cyclocross
- Thread starter bighitter
- Start date
Hugor
Likes Dirt
I use these little levers when cruising around. Really like them but still have normal brake shifters on the drops.
silentbutdeadly
has some good things to say
If you wanted to go to flat bar then this is all you'd need though bear in mind that you may want a longer/shorter/lower/different stem as well. Although Hugor's interrupter levers are a good middle ground option.
Following on from this helpful advice...can I have your brifters? :bolt:
Trying to turn it into a solid fork 29er?
Big JD
Wheel size expert
Riding road bikes off road is really dumb- that is why we have mountain bikes
Hugor
Likes Dirt
I didn't get it but having tried it I'm completely sold on the concept.
Whilst riding in circles around muddy fields with skinny tyred drop bar bikes doesn't appeal to me, gravel grinding is completely different.
All those fire roads that I avoided and cursed at as a mountain biker have taken on a new meaning.
When you speed them up by 2 or 3 times they are much more fun.
I'm now searching for them and linking them up forming huge loops with short bitumen stretches.
I now ride from my front door, get my trail fix and ride home …. no car needed!
Its nowhere near as sketchy as I thought it would be. I actually think my cross bike handles Perth pea gravel better than my mtb does.
gead
Likes Dirt
I bought a cx/touring/gravel bike to put a kiddie seat on and 'get into cycling' along bike paths.....such a versatile bike....
before I knew it I was on the yarra trails, cutting laps on the boulevard, and even took it up lake mountain...it let me go anywhere.
Next minute, I had bought a mountain bike, and then a road bike....
Whilst the specialist bikes are great fun and so focused at what they are designed for, the crosser was a great introduction to 'cycling' and I still love doing a lap of the boulevard in the morning and dropping into the single track on the way back!
before I knew it I was on the yarra trails, cutting laps on the boulevard, and even took it up lake mountain...it let me go anywhere.
Next minute, I had bought a mountain bike, and then a road bike....
Whilst the specialist bikes are great fun and so focused at what they are designed for, the crosser was a great introduction to 'cycling' and I still love doing a lap of the boulevard in the morning and dropping into the single track on the way back!
Danny B
Likes Dirt
I love my cross bike, riding sealed and unsealed and fast flowy singletrack. I'm not a good enough rider to tackle anything too extreme, but I have witnessed cross bikes going down some gnarly trails (admittedly ridden by pros/ex-pros).
John, have you tried out any monstercross-style flared drops? They might be more to your liking. Especially if coupled with a high-rise stem. I run Salsa Cowbells which are essentially modern compact drops with a slight flare. Love em. The Salsa Woodchipper, WTB Mountain Road or On-one Midge bars are more extreme. The Salsa bars are a nicer shape than the On-ones IMO. I'm only saying this because babies and bathwater and all that.
I couldn't swap my CX bike for drops without running a slammed 150mm+ stem, which seems kinda derpy to me.
Horses for courses.
John, have you tried out any monstercross-style flared drops? They might be more to your liking. Especially if coupled with a high-rise stem. I run Salsa Cowbells which are essentially modern compact drops with a slight flare. Love em. The Salsa Woodchipper, WTB Mountain Road or On-one Midge bars are more extreme. The Salsa bars are a nicer shape than the On-ones IMO. I'm only saying this because babies and bathwater and all that.
I couldn't swap my CX bike for drops without running a slammed 150mm+ stem, which seems kinda derpy to me.
Horses for courses.
Hools
Likes Dirt
Shucks Hugor. You'll make me blush, mate.