You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
As my proper 'cross bike is currently out on loan to another of our team members as I wasn't going to race any 'cross at all this year, but taking mini-me No.1 & 2 along has reignited the bug, so I thought to myself I may as well use my 29er HT, and stick some 'cross tyres on it.
So I did that, and then thought the suspension forks are a bit overkill, so got on to our main bike & gear supplier KTM Bike Industries UK and they sent me over a set of teh brand new KTM Carbon Rigid forks, they're called the RF1 and are suspension correct for 100mm 29er forks, come with a nice 15mm thru-axle and 160mm post mount, they weigh in at 770g with an uncut steerer, so just shy of a kilo lighter than the Fox SC fork that they've replace.
Gearing is still 32t front and 10-42 back as I don't see a real reason for changing much, I might go for a 34 or 36t ring, but as I'm not exactly a podium bother-er it might not be worth it. Tyre wise I've gone with a set of Vittoria Terreno G+ Wet that are sold as 40mm, but are in fact 38mm on the carcass, wadday reckon?
Where I'm from we call that a hybrid.
Where I’m from we call that a hybrid.
Maybe, but this will be used for 'cross racing, not canal tow path bimbling
I think that is an extremely pretty bicycle.
I think that is an extremely pretty bicycle.
Why thank you kind Sir
nice hybrid.
Needs a shopping basket
Hybrid for sure.
Gnarbrid or fake gravel bike. versatile and does the job whatever you call it, looks good
gravadlax, isn't it?
I like it but it's a bike for cross racing, not a cross bike 🙂
how is this a hybrid. It's just a rigid mountain bike, Shirley??
Whatever it is it looks bloody lovely and bloody quick
how is this a hybrid. It’s just a rigid mountain bike, Shirley??
Whatever it is it looks bloody lovely and bloody quick
Apparently they are one and the same, thanks and at least it looks quick 🙂
Where I am from we call that a tool for the job* 😉
Looks good.
*I used to race CX on rigid single speed 26er
Looks fast and sweet. Should be orange!
All ready for the gnar of Burnley 🙂
Shame Landgate quarry isn't still on as that was quicker on an mtb anyway. Might be very good at Waddow Hall.
My home made no-clog frame was designed as cx geo adapted for a Pace 29er fork so kind of half way house which seems to work OK (at least it hasn't broken yet....)
Nice bike, didn't realise you could race with flat bars.
rigid mountain bike
Mud clearance won't be an issue, so that's sorted 🙂
Gnarbrid or fake gravel bike
A "fravel" bike? Built up something very similar with an Inbred frame. Great for epic fravel rides.
Like a throwback to when we could only afford one bike and used to stick skinny tyres on for commuting. But faster and bigger wheelder.
I was doing mountain cross 10 years ago.
Most disappointing thread, expected something monstrous
It is a hybrid that is leaning towards an MTB rather than a hybrid leaning towards a road bike. It is not purely a rigid MTB as it does not have MTB tyres, and it takes from more than one type of bicycle so is a hybrid by definition.
I ride a track bike with riser bars which I would also define as a hybrid. As fast off road as a cross bike but with improved control from the riser bars (and more importantly more fun hopping over things, wheelieing etc,.)
40C tyres on a “cross bike”? Definitely fravel
OP, that is one sexy looking bike!👍
Most disappointing thread, expected something monstrous
I was expecting some flarred bars at the very least
All ready for the gnar of Burnley 🙂
Shame Landgate quarry isn’t still on as that was quicker on an mtb anyway. Might be very good at Waddow Hall.
My home made no-clog frame was designed as cx geo adapted for a Pace 29er fork so kind of half way house which seems to work OK (at least it hasn’t broken yet….)
From this I'm seeing a course not as technical as Levehulme Park?
It would be ideal for Landgate Quarry, whats Waddow Hall like then?
Looks fast and sweet. Should be orange!
Well it's Marseilles Blue, in line with the Pro-Conti team that ride KTM's.
Nice bike, didn’t realise you could race with flat bars.
Not an issue at regional league level, it's only Nationals where the "rules" kick in
OP, that is one sexy looking bike!👍
Why thank you
I'm so happy my bike can be so clearly defined as numerous sub-niches by so many on here. Don't worry folks, it'll have proper XC tyres on it again post season, so you can all redefine it until your hearts are content then.
Really like that😎
Have been considering similar for road work rather than a proper road bike. What’s it like on tarmac?
How about lets not label it at all - it's only semantics!
That looks like a badass fast bike entirely suited to going fast on grass and mud whilst trying to go faster than other people on grass and mud 🙂
Really like that😎
Have been considering similar for road work rather than a proper road bike. What’s it like on tarmac?
Haven't ridden it anywhere other than round the garden at the moment. I'll let you know after I have a trip out on it over the next couple of days. I fully expect the tyres to feel proper draggy as they're CX mud tyres, but it shouldn't impact on the feel of the bike.
In normal guise (suspension fork & XC MTB tyres) it's fine for road work, can easily trundle along at 25/26 kph (15/16 mph) on the flat, so in reality this shouldn't be any different, it should make it better climbing as even locked out there's a bit of 'give' in suspension forks.
Have been considering similar for road work rather than a proper road bike. What’s it like on tarmac?
