10.dec.2007
So
you've been hearing about it every day.. the word
Cyclocross!
What
is Cyclocross?
Cyclocross is a winter sport that was created
in Europe by road cyclists who needed to train
and stay in shape over the winter, and of course
feed the competitive spirit within. It is a race
run on a short course, usually around 1 mile,
in which competitors race for a specified amount
of time, doing multiple laps. Each course contains
at least one set of "barriers" which
riders must dismount and carry the bike over,
and usually one "run-up" as well. A
run up is an unrideable section usually uphill,
which riders must dismount and carry their bikes.
Essentially, the rider with the most laps, and
the fastest time, wins the race. Pro/Elite races
last 60 minutes, while Beginners can expect a
35 minute race. While it sounds short, Cross is
lovingly termed the "Hurricane of Pain"
by famous Cyclocross announcer Dave Towle. The
season usually begins in September and ends in
January.
Do
I need a 'Cross bike?
While a cross bike is not a necessity, it sure
makes cross racing easier. Here are a few reasons:
1. Lighter weight. A mountain bike simply weighs
too much, especially if you have more than one
dismount per lap. You must carry your bike over
barriers, so think about that before using a mountain
bike. At many races, such as the SoCalCross.org
series, demo bikes are available for no charge.
2. Less resistance. Less wind and less road resistance.
Courses usually contain a fair amount of pavement,
and smooth skinny tires are a plus.
3. Sprinting power. A cross bike is designed specifically
for the demands of cross racing= sprinting, power
surges, hard standing efforts. The geometry of
the cross bike is built to respond to that style
of riding.
Carolyn Popovic of Team CICLE and
Coryn Rivera of Redline running up in Bakersfield.
© Tonya Bray.
What
is a Cross bike?
A cross bike looks like a road bike, but has knobby
tires and easier gearing than a road bike. It
also has cantilever brakes (yeah, they don't work
that great, but who needs to slow down in Cross?).
The cantilever brakes are designed to have great
mud clearance, as most cross races are muddy,
snowy and wet, which would cause normal brakes
to stuff up and cease working. A cross bike also
is usually a little higher in the front than a
road bike. Thus most riders spend the bulk of
the time in the drops for more control in the
corners and a powerful stance on the bike. Cross
bikes use traditional road integrated shifter/brake
levers, like Ultegra by Shimano, or SRAM Force.
A
highly recommended CycloCross bike, the Ridley
Supercross is available for purchase at CompetitiveCyclist.com.
more
to come!
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