Should I invest in a cyclocross bike?
jamlala
Posts: 284
Hi there. I'm a roadie of some 8 yrs standing, a MTB rider of a year or 2, and now I fancy trying CX. The club I belong to don't really get involved in CX (I'm in Brentwood, Essex) but I really fancy giving it a go. My question is, should I invest in a cheap 2nd hand cyclocross bike forst, or should I have a go at an event just using my MTB for starters?
Everyone I speak to has got sucked in by 'cross from the off, and I want some of that!!
Everyone I speak to has got sucked in by 'cross from the off, and I want some of that!!
Cannondale Supersix 105 2013- summer bike - love it!
Cannondale CAAD12 - racing fun!
Trek Crockett 5 - CX bike, muddy fun!
Scott Scale 940 MTB XC racer.
[email protected]
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Cannondale CAAD12 - racing fun!
Trek Crockett 5 - CX bike, muddy fun!
Scott Scale 940 MTB XC racer.
[email protected]
_`\<,_
---- (*)/ (*)
0
Posts
even if you don't like racing, the CX bike wont go to waste, Hell I haven't raced in my life, and use mine a couple of times a week as its plain nice.
That said one of the club members I ride with is trying to get me to come along tot he summer series CX that is just about to start ..... its a good way to start apparently as all the fast roadies are now back on the road, leaving the CX a bit less competitive compared to the winter and good for beginners
The majority of CX courses are not really optimised for MTBs, so riding them on an MTB might not give you the full 'experience'. I would go straight out and buy a CX - new or used, whatever your budget can tolerate. Lots of bargains to be had out there at the moment, both new and s/h.
I'm not rich so anything I buy is an investment! Trying to find some decent 2nd hand out there which is pretty tough. Trouble is, me being me, I want it NOW!!
I'll keep looking though, and the right thing will pop up. I hear what you say re: have a tryout first though, the last thing I want to do is buy the wrong thing.
Cannondale CAAD12 - racing fun!
Trek Crockett 5 - CX bike, muddy fun!
Scott Scale 940 MTB XC racer.
[email protected]
_`\<,_
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And have you continued racing?
Cannondale CAAD12 - racing fun!
Trek Crockett 5 - CX bike, muddy fun!
Scott Scale 940 MTB XC racer.
[email protected]
_`\<,_
---- (*)/ (*)
I bought an old alloy Paul Milnes for my girlfriend, fully working with a super-robust Campag groupset, for £150. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get something that will get you round the course...
Cannondale CAAD12 - racing fun!
Trek Crockett 5 - CX bike, muddy fun!
Scott Scale 940 MTB XC racer.
[email protected]
_`\<,_
---- (*)/ (*)
I'm not too far from yourself, actually work in Brentwood. I entered the Maldon & District Cycling Club CX races that were on over the winter, you don't need to be a member of the club & it's only £3.50 a race and the races are held in Battlesbridge. I think that they normally do a summer evening CX race series also. I'm also going to enter some of the Easterncross league races later in the year.
I ended up buying myself a cheap new CX bike (Raleigh RX Elite) to try my hand at racing, it was just under £400. I think that I'll keep it for another season, learn what I need from my next bike and then buy something better. There are plenty of people racing with mountain bikes and some were much quicker than me.