What do the CX guys think

[rideswithmoobs]

i posted this under the Ss forum and wondered what the CX competition guys thought about it. US market only but was interested in what you thought about the belt drive, Ss for entering in races and of the bike itself really
Raleigh RXS

 

[oldroadman]

Hub gear? Surely not single speed, which would be useless in CX. Perhaps a hybrid/gravel type thing for US use?

 

[rideswithmoobs]

Hub gear? Surely not single speed, which would be useless in CX. Perhaps a hybrid/gravel type thing for US use?

Nope it's a singlespeed Gates belt drive, 36/22
I have read of many who did/do CX on Ss and think @smutchin on here did one so not completely a useless idea

 

[oldroadman]

Nope it's a singlespeed Gates belt drive, 36/22
I have read of many who did/do CX on Ss and think @smutchin on here did one so not completely a useless idea

Useless as a cross bike then. More a novelty item, "because we can make one".

 

[rideswithmoobs]

Useless as a cross bike then. More a novelty item, "because we can make one".

I don't understand this 'useless' as in a Ss is useless as a road bike on hills too , but I do hills on mine and a guy completed the Fred Whitton challenge on one. I think it's not ideal but don't think it's useless

 

[dan_bo]

Nice paint jobs!


Bloke did the Stadt Moers a few years ago on fixed.


He was better than me.

 

[oldroadman]

I don't understand this 'useless' as in a Ss is useless as a road bike on hills too , but I do hills on mine and a guy completed the Fred Whitton challenge on one. I think it's not ideal but don't think it's useless

Depends on how masochistic you feel, I suppose! I'll stick with useless.

 

[rideswithmoobs]

Depends on how masochistic you feel, I suppose! I'll stick with useless.

Point taken

 

[smutchin]

Surely not single speed, which would be useless in CX.

My CX bike is singlespeed and I have raced on it. OK, so I didn't win, but that's nothing to do with the bike!

I like the simplicity of singlespeed for cross racing. At least you know you'll never be in the 'wrong' gear when you hit a steep bank...

Tbh, I find the lack of gears more of a compromise on the flat sections, where it limits your top speed somewhat.

 

[rideswithmoobs]

My CX bike is singlespeed and I have raced on it. OK, so I didn't win, but that's nothing to do with the bike!

I like the simplicity of singlespeed for cross racing. At least you know you'll never be in the 'wrong' gear when you hit a steep bank...

Tbh, I find the lack of gears more of a compromise on the flat sections, where it limits your top speed somewhat.

Is your Ss CX something you built up yourself ?

 

[smutchin]

Is your Ss CX something you built up yourself ?

Nah, it's an off-the-peg Felt Breed (from 2009, I think). They don't make them any more - probably because most people think singlespeed is useless for CX!

Does that Raleigh have an eccentric BB?

 

[smutchin]

Here's a nice piece about singlespeed cyclocross racing: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlecross.html

I don't have the same level of experience as the author but what he says definitely rings true for me.

 

[rideswithmoobs]

It does, sold out for 2016 according to U.S customer services

 

[outlash]

Genesis used to market the Day One as a singlespeed CX'er for years. It's not unheard of.

 

[rideswithmoobs]

Genesis used to market the Day One as a singlespeed CX'er for years. It's not unheard of.

And one if this years day one models, the decade, has gone back to its CX routes with off road specific gearing (lower gear inches I think a 36 chainring instead of a 46) and knobblies etc.