The Best Cyclo-Cross Race Bikes

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A recent blog post compared cyclo-cross racing to NASCAR, ‘the most boring motorsport in the world’. The rationale? The same racers always win, any strategy is pointless because crashes and disaster are just around the corner, and the spectators at cyclo-cross races bear a disturbing likeness to NASCAR’s beer swilling viewers, especially in Belgium…

However you feel about the racing, there’s no similarity between the archaic American sheetmetal of NASCAR and the carbon cyclo-cross race bikes at any of the World Cup races. While NASCAR cars haven’t changed much in 10 years, cyclo-cross bikes are evolving rapidly. What are the biggest changes?

Firstly, the brakes, the most divisive of topics. Cantilever brakes are the tried and true option. At least 6 decades of optimisation have made them lightweight, easy to adjust, easy for wheel changes, and reasonably effective. The challenge with any rim brake in mixed conditions is that a dirty brake pad on a dirty rim equals a much longer braking distance, resulting in an unhappy sail through the course tape for those that misjudge the conditions.

Disc brakes seem to the sensible choice, however, the added rotating weight, difficult wheel changes, and noise are downsides. This year the cantilever is holding steady in the elite ranks; the only top ten for discs in cyclo-cross was Jeremy Powers’ 7th place at the first World Cup in Czechoslovakia this year. Disc brakes will make sense for cyclocross but not everyone agrees whether they make sense yet.

Then there’s wheels & tyres where many consider the only option for the competitive cyclocross racer to be the tubular. They do allow for a lower pressure which results in better traction and a smoother ride, and all whilst remaining (almost) impossible to pinch flat. Tubeless tyres are a more cost effective option, with clinchers the least desirable choice but good for starters.

Finally there is the rise in popularity of electronic over cable operated shifting, sensible given what mud does to bicycle mechanicals, in particular cables slathered in mud slows shifting and increases the risk of chain breakage. Electronic shifting resolves muddy cables but adds complexity. Still many Dura-Ace and Campagnolo sponsored riders are ditching the cables for electronic shifting this year. The reliable shifting under power and resistance to the elements are the two most frequent reasons given for the switch. However, for many amateurs it may still currently represent an overly expensive option.

Having said that if money were no object, what would you ride? We’ve put together our list of the most desirable cyclo-cross race bikes on the planet. These are some of the finest machines for racing in muddy fields. Enjoy.

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