Whisper it quietly, but the start of the cyclocross season is not that far away. Riders up and down the country will be prepping their cross bikes, gluing on new tubular tyres and getting ready for some of the most exciting racing of the year. But what is cyclocross, and how does it different from other cycling disciplines? Read on to find out more.
What is Cyclocross?
Cyclocross, or CX for short, is a discipline of racing that usually takes place in the winter months. Traditionally it was used by road riders as a way of keeping their fitness up and honing their bike handling skills during ‘off-season’. The bikes themselves look at a distance like a traditional road bike, but feature slightly more tyre clearance (33mm is the maximum tyre size for UCI events), top tubes that are shaped for easy carrying on the shoulder (there is usually lots of off-bike running involved), and a lack of cables and bottle cages (again for easy carrying).
The races themselves are usually on a short course and run for around an hour. They feature an array of technical features such as off-camber corners, roots, boards to bunny-hop over and tight twists and turns. The racing can be fast, exciting and usually very muddy!
It’s all about the tyres!
Go to any cyclocross race and the pre-race talk will be dominated by tyre chat. From which tread pattern to the pressure being used, the tyres can be the difference between winning or finishing second. Luckily at Merlin Cycles, we have an excellent range of tyres covering everything from standard clincher tyres with inner tubes such as the Schwalbe CX Comp to the same tyres the pro’s use such as the hugely popular Challenge Limus Handmade Pro Edition Tubular which is designed specifically for use in muddy conditions. Need help to decide which are best for you? Get in touch with our Customer Service Team who will be more than happy to help.
A filthy business!
There is one thing guaranteed with riding cyclocross and that is mud. Keeping the bike clean between races is essential and is why you will also see riders going into the pits and swapping bikes to a spare midway through. The pit crew will work fast, cleaning off the thick mud to ensure the rider is ready for the next time they may wish to switch bikes. Again this is an area where races are won and lost and good cleaning equipment is essential both at the race and back at home. Stock up on cleaning suppliers here.
Warming up!
Again something you will see alot of at races is riders warming up before starting on rollers or turbo trainers. The Feedback Sports Omnium trainer is the most popular option as it is small, lightweight and doesn’t require any electricity to power it. It allows you to ensure all your muscles are ready to go without getting wet and muddy before the race even starts!
Give it a go!
Cyclocross racing is perhaps one of the most accessible and fun disciplines in cycling. Whilst many take it very serious, anybody can turn up and use a gravel or mountain bike (as long as it’s not a UCI event!). Keep watching our blog to watch my first season in cyclocross where I attempt to not finish last.
Find your local races on the British Cycling website here.
#crossiscoming
