Entered my first Cyclocross race last night

Holy cow, cross is fun. I didn't have a bike as of yesterday, until my friend Ben mentioned that he had one in a garage of the house he lived in 2 years ago. It's an old, old mountain bike. It's red steel, splatter painted in black. Aw yeah.

So, I get to work on this thing, removing the front der and two rings, leaving me with a single 48 up front. There's a 7-ring 12-27 in back. I threw on some old Ritchey pedals a buddy has. It must weigh 28 pounds.

I was exhausted, but finished well in front of mid pack so I felt ok. Plus, I beat a lot of doods with fancy-pants 'cross bikes. Got all muddy and scratched up and I'm totally hooked. I firmly believe that while 'cross is super fun, it was created by an evil conspiracy of bike shop owners who can now persuade me that neither my road, mountain, or tri bike is adequate for this, and I need to drop another grand or so on a fourth bike. I'll show them.

Future plans for "The Tank," as it was dubbed last night, include 1.3 inch wheels, a drop bar with an extra wrap (she rides a little stiff!), a new BB, swapped brakes with an old Sora 8 speed STI lever on the right, and a Dukes of Hazard paint job. It could use a new chain and rear derailleur too.

I'm stoked. Any one else ride 'cross?

i'm pretty sure cantdog has a fairly trick cross bike up for sale for around three hundie.

always looked fun to me, the kind of sport where they should blast danger zone from top gun while you race.

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Originally Posted by basom

i'm pretty sure cantdog has a fairly trick cross bike up for sale for around three hundie.

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Oh yeah? If it weighs under 30 pounds, I'm not interested. :) (No, seriously, is there a thread?)

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Originally Posted by basom

always looked fun to me, the kind of sport where they should blast danger zone from top gun while you race.

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That would be perfect, actually. I scared the poop out of myself a few times, for sure.

here it is.

basom you kick ass.


I ride, but realized I have more fun jumping off stuff...so the cross bike has got to go.

you owe me a beer. or maybe just a tour around the 'loaf http://tetongravity.com/ubb/icons/icon12.gif

There's a used Serotta cross bike at one of the LBS here. It's too big for me, damn it!

Cornholio, why not bar-end shifters. Wouldn't that be easier since you'll be riding the drops a lot?

I've been thinking of getting into cyclocross. Looks like a load of fun, but do I really want another bike? My road bike can't even take my commute (I hammer hard, and cross railroad tracks and poorly done road repairs because it's a cheap POS). My mountain bike wouldn't have a chance in hell on a cyclocross course (30+ lb dual squishy).

But damn Cyclo looks like fun. Good job on the finish with a "frankenbike."

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Originally Posted by Viva

Cornholio, why not bar-end shifters. Wouldn't that be easier since you'll be riding the drops a lot?

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Yeah, actually... That's probably the first move no matter what, due to $$. I may also put a short straight bar with an aggressive stem angle, and leave the old thumb-button shifters on there.

sweet! yeah, i've got my first race ever in a few weeks (edit- first bike race of any sort whatsoever for that matter). picked up a used cyclo rig pretty cheap, hell it's only my 2nd bike after my rusty town hack anyways. looked forward to banging around the bike and my body!

There's been a Jake the Snake collecting dust at my LBS all season. The owner of the shop was offering below cost to just about anybody who'd take it off his hands. Soooo tempting.

Congrats on the race Cornholio. I've always had an interest, just never acted on it.

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Originally Posted by Cornholio

I firmly believe that while 'cross is super fun, it was created by an evil conspiracy of bike shop owners who can now persuade me that neither my road, mountain, or tri bike is adequate for this, and I need to drop another grand or so on a fourth bike. I'll show them.

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Nice! Racing kicks ass. I have never CXed raced due to the aforementioned reason. Road racing is costing me enough. Which is a bummer because there is about 10 CX races here in Durango over the next few months.

Just out of curiosity, if you are still in Cleveland where are the CX races held? I began my mediocre road racing career in the greater Cleveland area, and also did some mountain bike racing throughout Ohio. I did some MTB races down in Athens, some were outside of Columbus and one was at Alpine Valley on the East side.

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Originally Posted by Cornholio

Future plans for "The Tank," as it was dubbed last night, include 1.3 inch wheels, a drop bar with an extra wrap (she rides a little stiff!), a new BB, swapped brakes with an old Sora 8 speed STI lever on the right, and a Dukes of Hazard paint job.

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Don't even think about Bo and Luke Duke-ing that tank. You gotta keep on rockin' the splatter paint job. And I'll keep rollin' past the Litespeeds with the singled Monkey. One-two. :D

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Originally Posted by Artie

Just out of curiosity, if you are still in Cleveland where are the CX races held? I began my mediocre road racing career in the greater Cleveland area, and also did some mountain bike racing throughout Ohio. I did some MTB races down in Athens, some were outside of Columbus and one was at Alpine Valley on the East side.

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Artie, Bike Authority's team (used to be Bike Line) is putting on a nice Cleve-Land CX series now: http://users.adelphia.net/~rideon001...x/raceinfo.htm

The guys at The Knob have a series, too... As for Alpine Valley, the little speed bump, no more 'cross or MTB stuff that I know of... They've lost all of their singletrack real estate to developers.

Whoa. Another Cleveland ski addict?

HEY! You're not a stunningly beautiful blonde are you? With Tankers? And a full suspension bike?