What is a Cyclocross Bike? (and why I ride one)

The only time Jen has ever won a race was when she brought it home for Red House in the egg and spoon age 7.
Still, you very well may see her at a cyclocross race, but she’ll be just about as far from the start line as is humanly possible.  Probably helping out or milling around near the cakes.

(Jif Cyclocross race @ Llanishen High School – September 2015)

Now,  a cyclocross bike could be for you whether you are a cyclocross-ist or not. Jen rides a 2016 Focus Mares AX Cyclocross bike, but until this year she didn’t know anything about them.

Expect a cross bike to have drop handlebars and geometry like a road bike but have bigger tyres (and usually more knobbly).  Cross bikes tend to have cantilever or disc brakes and essentially, they’re for going fast off-road.

(Pic: A cyclocross bike underneath a cyclocross-ist at a local race 2015)

CDFcyclist HQ is (currently) a first floor apartment in Cardiff that does not lend itself well to bicycle storage. Thus, we try to keep our total bikes to 2 (and a trailer):

– A pub/town bike (below)
For leaving locked up, going to the pub, shopping, looking hip.

– An adventuring / Best bike (below)
Going fast, mountain riding, touring, adventuring, exploring,
going up the Afan Valley doing bunny hops etc.)

With varying cycling hobbies and limited space we really needed a steed that would allow us to do it all, or at least as much as possible.  Cyclocross bikes are diverse and adaptable machines.
Pick one with rack mounts to add cargo, put slicky tyres on and ride the road, or blast trails and churn up the mud off-road.
Cross bikes really aren’t just for tough-cookies, Belgians and racing cyclists.

Jen  | @CDFcyclist

Speak to your local bike shop for more advice on buying a cross bike.

Cyclopaedia  |  Sunset Cycles  | Damien Harris Cycles  | Bike Shed Wales

(Pic: A cyclocross bike underneath a cyclocross-ist at a local race 2015)