5 bikes for getting muddy on the cyclocross course
Pick a shiny new cyclocross bike that you’ll run through the dirt
Whether you’re a seasoned cyclocross veteran or newbie, one of these five bikes will be just the thing for your races this fall.
Cannondale SuperX Di2
$6,700
With a head-tube angle of 71 degrees (for a Size 54), the SuperX, Cannondale carbon-fibre CX machine is one of the slackest bikes in this bunch, which, with its 1,020-mm wheelbase gives you excellent stability when the bike is pointed downward. To make sure the SuperX has some agility in the corners, it has a fairly high fork offset of 55 mm. The bike comes shod with Vittoria Terreno Mix TNT in a UCI-legal 33c width. For bumpy, non-sanctioned rides, you can run tires as wide as 40c. The drivetrain is a mix of Shimano and Cannondale’s HollowGram parts. A stiff HollowGram Si crank with 40-tooth SpideRing chainring sends the chain to an 11-34 tooth, 11-speed Ultegra cassette and XT Di2 rear derailleur.
No. 22 Broken Arrow (frame only)
US$3,199
Toronto purveyors of titanium bikes (via the company’s Johnstown, N.Y. facility) have a beautiful made-to-order cyclocross frame. The Broken Arrow sports fine esthetic details, such as the angular seatstay bridge, and precise construction, which you can really see in the mounts for the rear flat-mount caliper. The frame features a 44-mm-diameter head tube, which can accommodate a variety of forks, whatever taper their steering tubes may have. The bottom bracket uses the T47 standard so you can thread outboard bearings into the shell. Your crank will be quiet and easier to service compared with other BB standards. To bring some extra bling to the ’cross course, have your frame anodized.
Specialized CruX Sport E5
$2,559
The CruX Sport E5 by Specialized mixes aluminum and carbon to give you a fast ride through the mud. The frame is the company’s E5 Premium Aluminum with the alloy top tube shaped to make the bike easy to get onto your shoulder before you trudge up a run-up. A carbon fork lets you steer the Axis Sport Disc wheel with all-round Tracer Sport tire through the corners. Shimano RS505 hydraulic disc brakes do an excellent job of scrubbing speed, while the 105 components will get you rolling again, race after race.
Liv Brava SLR
$2,149
Women’s bike brand Liv has a rig that will get you to your first cyclocross race and serve you as your skills continue to grow. The Brava’s frame is made from Liv’s high-end ALUXX SLR process for creating the aluminum tubes. The tubes are 20 per cent lighter than the company’s second-tier ALUXX SL. The fork with carbon blades – set in a head tube at a fairly slack angle (71 degrees, size medium) – provide good high-speed control. The bike’s 50-mm fork offset means you’ll still be able to navigate the corners with confidence. SRAM’s Apex 1 group takes care of stopping and getting you up to speed with its 11-speed cassette (11–42 tooth) and rear derailleur. The SRAM S350 crank with 40-tooth chainring moves the chain. The Giant D-Fuse seatpost offers flex and comfort on bumpy riders.
Ridley X-Ride A45
$1,975
Get your feet wet, or muddy or sandy, with cyclocross on the Ridley X-Ride A45. The bike maker is based in the spiritual heartland of CX, Belgium. SRAM Rival levers, crank (42-tooth chainring) and derailleur form the base of the drivetrain. A SRAM PG 1130 11-speed cassette with a solid 11-32 tooth range gives you plenty of gearing options for the varied terrain you’ll encounter. Ridley’s house brand, 4ZA, is behind the stem, handlebars, seatpost and saddle, which all sport the Stratos designation – solid parts for your entry into ’cross.