If you put road tyres on a rigid MTB it feels great on tarmac and immediately more nimble and turns more quickly etc,.. It will always be slower than a road bike due to more upright body position but my bike with risers has a large saddle to bar drop and has a long stem so the difference is fairly small (around 0.5 mph lower average speed).
bike for cross racing
Regardless of what you call it, are you going to be able to race cx on it? My local are a bit snooty I'm told but are the extent of my very limited experience and very definitely wouldn't let you race on that. Flat bars and non "road" frames (in fact anything which looks like if might be a mtb component) are banned.
Personally i just can't get my head around the flat bars skinny tyres thing, i keep trying to build a commuter very much like that and fail on the aesthetics, which is annoying as it would probably be great for the job.
My local are a bit snooty I’m told but are the extent of my very limited experience and very definitely wouldn’t let you race on that. Flat bars and non “road” frames (in fact anything which looks like if might be a mtb component) are banned.
Really? I’ve never heard of a local league banning non-cx bikes. (That would be an excellent way to stop newbies ever taking part.) Which league is it?
Those rigid forks are lovely! That looks similar albeit a lot lighter than what I'm planning on rebuilding my charge duster as. 26 frame though so not sure how big I can go wheel wise.
Regardless of what you call it, are you going to be able to race cx on it? My local are a bit snooty I’m told but are the extent of my very limited experience and very definitely wouldn’t let you race on that. Flat bars and non “road” frames (in fact anything which looks like if might be a mtb component) are banned.
Absolutely not an issue in the North West Cyclocross League, one of the podium bother-ers in V50 races an MTB as do several other people, I think your league need to take a good look at themselves if they're that far up their rear ends.
Personally i just can’t get my head around the flat bars skinny tyres thing, i keep trying to build a commuter very much like that and fail on the aesthetics
It wasn't built to be aesthetically pleasing (to all), but to slog round a muddy urban park in lieu of my proper 'cross bike.
Those rigid forks are lovely! That looks similar albeit a lot lighter than what I’m planning on rebuilding my charge duster as. 26 frame though so not sure how big I can go wheel wise.
Cheers, they look even better in the flesh, so to speak.
With clever tyre choice you "may" be able to run 700x33c tyres, definitely won't be an issue on a 26" suspension corrected fork, only the rear might be tight.
Regardless of what you call it, are you going to be able to race cx on it? My local are a bit snooty I’m told but are the extent of my very limited experience and very definitely wouldn’t let you race on that. Flat bars and non “road” frames (in fact anything which looks like if might be a mtb component) are banned
wessex league has plenty of mtbs
UCI's a bit more picky - I don't ride their races purely in protest at that stance
Which league is it?
It was an annual thing on new years day, it was a local club (harrogate Nova, seemed they'd a bit of a rep for being over serious when i asked around about road clubs) who organised it but i assume part of a bigger league mind.
The first year i took part it was all welcome and good fun, thought I'd give it another go next time round with a view to doing the season (was mid house move and various the first time so season was out).
The second year anyone on a non cx bike was only allowed to enter the fun-definitely-not-a-race half length thing. I decided not to bother with going back after that or looking into it further.
Genuinely interested if that's unusual rather than the norm though as it seemed a good laugh.
One step behind you OP, still can't quite justify the outlay for rigid carbon forks.
I have cut my bars down as narrow as I can though, and fitted 'proper' 33c CX tyres 😉
Looking forward to next season when I might have trained enough to justify saving some weight on wheels and forks, or just buying a proper CX bike 🙄
At League level BC sanctioned races you can race almost anything provided it meets the definition of a bike so basically 2 wheels and three points of contact (bars, saddle and pedals).
I had some good humoured emails with one of the comissaires on the subject - hence I was allowed to race a singlespeed radiator but politely asked not to race the "Purgatory" minimalist cx bike which didn't have a seat tube or saddle 🙂
I guess there are certain local BC sanctioned events where traditional CX bikes are enforced (eg 3 peaks).
Steve - I've never raced Waddow but a friend has and reckoned it would be a good summer mtb race venue (hills and roots).
I guess there are certain local BC sanctioned events where traditional CX bikes are enforced (eg 3 peaks).
Steve – I’ve never raced Waddow but a friend has and reckoned it would be a good summer mtb race venue (hills and roots).
Ah, 3 Peaks may well be BC sanctioned, but they make up their own rules to suit, they've allowed flat bars, then banned them, set tyre width at 35mm, allow bike changes - almost for any type of bike. In the past people have been known to carry track bikes up Simons Fell and then swap to a CX bike at the top, swap to TT bikes for the road sections etc.!!
Waddow sounds good fun then.
How about lets not label it at all – it’s only semantics!
🙂
You can't do that - it confuses old people in Scotland.
Hey, I resemble that remark. Nice hybrid OP.
Well you've plenty of mud clearance up front!
MTB are normally fine, with the exception of no bar-ends because of the possibility in close contact racing of them getting locked into the drops of a cx bike
Well you’ve plenty of mud clearance up front!
MTB are normally fine, with the exception of no bar-ends because of the possibility in close contact racing of them getting locked into the drops of a cx bike
Just about, it's like the RS1 on my FS, if that ever clogs then there's serious issues!!
Bar ends!!! 2003 called and want's it's accessories back 😀