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Cyclo Cross Gearing

  • 20-07-2012 1:17pm
    #1
    rollingscone
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,479 ✭✭✭


    Seriously considering a cross bike instead of a road bike for two reasons.

    1. Cross really appeals to me]
    2. It is the officially recommended option for Gaelforce which is what caused me to find out about Cyclocross in the first place.

    I'm not buying into the whole salesman spiel about it being a super all rounder but opting for a road bike means ruling out cross racing as an option.

    The main issue seems to be the gearing, if I want to do a longer spin or even a sportive, I'm aware the more upright geometry will work against me, but I'm also wondering whether I'll come to hate the limiting factors of the cross gearing on my top speed. or murdering me on climbs.

    Not to mention that I've tried Cantilever brakes and did not feel the love.

    Sadly I can't afford more than one bike so it's down to a choice at the moment, higher spec'd road bike (Tiagra or 105...don't tell the wife) or a Tiagra/part tiagra cross bike.


Comments

  • #2
    Raam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,318 ✭✭✭✭Raam


    What's the question?

    Oh right gearing, well you can get a CX bike with big or small gearing. Just buy a compact chainset and a 50 ring and then maybe a 46 and you can swap em around. Sorted.


  • #3
    C3PO
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,795 ✭✭✭C3PO


    I have a Focus CX3 which I used to race Cross (slowely!) and as my road training bike for approx 18 months. I found very few issues with the riding position/geometry or the standard gearing. Gearing was fine for all of the climbs I regularly do and only occassionally would I feel that I needed a another gear on faster/longer descents! The only reason I decided to retire the bike from the road was that I found the "canti" brakes really hairy! They really don't stop very well and they also shuddered unmercifully on fast descents despite a number of efforts to sort it out!
    But, in summary, if you can only justify one bike then I would definately buy a CX bike - the shortcomings on the road are more than compensated for by being able to race Cross! If you can afford it, buy a cheap set of wheels and put road tyres and a cassette on them so that you can change disciplines in a couple of minutes!


  • #4
    dave_o_brien
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,301 ✭✭✭dave_o_brien


    I've found changing from cantilever brakes to mini v-brakes made a huge difference to braking quality and reducing brake shudder. I'd buy the 2 different chainrings as recommended by Raam and change the brakes to mini-v's.


  • #5
    rollingscone
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,479 ✭✭✭rollingscone


    dave_o_brien wrote: »
    I've found changing from cantilever brakes to mini v-brakes made a huge difference to braking quality and reducing brake shudder. I'd buy the 2 different chainrings as recommended by Raam and change the brakes to mini-v's.

    Thanks guys.

    I was thinking of a Sensa Umbria cross with tiagra. A mate of mine is flogging his ultegra road groupset what's the deal with establishing compatibility?


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