{"id":19480,"title":"Introduction to cyclocross","description":"In this introduction to cyclocross, I\u2019m going to explain what cyclocross is, what sort of cyclocross bike to buy, what cyclocross tyres to use and most importantly some good reasons to give it a go.","content":"

Published in<\/strong>: CYCLOCROSS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

How we use cookies on the Rijden website<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Guide to Cyclocross 1.0<\/strong><\/p>

Fancy having a go at cyclocross but don't know where to start? Our first guide explains what cyclocross is, what sort of cyclocross bike you'll need and why you should try it.\"Image Future articles will look in detail at specifics such as cyclocross <\/strong><\/a>cornering<\/strong><\/a>. In this guide, I\u2019m going to explain what cyclocross is, what sort of cyclocross bike to buy, what cyclocross tyres to use and most importantly some good reasons to give it a go.<\/p>

Who this article is for<\/h3>

This article is for adults who are thinking of trying cyclocross. Or who've tried a few races and want to learn more. If you're under eighteen and live in the UK, I strongly suggest joining a club that British Cycling has accredited as \u2018Go Ride\u2019. Check the list of British Cycling Go-Ride clubs that partake in cyclocross<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>

Who am I?<\/h3>

Who am I and what qualifies me to pontificate about cyclocross? I\u2019ll be quite honest, I don\u2019t have any coaching qualifications. All I possess is the experience of riding cyclocross for about 15 years and making every mistake it's possible to make. I hope by sharing my hard-earned knowledge you can avoid some of the pitfalls.<\/p>

\"Image Image: Mick Searle. Cyclocross involves mud<\/em><\/p>

I took up cyclocross racing just for fun. I'd started riding road races at eighteen and took up CX at about 45. I thought it would be easy and I'd effortlessly win my category. How wrong could I have been? I was hopeless.<\/p>

\u201cI've improved from hopeless to semi-competent\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

Over the years I\u2019ve improved at cyclocross from hopeless to semi-competent. In the process, I\u2019ve had enormous enjoyment and become addicted to the sport. I\u2019ve finished fourth three times in my age group at the National Cyclocross Championships. There are plenty of my peers who are better CX riders than me. I just happen to like writing.<\/p>

\"Cyclocross<\/u><\/a>As I get older and slower, I console myself with the fact that I\u2019ve plenty of room for improvement in my cyclocross skills. I\u2019m still much better at racing on the road but it is cross that gives me the buzz these days.<\/p>

What is cyclocross?<\/h3>

It's a question I'm often asked by friends. What is cyclocross? To keep it simple, I tell them that it's a combination of road racing and mountain biking on a road bike with knobbly tyres. In truth, I could equally tell them that it's cycling's equivalent of ballet.<\/p>

\"ImageCyclocross started as races between steeples -it\u2019s now supported with almost religious fervour in Flanders<\/em><\/p>

As a sport, it originated at the turn of the twentieth century. It probably grew like Gravel racing is growing now. It was unregulated and the rules were limited. Many of the early races consisted simply of riding from one church to another via any viable route.<\/p>

Riders didn't need maps or signs as, in the flatlands of Northern Europe, they could see the spire of the church they were aiming for. Cyclocross riders would ford streams, climb fences and run across fields. It was then and remains a winter sport. Hence the propensity for mud.<\/p>

Slowly rules were introduced and by the 1940s the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) established regulations. The races evolved over time to the format that exists today. Races for elite males are a maximum of one hour and consist of laps which last between five and ten minutes.<\/p>

\"Riders Image: Mick Searle. Cycling ballet<\/em><\/p>

The majority of the course will normally be grass, or mud, with some short sections of tarmac. It's normal for riders to get off and run with their bikes to overcome steep banks, thick mud or man-made obstacles.<\/p>

\"VisualREAD MORE<\/strong>: Read part one of our guide to cyclocross cornering<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>

\"Guide<\/u><\/a>It's the mud, running and supreme technical skills of the top riders that sets it apart from other cycling disciplines. The ability of experts to control their bikes on slippery adverse camber corners and to leap on and off with apparent ease is awe-inspiring.<\/p>

Today the epicentre of the cyclocross world is in Flanders, Belgium. It's their most popular winter sport and the top cyclocross riders are heroes and household names.<\/p>

\"Image Image: Mick Searle. Cyclocross requires running<\/em><\/p>

Cyclocross has spread around the world and has a strong following in the USA, in part thanks to Lance Armstrong who took part in a few races. In the UK it has grown enormously to become the number one participation cycle sport.<\/p>

\"visualABOUT RIJDEN<\/strong>: Rijden grew from a passion for Flemish-style cycle racing. We're a small UK independent that publishes this free online cycling magazine and sustainable gifts for fans of cycling\u2019s classics and cyclocross. Read <\/em>more about Rijden<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>

\"visualCycling superstars such as Britain's Tom Pidcock, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel who successfully combine road racing with cyclocross have raised its profile higher still.<\/p>

