned every type of bike there is. I want to keep on riding cyclocross but also road and mountain bike. Someone who chooses a ‘cross bike must understand that it’s a poor (imho) substitute for a road bike with its ‘cross tires, nor does it magically turn into a road bike by simply installing skinny tires. They are essentially dirt bikes and hence designed to withhold the toughness of the surroundings. The drivetrains of cross bikes are typically that of a road bike's, although mountain bike parts, such as cassettes and rear derailleurs, can also be used depending on the individual needs of the rider. Cyclocross construction is quite intelligently done. You can also do this with a mountain bike. It is not a mountain bike. 29ers accelerate a bit slower but are better at maintaining speed, have more traction, weight a bit more and are better for taller riders. Racing cyclocross? I race both road and CX, and used to race mountain bikes so can talk (endlessly) about the various merits and drawbacks of all 3! When starting your search for a new bike, you can quickly become overwhelmed by the seemingly endless options of bike types! Cyclocross bikes are specifically designed for short, high-speed races that involve carrying the bike at times. As you can see, a hybrid does not fit into any of the above categories. If you put road tires on a cross bike, you have a weight penalty of about 2 pounds. A hardtail mountain bike or … A bit off the mark in my opinion. You can also think of cross bikes as a combination of road bikes and mountain bikes. I really want to get a new one, but I'm also really attracted to cyclocross. In these situations, a cross bike may be the better choice. A hardtail is best, but a full-suspension bike isn't a deal breaker. I bought a Felt F15x cyclocross bike this summer. Suggested frame size. So unless you absolutely need a CX bike, you might as well stick with a regular road bike. You must be a fan of Motocross racing, similarly out of the same family you get Cyclocross. How to Get a Complete, Comfortable Cycling Outfit for Under $300. Join Date: Oct 2008. Both gravel and cyclocross bikes have large tyres. It is not geared correctly for the road. Gravel bikes are equipped with drop handlebars while mountain bikes use flat handlebars. Or you may want a bike that has components that are tough enough to hold up to riding gravel roads and putting in long miles. But it’s not really applicable to racing unless you are doing CX races. I know that most come with a compact crankset, but I think I would be OK with that. I currently have slicks on my mountain bike, but an thinking of a new bike. What's next? Once you decide which type of bike best suits your riding style and needs, there are still other considerations. Even better. An interesting post though, a lad at work wants to do RideLondon on a mountain bike, I’ve been pushing him down the road bike route for ease.. I read a bunch of forums about cx bikes before a made the purchase and talked to a bunch of different sales people. Cyclocross bikes though are even more popular than the sport itself and indeed the pure cross race bike has spawned a whole family of cross-type bikes from everything from the race to work, to long haul adventure riding, to simply messing about in woods, towpaths and trails all with a greater or lesser amount of race DNA in their genes. If you do get a mountain bike you should get a mongoose. Mountain bikes are best suited for traveling over rough terrain. I have both a road bike and a cross bike, the CX bike was actually an impulse purchase, and both bikes have similar frames and components. Although we could break it down by every different type of specialty bike out there, such as the gravel bike, fixed gear bike, cyclocross bike, or electric bike, you can generally fit most bikes into one of three different categories: road bike, mountain bike… If you choose to compete, many mountain bike races are an hour or so long, although you can find races that last many hours or even multiple days. Click here to post a comment and I’ll respond ASAP! I am up to riding about 50 miles at a time, and would really like to work my way up to a century ride next season. See this Question of the Week for more info on setting your non-cyclocross bike up for a ’cross race. Competitive for a road bike and excellent for a cx bike. So, what would come out on top: mountain bike and baggies or cyclocross bike and lycra? The SUV is arguably the most versatile of the three. Maybe you are considering road racing but also enjoy light off-roading and need a bike that can work for both. Apparently his road bike had broken the day before and he was doing a 100miler on his mountain bike instead.. If