

However, recently the racier end of the gravel segment has started to accommodate itself to the needs of cyclocross riders.Ī host of bikes with massive clearance combined with nippy handling and low weight have hit the market this year. Yet despite having more in common than what sets them apart, both genres existed somewhat antagonistically of the other. Of course, you can pretty much always ride a cyclocross bike at a gravel event and vice versa.

With their tendency towards slacker and more stable handling, emphasis on long-duration comfort, and massive tyre clearance, Gravel bikes have their own specific traits-this left bike makers in a quandary produce dedicated cyclocross bikes of limited general appeal, or make gravel bikes and get rich?

All glamorous, American, and not caked in filth, it quickly became very fashionable. What’s the difference between a cyclocross bike and a gravel bike? Plus, with Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock all racing, this winter racing format has been enjoying something of a moment in the sun. Making them more than usable on the road, if you’re only going to own a single bike, a cyclocross bike makes a great choice. Designed for racing, they’re light, stiff, very strong, and generally quick to turn and accelerate. More recently, almost all cyclocross bikes have settled into a format that resembles a road bike that’s been hitting the gym. Related – The Desire Selection: The best winter jackets There’s also the fact that to prevent anyone from enjoying excessive grip or comfort, tyres are limited to a UCI mandated maximum of 33mm. They also had high bottom brackets to stop you from grounding your pedals in the sand and mud, along with various other geometry-based quirks. As you’d only be racing for an hour, they often did without bottle mounts (which was terrible if you were training or using them for any other purpose). Go back far enough, and cyclocross bikes were kind of weird. However, in recent years, the design of cyclocross bikes has been shaken up. Practised most ardently in the Low Countries, cyclocross is one of cycling’s most esoteric and traditional formats. The complete guide to the Desire Selection What is a cyclocross bike? In fact, we used to hold our very own ‘cross race in London’s Crystal Palace. As a discipline, it’s either going to be one you love or that you find puzzling. Generally, the worse the weather, the more torrid the conditions, and the more slow-motion crashes, the more successful the event is deemed to be.
