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Narrow CX tyres

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  • October 31, 2016 at 7:32 pm #26452
    Dan S

    Probably a long shot but my sons are getting into cyclocross and I quite fancy doing a little bit on the side (after haveing great fun on a CX/BMX track with them in Holland last week.  

    While I realise that the correct course of action is to buy a CX bike, my wife is at the stage where she narrows her eyes threateningly at new bar tape, much less a new bike.  So I need to stick to the trusty Defy (or possibly the Propel).

    The issue is tyres.  My 25mm 4 Seasons were sliding everywhere in Holland so I feel the need for something a bit knobblier.  Any ideas for CX tyres that will fit a Defy or Propel?  I think we’re realistically looking at 25mm, although it’s just possible I’d get 28mm in there…

     

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  • November 3, 2016 at 11:51 am #881161
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    Dan S

    Thanks for the advice chaps!
    Thanks for the advice chaps!
    Truth be told, it’s all pipe dream at the moment: my sons do CX with their club (Wessex League, but they’ve not started racing yet) and I had a go on the mud BMX track at Centre Parcs in Holland last week on my Defy and loved it. Cross looks fun so I thought I’d investigate.

    I think I’ll probably go with the tourer as is to start with and then either switch it to bar ends or sell it (it’s too big for me really anyway) and get a basic CX bike with the money if She agrees.

    November 2, 2016 at 11:08 pm #881159
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    OldnSlo

    Just started racing cx this
    Just started racing cx this year.
    I use a 29er (full sus – previous injury) – if you have a decent mtb/hybrid – use it.
    Tyre choice is kind of important – I run 1.8 conti mud kings, but in reality cx 33/34 could have been ok. In thick mud riding on wide tyres is like mud-sailing. When ridining thru mud, tyre pressures need to be low. With tubes – about 35psi, tubeless a bit lower, tubular lower still (25) . But pressure is dependent upon surface. If the ground is hard then up the pressure a bit. Also for a hard dry surface an mtb would be a nut saving option.

    November 2, 2016 at 10:06 pm #881157
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    ped

    Dan S wrote:

    Dan S wrote:
    On the other hand, I’ve got my old Dave Yates tourer that would take 32mm tyres easily. Of course, it has non-indexed gears with downtube shifters, but how often could I need to change gears in CX, right?

    … or singlespeed it. SSCX is ace. Less to go wrong and more to blame for any poor results.

    My first season of CX was on a singlespeed, built up from parts in the shed and a £50 eBay frame. Of course then I got the bug and well … n+1, innit?

    Which league are you looking to ride in? 

     

    November 2, 2016 at 7:41 pm #881155
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    Roadie_john

    Dan S wrote:

    Dan S wrote:
    On the other hand, I’ve got my old Dave Yates tourer that would take 32mm tyres easily. Of course, it has non-indexed gears with downtube shifters, but how often could I need to change gears in CX, right?

    go old school with bar end shifters. The shiman shifters have index and friction shift settings. You should be able to pick up second-hand 8-9 speed bar ends for a few quid. They’ll not be much better than the down tube levers but you’ll score high for retro chic. 

    November 2, 2016 at 12:08 am #881153
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    Dan S

    On the other hand, I’ve got
    On the other hand, I’ve got my old Dave Yates tourer that would take 32mm tyres easily. Of course, it has non-indexed gears with downtube shifters, but how often could I need to change gears in CX, right?

    November 1, 2016 at 11:57 pm #881151
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    Dan S

    mike the bike wrote:

    mike the bike wrote:

     

    We have a lot in common Dan.  I too quite fancy “doing a little bit on the side” but my wife is not in favour either.

    I suspect I’d get in less trouble for that than for buying another bike…

    November 1, 2016 at 6:46 pm #881149
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    surly_by_name

    Even if you could find a cx

    Even if you could find a cx tyre with a narrow advertised width, I suspect the side knobs would buzz on the stays, especially if you buckle rim, unless you use a proper file tread (and although its been unseasonably warm and dry so far this season, can’t imagine file treads will be tenable for too much longer this season). At Herne Hill (London CX) 2 Sundays ago there was a chap riding a road bike.

    November 1, 2016 at 6:31 pm #881147
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    Simon E
    HalfWheeler wrote:
    Sell one of your bikes and replace it with a 2nd hand cross bike?

    or a MTB (allowed in most local leagues).

    The Defy’s brakes will clog up with mud and make it unrideable in the first lap unless it’s bone dry. It’s why CX bikes have canti or disc brakes.

    November 1, 2016 at 6:31 pm #881145
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    mike the bike

     

     

    We have a lot in common Dan.  I too quite fancy “doing a little bit on the side” but my wife is not in favour either.

    November 1, 2016 at 6:11 pm #881143
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    HalfWheeler

    Sell one of your bikes and

    Sell one of your bikes and replace it with a 2nd hand cross bike?

    November 1, 2016 at 5:01 pm #881141
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    rogermerriman

    At 25mm your probably looking

    At 25mm your probably looking at touring/hybrid tyres. One of my SS I had marathon @25mm for tow path/park tyre stuff it coped, though the tread that there is doesn’t bite in wet grass and clogs but it does a lot better than slicks!

    November 1, 2016 at 4:38 pm #881139
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    Critman

    This Leonard Zinn article on

    This Leonard Zinn article on CX tyre choices is worth reading. But considering most popular CX sizes start @32mm finding a worthy a 25/28mm tyre could be slim.

    http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/01/news/technical-faq-with-lennard-zinn-tires-for-cyclocross_271584

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