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Hey All
Thinking of doing some cyclocross on the MTB as I dont have enough £££ for a 'cross bike. BUt, I want to to get some higher intensity sessions rolled into my commuter cycling and this would be perfect.
So, the MTB will ahve to do- any hints or tips on this? Tyre choice etc I'm mainly thinking.
I have open ears.....
Cheers in advance!
Do you mean cyclocross races?
Narrow tyres, pumped up high. That'd be the most likely change to the bike.
After that, just smile.
[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2251/2063133847_9a8f713dc5_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/53067724@N00/2063133847/ ]oddmanout[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/53067724@N00/ ]Jon Wyatt[/url], on Flickr
There's some miserable buggers at CX races. In fact, all races.
I did one last year on mtb. Hard work as i was very unfit. But niw im much fitter i would say it is much easier. Just go for it and be prepared for an hour of pain. Start doing hill repeats for training
1.5" or 1.8" tyres and lock the suspension out if you can.
Courses where you have to carry your bike will result in misery, else you'll be fine.
are you changing your handlebars?
Mtbs are perfectly fine for 'cross, and depending on the course they can even be an advantage. At one of the Bristol summer series races last month it was a 1-2-3 for fat tyres 🙂 all three of use were running 2.25" tyres
I would bother running too much pressure unless it is a bone dry super fast course, you might as well use the advantage of all that extra grip in the twisty stuff.
If it is super muddy you might want to go for a skinny tyre to cut through the mud, I used to use conti cross country 1.5" and schwalbe make the smart Sam in a 1.7 for 29ers
If you are on a 29er, just fit any cyclocross tyre you fancy, it's the same rim size.
The more the merrier at a cross race, if you think cross can be unfriendly whatever you do don't go to a road race.
Take a large pencil sharpener to your elbows...believe me, you will find this very useful 😉
I'm building a p155 take cross bike for this winter. it goes as this
BSA javalin frame and forks u brake plates to fit u brakes the wheels are 26" mavic's rear hub is a sturmey 3 spd and fitting mary bar's has original rack fitted and tyres i've gone for schwalbe cx pro in 26x1.35 should be a hoot