advice for Ski to Sea
bogelride
Posts: 7
Ski to Sea has ~12 mile 'cross' leg (xc ski, dh ski, run, rd bike, canoe, cx bike and kayak). I don't own one but of course I could do it in a mtn bike. But I'd like to do fairly well, so would like to get a bike for this race and prob will do some local trails and gravel on it as well.
This 12 mile leg- you can't preview it except the one day before the race bc private property including a small airport. They have called cops on some in past.
I think it is a really easy course if you are a cx rider, but prob pretty hard if you have never done that kind of thing (like me). I have mostly raced stage races.
Options:
1. Rent a gravel or cross bike for the race from LBS (would need to rent for ~ 1 wk to travel, preview course and race). Only real choice is a very nice bike $240 total charge (8 days). Don't have folks I could borrow or rent from. Cons: can't get used to it beforehand to become proficient (haven't done cross).
2. Race mtbike (would like to be faster than that). Sold my non suspension bike 2 yrs ago, drats.
3. Buy a used bike..this seems like best option. BEST CHOICE FOR $1000 or less????. Have checked Craiglist, Cx bike on Fbook and Pink Bike, but I don't know what is what in cross bikes.
Thanks in advance for any help!
This 12 mile leg- you can't preview it except the one day before the race bc private property including a small airport. They have called cops on some in past.
I think it is a really easy course if you are a cx rider, but prob pretty hard if you have never done that kind of thing (like me). I have mostly raced stage races.
Options:
1. Rent a gravel or cross bike for the race from LBS (would need to rent for ~ 1 wk to travel, preview course and race). Only real choice is a very nice bike $240 total charge (8 days). Don't have folks I could borrow or rent from. Cons: can't get used to it beforehand to become proficient (haven't done cross).
2. Race mtbike (would like to be faster than that). Sold my non suspension bike 2 yrs ago, drats.
3. Buy a used bike..this seems like best option. BEST CHOICE FOR $1000 or less????. Have checked Craiglist, Cx bike on Fbook and Pink Bike, but I don't know what is what in cross bikes.
Thanks in advance for any help!
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Comments
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Have you got an old road bike with plenty of clearance. If so just put some knobbly tyres on and away you go.0
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Thought about that but don’t really have much clearance on my old old racing bike from 2000 and could probably put a 25C or so which probably a bad idea.0
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In an other life I rode the Yorkshire 3 Peaks on 20mm knobblies on a bike that most people wouldn’t risk going to the shops on.bogelride wrote:Thought about that but don’t really have much clearance on my old old racing bike from 2000 and could probably put a 25C or so which probably a bad idea.
Can you find out how technical/ muddy/ rocky it’s likely to be.0 -
There is a course description which I can cut and paste but you can’t preview it until the day before from what I’ve heard and the rules state that. I’ll find it and post it
This is not very helpful. They change the course and anything from about 2017 and before was a different mountain bike ride.
https://youtu.be/2wyVmqoC7Bs0 -
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When you say "You'd like to do very well" how well will you do overall?
If it's "I'd be in the top 5 if I don't lose a few minutes on the CX course" then I'd get a CX to do it.
If it's "I want to do the best I can but will probably be outside the top 100" I'd just use the MTB and enjoy the event.My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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