Cyclo-x vs road bike

[CaroleH]

Question: What is the difference between a cyclo-x bike and a road bike?

Carole H

[Andrew G]

Most obvious differences are cross bikes will have larger clearances to allow for wider / knobbly tyres, and will be fitted with cantilever brakes so they don't get clogged up with mud. I think they may also have a slightly higher bottom bracket to assist clearance, and as standard will be fitted with smaller chainrings as you want lower gears riding cross.

I wouldn't want one as my main road bike but think they would make good winter / commuting bikes as they tend to be fairly hardy.

Aodan has a Planet X Uncle John cross bike. He races a lot of cross but uses his for everything I think, including racing at Palace (with slicks obviously ), so if you're good enough they don't have to hold you back.

[Jon H]

If I use my cross bike on the road I have a tendency to hit the pedals on the floor when pedalling around corners. That's because it's designed for big fat knobbly tyres, so if you fit skinny road tyres the whole bike gets a bit lower. It also has no bottle cage mounts so is rubbish for anything longer than an hour (i.e. a cross race).

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

It depends what sort of cross bike, but generally heavier shallower angles greater clearance and like riding a barn door

However, I had a close up look at the rabobank team issue Colnago cross bikes, and they were literally road bikes with cantis - the speed they hurtled along the road section - they had to be.

[CaroleH]

So if I was to have a go at Cycle X, having never done one before and not knowing if I'd be any good/enjoy it. Would you guys recommend using a mountain bike (I've got an old version with no shock front forks and is really light - or a new version which weighs a ton and has shock forks) or my usual road bike (the Cannondale I use for club runs) with different tyres?

Carole H

[Andrew G]

Yeah use the light one with no suspension. Cross bikes don't have any suspension and you don't want to have to lug a heavy bike up the big hill at Penshurst eh Marco.

[Grahame]

Another vote for the light, rigid mountainbike. Stick some 1.5" tyres on it and you'll be fine on just about any cross course.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Absolutely