Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => The Knowledge => Topic started by: quixoticgeek on 03 November, 2019, 11:42:28 am
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What would people recommend for a beginner's cyclo-cross tyre? I wanna give cross a go, but am rather skint, I'm looking for something that won't totally suck at the race, but also will survive the ride too/from the race too
My bike will take upto 57mm width, but I'm not sure what the rules are on tyre width in the local amateur league.
J
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you need to find out about what width tyres are allowed before anyone can recommend you anything....?
cheers
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Ask 5 cyclists about tyres, you'll get 6 suggestions..............
As well as width, you'll also have to take into account the state of the surface: muddy ? sandy ? rocky ? grassy ? etc.
For a fairly hard surface I'd look at Panaracer Gravelking SK. I've got them on my bike and for gravel, a bit of mud and on road they're very good. Fairly cheap and puncture resistant too so, if 'cross doesn't work for you, they'll still have some use.
Mine are coming up to 5000 miles and they're still in good condition. Sure they've punctured (about 3 times each) but I ride through a lot of glass on the urban trails around MCR.
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Challenge Grifo are pretty popular with CX racers round here, as are the various of Conti's CX offerings. As stated, it'll vary depending on how muddy you like it. UCI tyre widths state <= 33 mm, BC are pragmatic about this for domestic competition, nobody cared about my 35 mm tyres when I did a season a few years ago but unless things are different in Holland, I doubt you'd get away with anything huge.
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Amateur events here usually allow MTBs and have no bike checks. Anything 35mm-ish is unlikely to raise eyebrows. Might be completely different where you are of course.
My thinking for an unknown course is that if it's wet you'll regret not having full nobblies, and won't mind them if it's dry. CX Kings are what I have and they're pretty cheap.
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If you're on a budget and can cope with not being tubeless then Schwalbe Land Cruisers are good tyres - 'robust' to put it mildly, but they were the top pick for the three peaks CX for a long time owing to their resilience to flints and whatnot. You can get them for about £20/pair.
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I just stumbled on this (at the SW-England 'cross site):
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5. WHAT KIND OF BIKE SHOULD I RIDE?
Ideally a cyclocross bike but mountain bikes are also OK. Over the years we have also seen fat bikes and a foldable shopping bike at events.
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:o :D
Anyway, I'd basically say:
- check with your local league for "interpretations" of The Rulez.
- if you can't be arsed, just buy some proper "mud" CX tyres (which will be around 32-33mm). They'll work on more courses than just about any other variety, and will be fairly useful for general riding.
- tubeless is an advantage in this discipline, but I've honestly not had a problem doing several races with inner tubes. Not ideal, but they do work.
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It's definitely not compulsory - I think it's much more important for summer cross, when the courses tend to be lumpy and flinty. The last summer race I did had big orrid pinch-puncture causing fissures all around the track as the heat wave had drained out all the moisture.
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Get some 32 mm tyres suitable for mud, once into mid-October it'll be muddy nearly always unless the ground freezes! I used mud tyres all the time, even when it was dry, and I would guess many riders in local leagues do. I also used to ride at least part of the way to most events, does wear the knobbles a bit but they'll last a couple of full seasons at least unless otherwise damaged.
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If you haven’t already, I’d check who organises the league. As in Belgium, there are a number of different organisations. If it’s the main federation, you might well need a BC licence, but the other Wielerbonds have their own licences ( usually available at your first race for a few euros.)
PS it’s normal to pay for your number as well, but you are refunded when you return it at the end of your race.
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https://bike.michelin.com/en/products/michelin-power-cyclocross-jet on the front
and
https://bike.michelin.com/en/products/michelin-power-cyclocross-mud on the back
It's a good combination off road.
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https://sites.google.com/site/amsterdamsecrosscompetitie/in-english
Is this the one you are thinking of? It seems very relaxed about the bikes, but you will need a BC ( if you are still a UK National) licence , and pre- entry is compulsory.
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https://sites.google.com/site/amsterdamsecrosscompetitie/in-english
Is this the one you are thinking of? It seems very relaxed about the bikes, but you will need a BC ( if you are still a UK National) licence , and pre- entry is compulsory.
Oh bollocks, I had confused KNWU with NTFU. That's an extra pain in the arse for an couple of Sundays a year. Hmmm, that kinda scuppers the idea.
Thanks for pointing it out before I bought the tires.
J
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https://sites.google.com/site/amsterdamsecrosscompetitie/in-english
Is this the one you are thinking of? It seems very relaxed about the bikes, but you will need a BC ( if you are still a UK National) licence , and pre- entry is compulsory.
Oh bollocks, I had confused KNWU with NTFU. That's an extra pain in the arse for an couple of Sundays a year. Hmmm, that kinda scuppers the idea.
Thanks for pointing it out before I bought the tires.
J
There seems to be an option of joining a local club and through that getting a version of a KNWU licence at not too much cost.
I’d also look at the non-KNWU races - what is usually known as the free federations. Certainly in Belgium they run cross races. I don’t know how it works in the Netherlands though.
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https://www.wvan.nl/
Might be a starting point for “ free federation” links in the Netherlands