Why try cyclocross?<\/h3>

If the siren call of the cross has already stolen your heart then you can skip this section. If you\u2019re wavering or have yet to be convinced here are just some of the reasons why you should take the plunge.<\/p>

Cyclocross is friendly<\/h3>

You\u2019ll have lots of pleasure and make new friends. I\u2019m not sure if friendly people are attracted to cyclocross or if it makes people more friendly. You can make your own mind up.<\/p>

\"Image Image: Mick Searle. Cyclocross people are friendly<\/em><\/p>

No matter what level of fitness or skill you possess, you\u2019ll find it a rewarding challenge and there'll be someone of your level to compete against. Many race-long battles end in a new friendship.<\/p>

Cyclocross is family-friendly<\/h3>

It\u2019s very family-friendly. Everyone in the family can compete. Kids and women are encouraged to take part. It\u2019s not unknown for a single family to have riders in nearly all age categories from under seven to over seventy.<\/p>

\"Image Image: Mick Searle. Cyclocross is a sport for all ages<\/em><\/p>

Cyclocross is safe<\/h3>

It\u2019s safe. There are no cars and if you fall off it\u2019s likely to be on soft mud or grass. Don\u2019t worry about someone laughing at you. They won\u2019t. We\u2019ve all fallen off. They might give you a cheer if you perform a particularly ballet-style landing.<\/p>

It has benefits for other disciplines. I\u2019m sure that Cross has improved my road racing sprint through repeated all-out maximal efforts.<\/p>

\"visualREAD MORE<\/strong>: Read all our cyclocross guides and articles for free<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. If you want to improve your cyclocross skills, find out how to race cyclocross in Belgium or read rider interviews then explore all Rijden\u2019s cyclocross articles.<\/em><\/p>

\"Read<\/u><\/a><\/p>

What sort of bike can I use for cyclocross?<\/h3>

One of the reasons so many people choose cyclocross is because, for the majority of UK events, you can use any bike you like. Lots of people start off riding their existing mountain bikes before becoming addicted and buying an outright CX bike. I've seen all manner of bikes used in local cyclocross league races including a fat bike.<\/p>

Only at the National Trophy and National Championship events are you required to ride a bike which meets the Union Cycliste International (UCI) rules. That means it has to have dropped handlebars like a road racing bike and tyres that are no wider than 33 mm. Electric bikes are not permitted but I can see that changing eventually.<\/p>

I read an article recently that suggested you could convert a road bike for cyclocross. I personally don't recommend that approach. Cyclocross bikes look like road bikes but have a much wider clearance between wheels and frames.<\/p>

\"Image Wide clearances to reduce mud clogging are a must for cyclocross<\/em><\/p>

This is to allow the use of wider tyres and to prevent mud clogging. Cyclocross bikes usually have a higher bottom bracket than road bikes thus reducing the risk of hitting the ground as you pedal through corners.<\/p>

If you plan to buy a cyclocross bike you don't need to spend a fortune. Reasonable ones appear on eBay from \u00a3600 upwards. You can of course go mad and spend in excess of \u00a36,000 for a completely new bike.<\/p>

Most competitors however are probably using something that costs around \u00a31,500 to \u00a32,000 new. You can get really good bargains if you buy at the right time because cyclocross is so seasonal.<\/p>

\"Image Cantilever Brakes<\/em><\/p>

Cyclocross bikes with 'old school' cantilever brakes tend to be competitively priced. If you're not sure whether you'll stick with the sport don't just dismiss them. Many riders are still using cantilever brakes. Cyclocross is not a sport that really requires the stopping power of disc brakes. Much of the time your problem is moving not stopping.\u00a0<\/p>

Which is the best cyclocross bike?<\/h3>

Everyone has their own favourite cyclocross bike. I'll be quite honest, I favour Ridley Bikes mainly because of my love of all things Flemish. The fact that, although a Belgian company, they're made in Taiwan doesn't sway my sentimentality.<\/p>

\"ImageClassic cyclocross frame with a horizontal top tube<\/em><\/p>

Most bikes and their components are made in Taiwan or China in a limited number of factories. That doesn't mean that the bikes are all the same. Far from it. Two very similar-looking carbon bikes can be very different under the paint. It's all about the quality of the carbon and the manufacturing process.<\/p>

Talking of carbon fibre, don't feel you have to have a carbon fibre frame. Aluminium frames are nearly always cheaper. They may not be as light and stiff as carbon, but realistically, it won't make that much difference to your average local league competitor.<\/p>

What I think is important in a cyclocross frame is to have a flat (i.e. non-sloping) top tube, so it's easy to shoulder the bike and nice big clearances between the tyres and frame. Popular makes of cyclocross bikes include the following.<\/p>

It's always cheaper to buy a complete bike if buying a brand-new one. But if you decide to replace individual components with your own preference the financial advantage is diminished.<\/p>

Here's a list of probably the most popular cyclocross bikes in the UK:<\/p>