there's no need for durability in a cross race. lack of brakes in that sport is not a big issue. oops brakes go out, oh i've got another bike sitting in the pits waiting for me. i mean seriously, durability isn't a huge huge factor in cross concerning braking. the only place where durability is an issue is with shifting and flats. when was the last time you heard having no brakes slowed someone down.....they help but if you have even the slightest power from the NICE canti's ie spookys/empella's than you should be able to slow down slightly if you seriously need to.Just James said:
did u see Lance's Cross bike on VN ?
- Thread starter rockracing
- Start date
Not exactly an orgument against disk brakes, exept to maybe exclude people who can't afford another bike in the pits??indieboy said:
I realize that durability isn't the biggest concern for the UCI pros out there, they couldn't really care if the bike only lasts 1 or 2 races. And that's fine, same with race cars, motorcycles, etc all get rebuilt after every race.indieboy said:
What I'm saying is that because the UCI "says so" with no real reason besides the fact that they're afraid of new technology, then that effects everyone from the guy doing his first cross race, all the way up to DeClerq. That means that if Joe MTBer wants to give the whole 'cross thing a try, he can't pull out his $1000 disc-equipped hardtail, his only bike, and try. No discs.
It's really a pointless rule. If the DeClerqs of the world want to run the lightest, trickest bike out there, with custom frogleg brakes, that's totally coool, I'll drool over the pics up on Cyclingnews.com all day long, but that means that some people can't run what they want, or they have to get yet another bike to do it.
99% of people racing cross don't have another bike waiting for them in the pits. I'd bet that a good percentage of those people are also riding to work, and riding the trails on their "race" bikes. It's just another example of the UCI not being connected to the average rider.
I liked it better when the USCF would allow them, although I of course realize that you can't have two different governing bodies with two different rules, kinda like NORBA and the UCI.
Same with the World Cup next year, outside assistance is allowed, how many of the big names out there are going to have extra bikes waiting on each lap if they have a problem? And where does that put the privateers, the ones who are maxing out their credit cards and sleeping in their cars, just to get to each race. I'm not sure if NORBA is going to follow the UCI's new regulations, but god, I really, really hope not.
Yet another tangent!
Sorry to write a novel, but I really feel kinda strongly about this...
JJames
The world cup's new rule is a huge disappointment, but that's a whole 'nother topic.
Disc brakes should be allowed in cross racing. There's no reason not to, as the chance for injury is extremely slight. The rotors are on the left side of the bike anyway, the side facing YOU when you sling the bike. Discs ARE stupid for cross, but we shouldn't need the UCI to take them away. Think about this, you can get some Spooky Carbon brakes that will save a POUND over a disc setup (not even thinking about the heavier hubs) for the price of a good set of disc brakes. A wheelchange with rotors will not be as smooth or quick, as you have to take care not to warp your rotor on the way in. Cross racing is far from technical and the need for heavy braking power is about as common as guys being wounded by another dude's brake rotor. There's a reason that cantis are used, and it's because they are the best tool for the job, not because the UCI won't get with the times.
Disc brakes should be allowed in cross racing. There's no reason not to, as the chance for injury is extremely slight. The rotors are on the left side of the bike anyway, the side facing YOU when you sling the bike. Discs ARE stupid for cross, but we shouldn't need the UCI to take them away. Think about this, you can get some Spooky Carbon brakes that will save a POUND over a disc setup (not even thinking about the heavier hubs) for the price of a good set of disc brakes. A wheelchange with rotors will not be as smooth or quick, as you have to take care not to warp your rotor on the way in. Cross racing is far from technical and the need for heavy braking power is about as common as guys being wounded by another dude's brake rotor. There's a reason that cantis are used, and it's because they are the best tool for the job, not because the UCI won't get with the times.
It was the Euro manufactrures that got the ban in place...people like Colnago and the like didn't want to have to mess making disc frames and forks, cause they knew there pros would want them. Contrary to what was said pro do smoke out there brakes sometimes...especially in the really cold sloppy muddy conditions.....i'd take discs anyday over rim brakes even if i had a spare bike to change too.
Man, this thread is still around?
Seriously, I don't see how someone who rides a cross bike could think that disc brakes are a really good idea. I ride my Empella on roads and trails, in hot summers and freezing winters. I live in VT a good part of the year so if I want to ride, mud is part of the equation. I've never wished for more power or better modulation. The limits of the bike are generally reached well before that becomes a big factor. Plus, cross is all about minimalism and speed. Discs are not needed, so they need to go.
Seriously, I don't see how someone who rides a cross bike could think that disc brakes are a really good idea. I ride my Empella on roads and trails, in hot summers and freezing winters. I live in VT a good part of the year so if I want to ride, mud is part of the equation. I've never wished for more power or better modulation. The limits of the bike are generally reached well before that becomes a big factor. Plus, cross is all about minimalism and speed. Discs are not needed, so they need to go.
I don't think it matters whether you feel that they're useless, or if I think they're the best thing ever, or what. I really think it's fine that people don't see the need for discs, some people do, the issue here is that the UCI has taken the choice away for really no reason at all.JRogers said:
Cantis are much lighter, and in most cases, will work just as well, but for the guy who commutes to work on his "race" bike, can't get a hand-off new bike 3x per lap. It's just lame for lame's sake...
JJames
hey james,
i'm not trying to be rude, bout could giant please stop making that semicompact crap on a cx bike??? please don't say "well our pros are smoking on it.....". yes, yes they are however, those guys could crush it on a number of bikes.
having the ability to shoulder a cx bike is nice....
i'm not trying to be rude, bout could giant please stop making that semicompact crap on a cx bike??? please don't say "well our pros are smoking on it.....". yes, yes they are however, those guys could crush it on a number of bikes.
having the ability to shoulder a cx bike is nice....
You can be as rude as you want, I don't work for Giant, so...indieboy said:
Haven't in ~6 months or so...
Take it up with them I suppose...
I don't really see the use in a CX bike too...Give me a nice steel or Ti frame...
k i'll go on my rant then. compact geometry for a cx bike simply does not work, at all. no room to shoulder your bike. short headtubes are a bitch too, simply for leverage purposes. sitting down like a road bike on a cx bike throws the handling off.Just James said:You can be as rude as you want, I don't work for Giant, so...
Haven't in ~6 months or so...
Take it up with them I suppose...
I don't really see the use in a CX bike too...Give me a nice steel or Ti frame...
and are you refering to aluminum for cx bikes? i'm riding a custom steel bike and that's all i've ridden for cx so i can't comment on how an aluminum bike rides. i'll say that my steel cx bike is soooooooooooooooooooo smooth
The Devo guys riding the Giant cross bikes might have been smokin fast, but they weren't thrilled about the design. There's not a whole lot of credit for good results that can be attributed to a frame design.