[Closed] What is cyclocross all about then?

Yes. It's just more bike riding.

it's more a road bike with fatter tyres and more clearance. They're highly unsuitable and yet oddly capable. I love them.

More to the point it is about racing. so in a perfect world you want a bike that does that and nothing else.
However if you are on about "rough stuff" riding, ie leisure riding with dropped bars, off road then why not use what you have.

it used to be soley about racing but whether you like it or not, it's now used much more widely. Lots of people go for a cross ride and some do cross racing.

Round here at least we have a load of "cross ride" routes that are a bit dull on an mtb but great on a cross bike.

Clubber - If we've got a load of them why do Nouveau and Leon always insist on riding the same one? Got any links to other routes?

yeah email me and I'll send some on. Mine are less good as training though which may be why they stick to that route.

I'm dong it wrong then, I've never raced on mine.

They're great far more capable of riding then what they look they can, I use my for doorstep riding as the trails from my front door are a bit dull. The CX makes them a bit more fun with it's narrow tyres and different posture it's perfect for flying around dirt tracks, short bits of singletrack or blasting along the road between these.

What Drac said, I have no intention of racing mine but it makes the local mix of back roads, farm tracks, forests and odd bits of singletrack spread over a decent area much more accessible and fun than on the mtb.

It's supposed to be about pain, mud and general agony. It can also be about adding a different flavour to your normal routes. I'd recommend the former though, cross racing is addictive.

Cyclocross is racing. Just as road races are that and sportives are not races etc. Having fun isn't cyclocross and no modernisation of the term can change that. I also think that like many thing differentating between racing and recreational riding is a good thing.
Going off road with not a lot of technology to compensate for technique is great fun, even the cock ups.

They're a hoot off road, except hitting a constant stream of roots and rocks that can get tiresome. If I didn't want to race a few XC's I'd sell and get an off roader/cross like the Rove, and use it for all my off road rides.
As it is I only use mine for racing, that way I know it's going to be A1 on race day instead of it being tired and battered.

Sometimes a rigid mtb isn't crap enough, and for those times, there's cyclocross.

Sometimes a rigid mtb isn't crap enough, and for those times, there's cyclocross.

This, but with a 😀

I used mine a bit for winter training/night rides. I thought **** me my lights are great. Then I went back to the MTB and the lights weren't so great. Perceived speed and all that.

Anyone want to buy most of a Colnago World Cup CX bike? 😀

matt

"I'm off for a road ride on my road bike"
"I'm doing a road race today"

"I'm off for a cross ride on my cross bike"
"I'm doing a cross race today"

works for me and whether you like it or not, the term "cyclocross" has already changed. Just have a look at the cyclocross section on the online shops. Most have bottle cage bosses and mudguard eyelets.

Most people use them as socially acceptable hybrids. Can mix and match road and offroad. Some race. Both are good, all bikes are good.

You can come at it from either side. For racing it is a slightly modified road bike. For general riding probably better to come from a faster mountain bike, especially if you already have most of the bits.

A CX bike is an excellent addition to any bike fleet.
As previously said - it make those boring fireroad tracks that you avoid on a mtb, into something exciting again.

I also found other trail users far friendlier towards me when on a cross bike?

I also found other trail users far friendlier towards me when on a cross bike?

Me too, and roadies seem to be friendlier too.

I use mine to ride from my doorstep in the outskirts of London to some nice off-road in Surrey Hills, Swinley and surrounds, or The Chilterns.

The first 2 take about 1/2 an hour to drive to, or about an hour to ride to on the CX. So, it's an efficient use of time not be sat in the car. And for the kind of trails you get in those places, a cross bike is really fun to ride. Nowhere near as fast as my mtb, but still fun.

Then in the summer, I use it as a road bike.

I've never raced my CX bike, and don't have any immediate plans to do so.

They make trail centres interesting

I've wondered about that for a while. I reckon that most of the trail centres I've ridden would be frustrating on my CX - too rocky and hard to get any kind of rhythm though I guess if you see it as a trials type challenge then maybe I can see the attraction