Cross Bike vs. 29er Rigid
OK, here's my dilemma/problem/lusty issue right now. I don't race cross, but I love the things that a Cross bike can do. That being a bike tough enough to handle rough roads, some dirt roads, and some fatter than 23 or 25c tires.
While I have done some Cross races (2 to be exact), I am more interested in a Cross bike for what I like to call "Enduro-Cross". Iron Cross, Southern Cross, Hilly Billy, and a multitude of mountain and ghetto farm road loop that I've been doing over the past two years.
I have looked at a couple bikes that are catching my attention. One being the Cannondale CX 5, the other being the Bianchi Axis. I could score either at a very good price via my shop sponsor, but I just don't think I can justify the expense given other options. The other option being a couple parts swaps to the Mamasita or the ordered but not even close to having yet Salsa Ti El Mariachi.
A swap to a rigid fork and fatter cross tires, or 29er semi slicks like the WTB Vulpine would have the 29er in the stock weight range of either of those two Cross bikes by only a pound or so. A semi slick could easily be set up tubeless for flat protection, AND there would be the comfort factor (both mentally and physically) of using the bike that I most often race on. Not to mention hydraulic disc brakes (bling!).
Sice I have no plans to race legit cross, it's totally legal to race a 29er in the above mentioned races, and I have some pretty sweet 29ers, it seems like a no brainer to me. For about $275 I can get the Mamasita built as an Enduro Cross/Shit Road bike, and stick with the 29 inch wheels that done brought me. Hell with the money I save not buying a Cross bike I can get a freaking light ass wheel build to propel me further to the head of the mid pack.
By all means weigh in on this if you have an idea, recommendation, etc.,
Later.
posted by Jason @ 6:40 PM
19 comments
19 Comments:
If you're not a serious 'cross racer - the 29er idea sounds cool.
I've thought of doing the same thing - creating the all purpose "Monster Cross" bike.
I think you need a titanium cross bike to go with your titanium 29er. ;)
Mad Max the Mamasita for road/CX and save the casheesh for the ti mariachi. Plus, think how sweet the mamasita would look with a carbon fork.
i got rid of all my bikes except my rigid 29'er s.s. and my desalvo road bike and used the money from the money made off all my sold bikes to get a cx (full steel). i love it. can't take the road bike on gravel rides and go exploring. the s.s. handles all else. a cx bike completes the collection. throw some nice big fat grand bois cypress tires on and hit the road or gravel - cushy!
cheers
Jason, maybe do up a wheel set with some of the lighter, narrower tire offerings. Lighter: Stan's Crow, the aforementioned Vulpine, Furious Fred, Hutch Python, or the clasic Nano.
Narrower: Bontrager has a cool selection of narrower rubber based on their fatter 29"er offerings and some in TLR like the XR, XDX, and the "rear specific" 29-3. These tires range from 1.7 to 1,9 in width and heck, if'n ya got a "monster crosser, you could use 'em. Speaking of which, Origin 8 will have a mondo-cheapo steel monster cross frame this spring that'll be $200.00 MSRP with a steel fork, canti or disc.
There ya go!
GNAT- Not funny. LOL!
All the rest, thanks, dig the input.
Oh, I have also looked at the Vassago ODIS, Kona, and Sala forks too. All have their +/- IMO.
@Gted- Holy crap! $200 WITH a fork. That's like free.
A CX bike is sweet - I replaced my road bike with a (dope) Caad 9 CX bike, and I love my custom steel 29er, but the only bike I really miss is my rigid crap geared 29er. I rode that thing everywhere, in all sorts of crappy weather, for hours and hours and hours. I pine for the trusty (although crappy) Zion.
Save some money....Find a really old steel road bike with 27in wheels.....strip it down, put 700cc on it w/ cross tires(the drop in wheel size gives u extra clearance). Make it a singlespeed....if u want to do it cheap.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U8RWiO47sA8/SucEEFx414I/AAAAAAAAAWo/X0IDGr4BeoU/s1600-h/RaccoonTwpCross-MoM09.jpg
Free bike....maybe $75 in parts.
A 29 is faster than a cross bike on rough ground. Not worth the money to get a new bike if you're not going to race cross me thinks. And drop bars are silly anyway.
I currently have a specialized tricross.I ve done it both ways mtn bike and cross.(dont race cross just ride)And the cross bike is much faster on the road but a little slower offroad but great for fireroad,road,st long rides.
I threw on a pair of Continental Cross Kings on my Bontrager 29er wheels for the Month of Mud Cross/MTB series. Worked great in the grassy type races but a full suspension bike was ridiculous. I maxed the pressure in the rear shock but I lost so much power when I stood up and mashed. I got a cross bike at the black Friday sale and I love it. Road it in the Cross'd Bite last month and it was awesome. I really like the way you can get on the brake horns and power through stuff. It's set up with the duel MTB bike style levers but I quit using them even in the sketchy stuff. I really like the cross bike feel but then again Montana beat me at that race so don't listen to me.
I'm hoping for a disk-only cross offering from Salsa again this year so I can make the Cross-check my permanent fixie/commuter machine, and have a good excuse to build up a set of Stan's new Crest wheels so I can swap them between the disk-cross and the elMar on race day. I figure disk-only cross with a set of tubeless raven cross tires would make for a killer mudbike and winter trainer.
I picked up a SS Bianchi (San Jose) this past fall for a few hundred and am seriously diggin' it. I put a riser bar on it since I'm not a drop bar kinda guy and have been slaying dirt roads all winter. They are seriously addicting....
I hate my cross bike & will never race it in a cross race again. Come fall the Mamasita will get equipped with a carbon fork for CX racing, maybe even for the Hilly Billy race. The cross bike will only be used for those soul crushing rail trail rides I do.
I like this! Thanks folks! With no plans to do ACTUAL cross racing, or should I say COMPETE in an actual cross race, I might ride one, seems like a rigid Mamasita (or El M) would be the ticket for my plans. NOW, what fork?? LOL!
BTW- my fave line was from Don- "I hate my cross bike & will never race it in a cross race again." Too funny.
It's all about using the right tool for the job. You just to know how to use it.
With this weather we're experiencing forget the monster cross and ti mariachi - you need a pugsley!
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