Cross on Cross
I’ve never ridden in a cyclocross race.
I know very little about the nuances of the sport.
Nevertheless, I am excited to dive into that world.
But I’ve noticed a few oddities that need to be addressed. Forgive my ignorance, but ‘cross seems to be an extremely finicky game. Tires have to be set up just right. And not only that, but just the right tires have to be used in just the right conditions. Not to mention the ongoing debate about tubulars VS. tubeless. And while I can completely understand that the various racing conditions associated with cyclocross demand various tread patterns and psi weights, the entire discussion is rather overwhelming for somebody only now just walking into the room. Can’t I just find some durable rubber and go ride my bike?
One might make the argument that the same discussion exists in mountain biking. Perhaps. But there is also that option in mountain biking—and on the road—of simply rolling out of the store and hitting the trails with whatever it was that the bike came equipped with. Is that even an option in ‘cross? The spinning I did around the neighborhood on the cheap tires that my Presidio came with was flat laden and headache inducing. Skinny tires, inflated with skinny tubes, riding over dirt is a natural combination for flat tires. And so, it becomes necessary to resolve that issue. Right?
I’m optimistic that I’ve done just that. But it took a rather vexing and prolonged approach. And still, I’m not exactly certain that the solution I’ve worked out—Stan’s rim strips and sealant, with Pirhana tires—will work in the long term. To read the many articles and forum threads about ‘cross tubeless, it becomes easy to believe that nothing works very well, and that most everything will turn out in disaster. Which is why I find myself thinking that this hybrid sport of cyclocross is more high maintenance than any other cycling I’ve ever done.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I can simply ride my bike. In fact, that is what I intend to do.
Just as soon as I figure out how to keep my tires inflated.
Exit Question: Am I making this harder than it needs to be?
11 Comments
Kyle
September 15, 2010Unless things have change A LOT in the last two years messing with tubeless in cross is going to the most high maintenance thing you’ve ever done. Sacrifice a bit of weight and tire pressure and run tubes (with sealant inside them) or some money and buy some EA70x’s and tubulars. Everyone I know (which isn’t everybody) that has tried tubeless in cross gave up on it pretty quick. (Racer, Dan, myself, Arthur, etc)
Kyle
September 15, 2010Unless things have change A LOT in the last two years messing with tubeless in cross is going to the most high maintenance thing you’ve ever done. Sacrifice a bit of weight and tire pressure and run tubes (with sealant inside them) or some money and buy some EA70x’s and tubulars. Everyone I know (which isn’t everybody) that has tried tubeless in cross gave up on it pretty quick. (Racer, Dan, myself, Arthur, etc). Maybe you’ll have good luck though? Good luck.
Bob
September 15, 2010You are making it too hard, I have run tubeless for 3 years and not had any problems, except for a too fast corner where the tire blew off (tubed tire woulda done the same). And opinions on the web are just that, opinions.
Oh, you made need some finesse, you can’t just plow over shit like on your MTB.
Oh, and you should pay attention the MTB course conditions before choosing pressure and tread patterns, should being the key operator.
Me, I run the same tires I have, changing pressure dependent upon course conditions for MTB and CX.
Grizzly Adam
September 15, 2010WTF is finesse?
Bob
September 15, 2010ask Bart…..
Jason
September 15, 2010Adam – ran the exact same setup last year with mixed results. Worked like a charm a few of the races, and had burpinp/rolling issues in a few others. Must qualify myself as one lacking the finesse that Bob mentions, which could certainly be to blame. Did the tubes with sealant in them my first year and never had a problem – but didn’t race the Draper course that year, the one track that seems more adept and producing nice harvests of goatheads than all others.
Bart
September 15, 2010This can be simple.
Like in every sport the higher the level the more the gear makes a differnce. In a short and intense game like cross every second counts, when your on the rivit for an hour you can’t be second guessing the gear and as you gain experience with low volume cross tires you will also be able to feel the differnce in a couple pounds of tire pressure. It’s like waxing nordic skis!
I have run tubeless for years and just in the last few years have I used tubulars. In the past I did not like the tubular options, limited tread options and very fragile. They are also way more work, more expensive, and less practical for everyday riding. Having said that, they rule for racing! Now there are tons of good tubulars availible and they are much better for dialing in tire pressure for slick and/or bumpy courses. There is no better feeling than sticking an off camber icy/muddy corner at full speed with the rim barely suspended above the ground by minimal air pressure, it’s like defying the laws of physics.
Having said that, I have always had great luck with tubelss. I have used the Michelin Mud 2 with a stans strip and sealant without trouble. I have gone entire seasons running nothing but tubless Michelins, winning races in all conditions. In 2007 at cross nationals I had one bike set up tubless and one bike set up with tubulars. It was sliiick!!! I changed bikes from the tubeless to the tubular at the mid point due to mud/ice build up and could not tell the diference. Finished 7th elite. Both set ups ripped! 2005 cross nationals in Portland was also muddy and I ran Michelin muds again set up tubeless and finished 10th. The tires were not holding me back. So if it is done right tubeless works great.
Not all tires are the same and I use Michelin muds because they are high volume, have very consistent beads, supple side walls, great tread, roll fairly well, and wear great. Actualy I am still using the pair from 07 nationals and just replace the stans each year. I have used other tires without the same luck.
If you want to try out some different tire options come up and lets go for ride. You are welcome to ride some of my tubulars or tubless wheels and we can dial in the pressure for you. You can get a feel for it.
Sorry this is so long but I have been doing this for years and am happy to pass on some of what I have learned. I don’t know it all and I continue to learn and refine technique, strategy, gear selection, training, line selection, etc.
I think next year I am going to do a series of cross camps to start passing on what I have learned over the past 15 years. The wonderfull thing about cross it is technique dependent and you can improve for years despite not improving the motor. No wonder UTCX got over 400 riders per race last year. This year will see over 500…
later man
Grizzly Adam
September 15, 2010Nice! Thanks Bart. I’m really pumped about CX this year. I like the learning curve, but just want to make sure I’m going down the right path. In the next few days I should have a much better idea how my set up will work as I get some miles in.
Daren
September 15, 2010Ditto what Bart said. I’ve run the same tubless setup as him for years without problems. However, I moved to tubulars a couple of years ago and won’t go back.
Cross is more gear intensive than other forms of cycling but that’s part of the appeal. Again echoing Bart, Cross is the great equalizer. More than other forms of cycling I’ve tried, good technique and the right equipment choices can close the engine gap a little. I’m far more competitive on the cross bike than on the MTB or espeically the Road bike.
Joshua
September 15, 2010After spouting all that wisdom in the parking lot up at Lambert tonight, I flatted twenty minutes later.
Good talking with you.
Grizzly Adam
September 15, 2010Lambert has some rough spots. I burped a couple of times, but only a little. It all felt much rockier than it does on the MTB.
It was good to meet you. Hope to see you at the races.