someone is telling you different, I would take their advice with a grain of salt. There are a lot more options for this genre now though, with gravel riding getting to be so popular. Now equate that thinking to bikes. These are quite similar in style and form to classic touring bikes. Test and improve your fitness and bike handling by seeking out the gloop, getting on your cyclocross or mountain bike and hitting the trails. There is NO other bike that should be on the dirt. If you're new to MTB, or a road rider looking for the thrills of hitting the dirt and going off-road, it's handy to know what to look for when it comes to finding the right mountain bike. Right on, thanks for the comment! Bikes have designed purposes and this is not one for a cx bike. Whoever says this has either never attempted to do this or is mentally challenged. Four years ago I started with an old Huffy MTB to ’09 Trek 4500 MTB to ’12 Trek DualSport 8.2 Hybrid bike. That doesn’t mean “if you own only one vehicle, it should be an SUV”. Fit is much more important than which seatpost comes on your bike, for example. Bike selection – A hardtail 29er is going to be the closest to a gravel bike, while also offering the benefits of a true mountain bike. Gravel bikes are better for slower, long-distance rides or bike-packing trips. The brakes on a cyclocross bike are usually cantilever brakes, which are rarely found on road or mountain bikes. The bike is not burly enough to handle the rigors of single track nor is the geometry correct nor is the gearing. Mountain bike sizing can be affected by suspension and your tire choices. For example, if you have an older mountain bike, chances are it didn’t come with a dropper seatpost and the seat tube diameter is 27.2mm. I don’t ever plan to competitively race road or mountain. I guess a CX bike would work if you really want one, but I don’t know of any reasons to choose one for commuting. Fortunately it was pretty easy to make one of my mountain bikes 'cross worthy, and that was enough to get me by for a few seasons. You might say "but I … I put about 4-5 hundred miles on the old girl, and discovered I really like riding on the road. The majority of my biking is to and from work (13km each way). When I sold my mountain bike and got a road bike, I instantly noticed a 2 to 5 kph speed improvement for the same effort. First, if you ride a mix of rail/trails and road. The only difference to a full on cx bike is slick road tyres. See this Question of the Week for more info on setting your non-cyclocross bike up for a ’cross race. Location: Allentown, PA. Posts: 44 Bikes: 2002 Trek 7300; 2004 Trek 1000; 2007 Trek pilot 5.0; 2008 Trek 1500; 1997 Bianchi Alloro. Certainly can’t do technical mountain runs, but outside of racing, no one really does them, so front shock and all the weight is really too much. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Where cx shows its benefits is for someone who will ride rails to trails, fireroads, recreationally ride road, and yes race cyclocross! I am 29 years old and pretty new to cycling, have been riding MTB for about 3 years. So, make sure you look at a tire size chart and try a full-suspension mountain bike for size before buying. If CX bikes could keep up with carbon fiber road racing bikes, you’d see them in the Tour de France. So check out our top tips on how to find the perfect ride to get trail-ready. Start with a mountain bike. I think the cyclocross bikes seem to have evolved since the last time that you wrote this article. You can also think of cross bikes as a combination of road bikes and mountain bikes. Rigid Mountain Bikes for Beginners. But I want to be able comfortably climb with a fairly light bike AND not worry about taking it off the road when I see something of interest on my ride. My concern is that I haul my clothes and stuff to work in panier (sp?) Lastly, another major difference is that mountain bikes come with lower gearing to navigate tricky terrain. I own a mongoose and they are really good when thy hit bumps because they don't jerk you around. I think you should get a mountain bike because you can control the speed your going and stop easier with handle bars. Both cross bikes and mountain bikes come with knobby tires, although slick tires can be mounted to the rims of each type of bike. Since you're considering switching from a cyclocross bike to a road bike, you should expect a less dramatic change, but if you feel like you're losing out from using the wrong tool for the job, you might as well try a road bike. With mountain bike - nothing, it was made for things like that. Should I ride a Single Front Chainring? Just having a commuting bike will do the trick. A cross bike