Cyclo-Cross builds/kit/links

[Chris Clague]

That does sound very spinny. What's a 34 oval equivalent to? I ran 36 x 11/28 at the low end last season and it was a bit low for most courses. You'd be stronger than me. Planning on 38 x 11/28 1x10 this season

[WillBeresford]

Think you're right. Asked around last night at Summer CX and most were running 40T single rings.

I'll be laughing come winter knee deep mud though...

[danielwolman]

So a few questions:
1. Astrid has lent me some vittoria cross xg tyres, which was great until Thomas muddied the waters and said i need to consider which way round to run the tread... So would I be right in thinking on the back i want the chevron pointing forward and on the front i want it backwards?
2. What gearing, in an ideal world I'd still use my powermeter (yes i know this isnt in the spirit of CX) but the easy answer would then be running 50x34 or 52x39, i get the impression i wont want this gearing? So if not i also have the option of 46x39 but this means swapping chainrings about onto a shimano crankset so i can run my stages?
3. Am i going to die?

[Stuart]

1. It doesn't matter
2. You don't want road gearing. 46x39 probably OK at Herne Hill as there are no hills (ironically). Apart from Big Bob, but you won't be riding up that
3. Possibly. If the weather forecast is accurate

Actually, if it is wet and muddy it may help to run the chevrons backwards on the rear to maximise grip. But that will be negligible anyway.

[andrewnewman]

Those tyres are designed to run either way, with the chevrons pointing back for extra traction. I generally run mine forward. Neil glued my similarly treaded Challenge the other way around on the back, but what does he know?

For gearing, as Stuart said, you want tighter ratios than on a road bike. The really steep stuff is generally faster to run than ride, so you don't need super low gears. At the high end, anything over a 46 and you'll struggle to keep it spinning and lose momentum. I generally run a 46/36. [copy and paste your favourite single ring discussion here.]

To the best of my knowledge, no one's ever died at Herne Hill, although I did permanent damage to my right shoulder in a memorable incident that involved a grass skirt. So don't wear one, and you'll be fine.

[Chris Clague]

Andrew's too modest to mention the makeup he was wearing too.

[danielwolman]

Well my bike is ready. Now I just need to decide on pressure of tyres.

[WillBeresford]

Like I said before Dan, people turn up and ride on road bikes with slicks. You'll be fine.

[danielwolman]

shhh if im doing cyclocross then part of it is the fussing over the build up

[WillBeresford]

I'm just going to leave this here:
http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Focus/ ... C8A?wmp=39

[Chris Clague]

Shame about the brakes

[Stuart]

Proper brakes, proper gearing. Nice.

[Astrid Wingler]

May be one to recommend to Rael...

[Chris Clague]

Proper brakes, proper gearing. Nice.

From the man who's trying to flog his off

[Stuart]

Just softening the market