What is a Cyclocross Bike ?

[morehillsplease]

With the debate about people riding 'illegal' bikes in last year's race still rumbling on , I thought that it might be a good time to try to find out exactly what a Cyclocross Bike really is.

I own a classic Brian Rourke 531C cross bike , which I love , but it won't take a35mm tyre in the back - So I've been window shopping for something new.

The new Cotic X cyclocross bike caught my eye - Compliant Steel frame , choice of disc/canti mounts , and good tyre clearance - BUT - it's got a very compact MTB-style geometry , and with the detachable canti mounts removed , it starts to look a lot like a converted MTB.

I'd be very nervous about taking to the start line in September on a bike that looked so 'Ban-able' , yet it's listed as a cross bike by the manufacter !?!

So many bikes are appearing now , described as cross bikes , but with a second use built in (touring / commuting etc) that I'm really not sure where the line should be drawn.

Does anyone in the organisation have the time/patience to draw up a list of legal/illegal frames ? Or failing that , maybe a more precise set of design rules ?

P.S. If it's bone dry in late September , I'll probably run my Rourkie anyway , with a 32mm in the back - nothing rides like steel !

[monkeynut]

My old Alan wont take a 35 either shwalbie cx pros (30s) do it for me on the rear, bags of grip
ive even used them on a off road duathlon around the whinlatter mtb red route, no worries

[morehillsplease]

My old Alan wont take a 35 either shwalbie cx pros (30s) do it for me on the rear, bags of grip
ive even used them on a off road duathlon around the whinlatter mtb red route, no worries

Yep - me too - I've being using a CX Pro on the back with a 35mm Racing Ralph on the front . It's great for the kind of leisure-cross I usually ride where I can take my time on descents (In the Langsett and Holme valley areas mainly - Good practice for the 3peaks I think), but I don't have the skills to ride hard on such a narrow tyre. That's why I'd like a frame that rides like the old ones , but takes modern tyres.

Unfortunately , all the modern steel bike frames are a bit mixed up and Hybrid-y ,and I'm not sure whether a frame with clearance for 45mm tyres (Like a Surly) is a cross frame , or a 29er. And is the new Cotic I mentioned in my first post REALLY a cross bike , just because they're marketing it as one ?

Can anyone give me a clearer definition of what will , and will not be allowed ?

[minnellium]

This is probably handy - if you want a technical definition
http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTkzNg&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=34033&LangId=1

Don't get mixed up between bikes permitted for "UCI Races" though (Generally the Senior, Women's and Juniors National Trophy and National Champs in this country). The 3 peaks is its own events and for various historical reasons has its own rules.

[morehillsplease]

This is probably handy - if you want a technical definition
http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTkzNg&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=34033&LangId=1

Don't get mixed up between bikes permitted for "UCI Races" though (Generally the Senior, Women's and Juniors National Trophy and National Champs in this country). The 3 peaks is its own events and for various historical reasons has its own rules.

Thanks for the link . 80+ pages of UCI waffle - lovely !!!
Actually , the section on bike design seems fairly straightforward - and quite interesting - I never knew that the handlebars must be lower than the saddle for instance.
One other rule that caught my eye was the limit placed on top tube slope - it's quite strict , "The whole of the top tube must fit within a 160mm deep horizontal box" - on a frame with oversize tubing that doesn't allow much drop (maybe 4 inches) before it's illegal.

Like you said though - 3 Peaks isn't a UCI race ,so I wonder which rules get applied to the letter , and which bend a little.

BTW - If I've read the UCI regs correctly , then you can have as much tyre clearance as you like on a cross bike - enough for 29er tyres if you wanted...Yet that seems to be one thing that many 3 peaks riders don't like to see - I suppose the spirit of the law is as important as the letter ?