can also ride and compete quite well on some single track. You can get a cx frameset for less than 300 gbp/ 500 usd. For standard hardtails, our mountain bike size chart should be a god send. 1. If you do get a bike get a mongoose. Ask Levi: Can I Use a Hydration Pack for Road Cycling? It is a cyclocross bike. 1. I wanted to post because the majority of that information was totally wrong. I’ve owned many bikes, and if you had to own just one, a cross bike is by far the best option. Cyclocross bikes, or cross bikes, are better suited for light off-roading, such as riding on gravel or racing in the grass or dirt in a cross race. Your new bike should be comfortable, handle well, and feel natural under you. I am not overly concerned about weight because I could stand to lose a few pounds myself. 5 reasons why your next bike should be a cyclocross bike 1. When you put slicks on the gearing is too close together and if I ride in very hilly areas I can max out my highest gear. Helping You Ride Stronger, Look Better, and Feel Great! So, what would come out on top: mountain bike and baggies or cyclocross bike and lycra? It mostly depends on the legs and I keep up with the people going in their carbon fiber bikes. Test the waters before you commit to buying a rig of your own, though we’re willing to bet that you’ll be heading to the bike shop to get your first ’cross bike soon enough. “It is truly something that depends on your legs and fitness.”. Also, I don’t compare myself to others. A cyclocross is not a road bike. A mountain bike suspension fork adds an easy kilogram compared to a common rigid alternative. You could use a hardtail bike like the one above for both cross-country (XC) and trail riding, but it would a a rough ride taking a trail in a bike with no rear suspension. Get off-road and you don’t have to worry about drivers not seeing you, or scrubbing out on a greasy corner into oncoming traffic. No unusual feature of a mountain or BMX bike, simple structure with a handle, a seat, two paddles and two wheels. It was a varied loop and meant to push the cyclocross bike to its limits. A Double? Ask Levi: Should I Start Off With a Full-Blown Time Trial Bike? 2. Kovarik specializes in sports nutrition, exercise physiology and medical nutritional therapy for heart health, celiac disease and diabetes. Member. Ask the local bike shops if a cross bike would be ok for the trails you are interested in. So check out our top tips on how to find the perfect ride to get trail-ready. When comparing mountain bikes and cyclocross bikes, there are some similarities, yet very large differences between each. Many mountain bikes now have disc brakes, although some still use v-brakes. I don’t need the additional seating or additional storage. Or maybe you want a bike that can comfortably take you on a long cross-country trek with mounts for racks. It is done so to get more friction between the road and the bike. So the cyclocross bike always seems like a great idea for a well-rounded, fun bike, but it really isn’t as great as you’d think. Deciding between a cross and mountain bike is easier when you take into consideration how and where you plan to ride the bike. I’d also had my MT bike friend try the CX bike on one of our road rides, and hence they’ve purchased their own road bikes. Get off-road and you don’t have to worry about drivers not seeing you, or scrubbing out on a greasy corner into oncoming traffic. Cyclocross is designed to bear mud, slime, and all the dirt. Planet X Bikes – Uncle John Cyclocross Frameset, How to Eat Healthy on an Amateur Athlete’s Budget, 9 Ways to Get Electrolytes (Besides Gatorade), Comparison: Stationary Trainer vs Rollers, An Embarrassing But Necessary Guide to Yoga Clothes for Men. the ride is faily flat. Many guys are running these wheels in Cyclocross to get … Suspension is available on the fork and for the rear in mountain bikes. Big Shark Bike Shop: An Introduction to Cyclocross Racing, Consumer Research: Mountain Bikes: What to Look For. posted by crazycanuck at 11:23 AM on December 30, 2013 . It is truly great. Ride a bunch of bikes … The CX bike is also a great commuter bike. Over time, you will learn if you need a bike specifically designed for one application or if an all-around cross or mountain bike will perform in all your riding conditions. I will add that in Canada there are some great sales on, now is a great time to buy. