Cross/Tour Bikes

Cyclocross & Touring Bikes

Cyclocross is a growing event (it's been around for many years) in cycling where a road bicycle is used on rugged terrain.  The races are typically on 1-2 mile loops on parkgrounds, wooded areas etc.  On the course there are obstacles which the rider either dismounts, hoists the bike onto their shoulder and jumps over/across or they "bunny-hop" the obstacles.  Obstacles are typically wooded 2 x 6 or so turned on end.

The Cyclocross bike is a modified road bike.  The tires are typically knobby for off road terrain.  The brakes are cantilevers instead of calipers so that mud can flow through instead of getting clogged by a tight caliper and slowing the bike.  The bottom bracket of the bike where the cranks enter the frame is higher off the earth than a road bikes bottom bracket.  This allows for greater clearance for obstacles.  The most important modification is the gearing of the bicycle.  It's much lower than compared with a road-bike.  Typical front chainrings on Cyclocross bikes are 46-36 while road bikes are 52-39 or 50-34.  Lower gearing gives you the ability to spin the gears at a higher cadence to keep the bike upright in tough off road conditions.  The gearing should be a big consideration for someone opting for this bike over a road bike.  If you plan to ride the towpath or off road 50% of the time and on the road 50% of the time I say go for it.  Off road you'll have a blast.  On road, you'll work hard to go fast.  Why?  Because you'll spin like crazy, which is the name of the game fitness wise.  Ask Lance how he won 7 Tour de France events.  He should say, "I had the best team, the best coaches, the best trainers, and I was spinning like crazy"  No one could keep up with him.

To see these bikes go to www.specialized.com, and click on "Bikes", and go to www.jamisbikes.com, and click on "The bikes"