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Getting Into 'Cross

FBTMILF

Monkey
Aug 27, 2005
294
0
Colorado
Well. I race XC as of now and need something to do during the winter. Since riding XC can only be done during select times in the winter/fall and there are no races, I was thinking of getting into Cyclo-cross. It seems like the perfect training for me. Anyways.

I found a list of all the races in Colorado and plan on trying to do as many as possible. The first race I go to I was going to ride my XC bike in just to get a feel for what Cyclo-cross is like. After that I plan on getting a 'cross bike if I really like it. After watching videos and reading about it I'm really excited to try it out.

I was going to start looking for a bike already so I don't have to worry to much about it after the race and I can just start saving money.

The bike that I had in mind would be a good, new, $800 or lower bike that will work for a beginner.

Currently, I was looking at the Kona Jake.

Seems like a great bike for the price and for me to race a season + on.

All help is great and tips are awesome too! Thanks in advance.
 

Biscuit

Turbo Monkey
Feb 12, 2003
1,768
1
Pleasant Hill, CA
The bike that I had in mind would be a good, new, $800 or lower bike that will work for a beginner.

Currently, I was looking at the Kona Jake.

Seems like a great bike for the price and for me to race a season + on.

All help is great and tips are awesome too! Thanks in advance.
You should probably try it on an mtb first (rather than waste money).

I know some guys who are into it and are pretty passionate talking about the intensity and crap. Not my cup of tea, but it seems like one of those things you get super into.

How tall are you? My roomate has a Kona Jake that's set up pretty damn nice he's talking about getting rid of. (he claims he's not gonna race this year.. but we'll see). I think his is a 56cm. If your interested, I can press him a bit.
 

Heidi

Der hund ist laut und braun
Aug 22, 2001
10,184
797
Bend, Oregon
I've ridden a Jake the Snake, my husband has one and likes it. Cross bikes are not scary if you have decent skills. I ride mine a lot in the winter and it is super fun. It will be an excellent complement to your xc training/racing. It might be too late in the season, but you should check around and see if there are any clinics in your area. I know somewhere in Boulder used to hold a good one every year.

Practice practice practice your mounts and dismounts. Those are truly the key to doing well if you already race xc and have fitness. You can easily lose time on those if you aren't semi-efficient.

HAVE FUN!
 

FBTMILF

Monkey
Aug 27, 2005
294
0
Colorado
You should probably try it on an mtb first (rather than waste money).

Yeah. Thats exactly what I was going to do. Just looking for them so I can start to save money and if I don't want to get it I can put it to something else. Anyways. Thanks for the help. I found a list over here of all the races in CO. I'm going to do a few and see what I think. Thanks for the help again!
 

weimie

Monkey
May 11, 2006
236
0
Boulder, CO
I ride a Kona Major Jake and love it! CX bikes are perfect bikes for commuting/riding in Colorado with all the open space and connector trails.

If you're interested and able to do a morning CX training ride, there's one every Wednesday at 8am in Boulder. Approx 20 - 30 people show up and a few local XC pro's show up every week. They change the ride routes but I think they incorporate the Research Park for dismount/mount practice. I can get you the meet location if you're interested.

Don't know if you know about these but....http://www.boulderracing.com/cross.asp and http://redrockscyclery.net/index.cfm

Enjoy!
 

bluebug32

Asshat
Jan 14, 2005
6,141
0
Floating down the Hudson
Just curious what bike you ended up with. I'm actually thinking of picking up an 07 Jake the Snake frame for $400 and trasferring some road/new parts on it. Shouldn't be too bad. I wouldn't mind going used on the whole thing, but I'm a 49.
 

FBTMILF

Monkey
Aug 27, 2005
294
0
Colorado
Just curious what bike you ended up with.

I haven't picked one up yet. I'm going to do my first race in November. Probably the day before my birthday if I can.

I'm going to race on an old Trek. Rigid with 2.1 tires and see if I like 'cross. If I do then I'm going to sell my old MTB and probably get the Jake. Thanks for the help.