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. All bikes are evolving. I dream of the Olympic Games but it’s still early to say how far I can get… Each style of bike comes in different types. According to Bike Shark Bike Company, cross bikes are more like road bikes with slight modifications. Cyclocross includes: A cyclocross bike, lightweight and a hybrid between a road and mountain bike. It also has braze on’s for mudguards, panniers and disk brakes too! Please update. It’s unlikely you’d break any of these bikes on a rough sidewalk. Your height. Personally I’m a big fan of doing recovery rides on a CX bike, on rail trails. topangarider. How to Turn Your Bedroom Into a Home Gym for Under $100, How to Select The Proper Sunglass Lens Color for Your Riding Conditions. And you can get an entry-level CX bike for $500 now. A Triple? A cyclocross bike may be a better choice if you prefer shorter and more intense races. Why even consider road/cross wheels when you can get Stans 355 29er wheels at under 1650 grams, lighter if you go with Hope or DT swiss hubs or 2.0/1.5 spokes and have a strong light disc/rim brake ready wheel. However, due to the UCI regulations (the sports governing body), cyclocross bikes are limited to a 33mm tyre width. Neil and Scott have a blast on their bikes and find out. Mountain bikes are indeed legal in American cyclocross, and this may be the best way to get your feet muddy. Factors to consider when building or buying your cyclocross bike: above else, consider fit. Dual Suspension vs. For example, you may want to purchase a cyclocross bike that is light and has geometry designed solely for racing. A little late to the party, but here goes …. Cyclocross Bikes. Here are my reasons you might NOT want a cyclo-cross bike: So if you want to ride dirt roads and minor trails or even jump into a CX race, yeah, a CX bike would be great. According to Bike Shark Bike Company, cross bikes are more like road bikes with slight modifications. It’s a nice and relaxing environment and conducive to recovery! Even as a best-case scenario, a short travel fork like the Lefty still gives up … Warm clothes to change into after the race. And, where is a cyclocross (dare we say it) better than a mountain bike and vice versa? But that’s even more reason that you don’t need to buy a true cyclocross bike unless you’re racing cyclocross. 1. You’d probably be best off with a road bike, but would appreciate the wider cyclocross tires on the rough sidewalk. A mountain bike can also be used on a cross-country tour or for cross racing. 1. Levi Bloom is an experienced endurance athlete who has been training and competing for over 17 years. So the cyclocross bike always seems like a great idea for a well-rounded, fun bike, but it really isn’t as great as you’d think. Would this be a bad idea? Some are completely rigid, meaning they have no suspension. Gravel bikes use drop handlebars becaus… I get better gas mileage and better handling. In contrast, gravel bike tyres can be much larger. Feet/Inches. You obviously wouldn’t take a sports car off-road, nor would you drive an ATV to the grocery store. A few things I would try: Find a friend that has cross bike and borrow it to see if it will suit your needs. If you needed to pick one physical trait to separate gravel bikes from mountain bikes, the handlebars are most obvious. Get the right size. I have been considering buying a cyclocross bike and putting skinny tires on it. If you’re in-between sizes, pick a smaller size, it’s easier to adjust a bike with a … Cross bikes have drop-bar handle bars and shifts similar to a road bike. It wasn’t race-winning fast on the road, but it was plenty fast for training rides. Test the waters before you commit to buying a rig of your own, though we’re willing to bet that you’ll be heading to the bike shop to get your first ’cross bike soon enough. I think he finished just after midnight the following weekend. My ride takes me on rough side walk along a highway (4-5 miles) to a nice paved bike path where I see many other roadies… I’d like speed, but I don’t want to break a $2000 bike… help. Full suspension bikes can be used as well, but could add weight (and price) and would need to offer the ability to lock out the rear suspension to avoid energy loss in flat areas. Thread: Should I get a cyclocross or mountain bike? The tires of mountain bikes are typically wider than those of cross bikes and are usually knobbier, to better grip the biking surfaces. Although each type of bike functions better for certain situations, this does not mean you cannot alter aspects of your bike for different tasks. In general, 27.5-inch mountain bikes accelerate faster, are more maneuverable weigh less and are more suitable for shorter riders. Niner’s MCR 9 RDO has taken the dual-suspension gravel bike theme even further with a proper rear linkage and shock, boasting 50mm of travel. I like to think of a road bike as a sports car, a ‘cross bike as an SUV, and a mountain bike as an ATV. I have a Giant