bike - Cyclo-cross bicycle
Photograph by Noah Scalinon Flickr.
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With a tubular set up, this is not a problem as they cannot pinchflat thus the only concern is damage to the rim. It has been known for local races to be won on mountain bikes, particularly if the course is technical with little road or fast sections.
They are typically very simple, often eschewing bridges between the rear stays. A second set of brake levers on the tops, called top mount brake levers, are favored by some competitors.
However this increases the risk of the rim bottoming out on the ground. Often racers have at least dry and wet weather tires to choose between.
A cyclo-cross bicycle is a bicycle specifically designed for the rigors of a cyclo-cross race. Dry tires tend to have much smaller, closely spaced tread such as the diamond pattern for low rolling resistance.
Since tubulars are so common and tires cannot easily be removed from the rim, collections of wheels, not tires, are required for the varying conditions. This is, in part, due to their ability to be run at low pressure (22-40psi/1.5-2.75bar) without increasing the risk of pinch flats.
Some specialist cyclo-cross bikes also have a higher bottom bracket to aid clearance over rough ground; extra clearance could prevent toe clips from dragging while re-mounting after an obstacle. A tubular setup also offers a weight saving over its clincher counterpart and has the ability to be ridden on if a flat does occur so a racer can reach the pits for a replacement. Clinchers do have their advantages.
Aluminum frames were popular long in cyclo-cross bicycles before they became commonplace on the road. With clincher tires, this is a problem since the tube becomes pinched by the rim and can be cut open causing a flat.
and the wider clearances that cyclo-cross bikes have for their larger tires and mud and other debris that they accumulate. Frame materials are selected with an aim to produce a lightweight, yet stiff and responsive frame. Some enthusiasts even went as far as to send Michelin Mud tires (a popular clincher tire) to Dugast (a manufacturer of high end tubular tires) to have a modern tread pattern incorporated into a traditional tubular.
Low pressure is desirable due to increased amount of contact with the ground giving the tire more grip . Top tube (rather than bottom bracket) routed derailleur cables help combat the build-up of mud.
Lastly, clinchers cost less than a tubular. Because cyclo-cross season spans autumn/fall and winter, conditions can vary quite drastically. Until recently, clinchers also generally have more cutting edge tread patterns than the more traditional tubulars.
In general, with a change of tires and gearing a cyclo-cross bike can double as a perfectly adequate road racing machine. Also, the mountain bike shoes used with them provide better traction while running than a typical road style shoe thanks to grip and flexibility in the sole.
Tires don t usually vary in width a great deal due to the theory that a narrow tire has the least rolling resistance (for dry courses) and that it will also cut through mud to the harder ground underneath (for wet/muddy courses). At the professional level it is essential to have several bikes and wheel collections. The following are rules that have been put in place by the UCI that are either specific to or have particular effect on cyclo-cross bicycles.
However, since 2005 several tubular manufacturers have designed more modern style tread patterns, namely Dugast with its Rhino and Tufo with its Flexus. Compact geometry frames with sloping top tubes are less common than on road bicycles due to the need to carry the bicycle easily on the shoulder.
Changing tires is much quicker since it doesn t involve a lengthy glueing and curing process so a rider can have a large selection of tires at their disposal. However, for a traditional cyclo-cross course a cyclo-cross bicycle is the most suitable tool for the job. .
Add to this the fact that the races are relatively short and that equipment changes are allowed during races and you can imagine that equipment selection can get fanatical. This is less common as clipless pedals have become the norm for cyclo-cross. Cantilever brake bosses are mounted with the traditional design of brake preferred to V-brakes, again to prevent clogging with mud.
Bear in mind that these rules are not exhaustive, are only for UCI sanctioned events and may not be enforced at all cyclo-cross events. In the United States, disc brakes are now allowed for non-UCI events. In recent years, some cyclo-cross bicycles available in the consumer market are supplied with disc brakes, which violate UCI regulations, as a stock item. Today the most popular material is aluminium with carbon fiber being popular at a professional level and steel and titanium being favorites amongst riders searching for a smoother ride and a longer lasting frame. Cyclo-cross frames require clearance for slightly wider (generally 30-34 mm) tires and the debris and mud that is picked up by them.
Wet weather tires have larger and more widely spaced knobs to aid in grip and mud shedding. Gearing is typically lower, with most common setups using a 46-38 chainring combination with a 12-27 cassette cluster. Choices of equipment tend more towards the idiosyncratic than in road racing; for example single-speed bicycles also have some popularity due to the advantage of mechanical simplicity in the often very muddy conditions and the fringe nature of the sport.
In general these bicycles have braze-ons to enable the use of cantilever style brakes instead. Cyclocross bikes are growing in popularity amongst consumers for their versatility: they have some of the geometry and aerodynamic benefits of road bikes, but take wider tyres, have braze-ons for fenders and racks, and are rugged enough for off-road and touring use. In some countries (including the United States, so long as it is not a UCI event) riders are also permitted to race in cyclo-cross events using mountain bikes (generally without bar ends), at least in low-level competition, but this is not currently allowed in events on the international calendar. However, most cyclo-cross racers prefer clipless mountain bike pedals for their easy dual-sided entry and mud-shedding abilities.
A cyclo-cross racer may lift or carry their bike as many as 30 times in one 60 minute race, increasing the desire for a lightweight bicycle. Although widths below 30c were popular in the past, current tires tend to be available from 30-35c with 32 and 34 being the most common. Because ground conditions can vary greatly, equipment choice is extremely important.
The use of tubular tires is still very popular; even more so than in road racing. Lightness is prized for ease of carrying while running.
There are also slight geometry differences between the two; cyclo-cross bikes tend to have slightly higher handlebars for a more upright position as aerodynamics have little importance in a cross race. Wheels are of the normal road racing type fitted with knobbie tires (a variety of tread designs in both tubular and clincher types are available), and gearing is a little lower.
It is common for racers even at an amateur level to have a pair of race bikes (one to ride and one in the pits) and several wheels to choose from.
