Cyclocross Bikes

Cyclocross bikes are the choice of the rider who wants a little bit of extra challenge in their racing. Cyclocross courses are very challenging, multi-terrain routes, featuring a mix of mud, trail, grass, tarmac and other surfaces.

Riders also have to contend with obstacles which require them to get off and carry the bike, meaning that this winter sport, occasionally held in snow, is a real test of all-round fitness and grit. Cyclo cross bikes are therefore quite specialist and have features cropped from both road and mountain bikes.

They are robust enough to withstand the extreme conditions that the rider will face, but have the narrow tires and drop handlebars of a road racing machine. Like mountain bikes though, their tyres are ridged and their brakes are often cantilever designs to cope with the mud that is thrown up.

Gearing is also typically lower and some specialist machines are actually single-speed. Handlebars are often higher than a road machine's, as aerodynamics is not as important to riders in this event.

A Ridley cyclocross bike is a real top of the range purchase, with features on this type of model often including mudless tube technology on fork stays and integrated Kevlar cable guides, among many additions designed to sharpen performance.

Scott and Orbea are also manufacturers who produce cyclocross bikes, with Spanish company Orbea producing a range of machines which are slightly more expensive than Scott's models.

A cyclo cross bike functions well on the road and could be a useful machine for the rider who tackles a variety of surfaces in their training.