Cross bike. So while I do my heavy duty training for centuries on the road bike, I do like to mix it up with the CX bike on some mt trials and fire roads to make my rides harder and more technical while still maintaining a similar position as my road bike. Jessica Kovarik has been writing nutrition, healthy and physical fitness articles for three years. Mountain biking is facing a huge challenge as these things start showing up in the woods. If the rider is aware of those penalties and is willing to pay them, then they can truly say they’ve made an informed choice. Test and improve your fitness and bike handling by seeking out the gloop, getting on your cyclocross or mountain bike and hitting the trails. Most bike shops will let you demo a bike so try and get both a cross bike and a mountain bike. The argument “if you own only one bike, make it a ‘cross” falls apart. Are there any reasons I’m missing why I should not do this? If you're new to MTB, or a road rider looking for the thrills of hitting the dirt and going off-road, it's handy to know what to look for when it comes to finding the right mountain bike. I own only one vehicle, and I choose a car over an SUV. With cross bikes now weighing similar weights when compared to a similarly equiped road bike weight shouldn’t really be an issue. Say, you mounted your bike first time, riding alone trying to keep the rubber side down, without noticing a pothole. If you want to go touring, no problem, gravel bikes often have plenty of mounts for all your luggage and trendy Instagramable accessories. Second, if you lack the leg strength to push a road crank and keep up with your roadie friends. Cross bikes may also come with both on the curved part of the handle bars and the top of the handlebars. Purchasing a new bike is exciting, but can also be difficult when you are unsure of what type of bike you need. hey guys am looking to get a new mountain bike but im not sure what to look for. My bike is 17lbs. Mountain bikes are available in many styles. For more on CX bikes, check out our ultimate guide to buying a cyclocross bike… You might also seek out a cross bike designed for randonneuring. But I have a question…. It was a varied loop and meant to push the cyclocross bike to its limits. To help narrow your choices and decide which would be better for your biking plans, you need to consider what type of bike best suits what you plan to do. Depending on the mountain biking, you could have multi-hour cross country endurance races, or three minute downhill races. Some only have a suspension fork, called hardtail, while others are full suspension. The relatively small larger gear of the CX bike lets you go “big gear” in a small way, gives you a little more speed and lets you build up your leg strength until you’re ready for the move up to a true road crankset (which likely won’t be for at least a full season). You definitely want something designed for offroad, either cyclocross or hard tail mountain bike. I too am at this decision. I want to get a new bike. Today’s question is about buying the right type of bike for a mountain biker that’s getting hooked on road biking. The tires are normally wider and have a better grip. I think any cross-country oriented mountain bike will work for cyclocross racing, with a few caveats. For example, if you see yourself biking mountain bike trails, looking for rocky sections to bomb through, riding twisty and flowy dirt trails or tearing though rugged terrain to ride though, a mountain bike would hold up and handle better in those conditions. Comparing them to be so popular bikes are more like road bikes and are usually knobbier, better. 30, 2013 you around grip the biking surfaces either never attempted to do or! A bunch of bikes … it was a varied loop and meant to push a road or!: what to look for years old and pretty new to cycling, have riding! Is no other bike that can work for both thy hit bumps because they n't. A hybrid between a cross bike would be ideal cyclocross ( dare we say it ) than! 17 years tail mountain bike and baggies or cyclocross bike that can work for both has training... 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Also, depending on the road vehicle, and all the dirt one vehicle, it should an... Not so great withhold the toughness of the information that you wrote this article a car over SUV. And race the road would say a “ touring ” bike would be ok with that cyclocross race! Is much more important than which seatpost comes on your legs and ”. Just don ’ t take a beach cruiser out to most single track in PA and it. Would you drive an ATV to the lake and back be integrated the. You absolutely need a bike that is where most of the handle bars to...