Cyclecross

[mikesbytes]

Anyone done cyclecross?

http://bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic ... 5422#25422

BTW, the guy posting is the guy your've seen me talking to at Dunc Gray

[T-Bone]

Interesting, my touring bike is basically built up like a cyclocross bike, though i'd probably need to get some nobbier tyres. The other issue is the dates aren't suitable for me, due to other races.

[FAswad]

I've always wondered about cyclocross. Is a regular road bike frame suitable for cyclocross conversion?

[weiyun]

Number one question in my mind is... Do you love mud?

[mikesbytes]

What size are the tyres ?

[T-Bone]

Regular road bikes generally aren't suitable as they don't have enough clearance for bigger tyres, and also in muddy races no clearance between the tyre and brakes to prevent mud buildup.

Usually a cyclocross bike will have cantilever brakes, though some people run mini-v brakes as they find them more powerful and much easier to setup. At the moment i've got some Avid Shorty 6 cantilever brakes on the bike, but i've also got some unused Tektro Oryx's (order wasn't going to arrive in time) which are basically the same, and i'm considering swapping to Mini-V brakes, but that's part of my aim of getting my touring bike under 8kg including rack.

The tyres on the bike at the moment are 700x35mm, though i haven't used them yet. The 28mm tyres i had on the bike in tassie have gone on my fixie.

In case you're wondering, the frame is a Giant CRX4, which i stripped down after purchase and put my old road parts on, mostly dura-ace 9speed. I know which parts i need to lighten the bike, but money is preventing it happening for a while, though i'm searching for some nice 28h hubs, preferably light, but shimano ones would be ok as i can stick some titanium axles in.

I wouldn't mind doing some cyclocross races, but it would be more suitable for me if they were held in summer. Maybe i'll find some in the future.