Why I Got Another Cyclocross Bike

Is cyclocross dying? It may be in some regions, but cyclocross bikes are still relevant. In this video I talk about why I think this and why I bought another ‘cross bike.

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[letourrr]

I kinda see it as a CX bike is like a Rally car and a gravel bike is like an AWD Crossover SUV. CX bike is stiffer and faster, while a gravel bike is made to ride smoother and handle slightly more varied terrain.

[christenrten]

Nice to see you back on a Giant! I came to your channel back when you did more Giant bike reviews.

[joelrichards]

My CX bike was my only bike for a few years - gravel, cross and single track riding. I have a hardtail mtb now in addition, but my cross bike is my favorite. I have tires for pavement, cross mud, cross hardpack, and gravel 40mm. I have been in a simplifying mindset for the last couple of years and am thinking about going back to just having one bike again. A bike with the quick handling of a cross bike that can also take 650b 50mm could be ideal.

[mtbdawg]

Nice to see you back on a Giant. I was one of your early followers and remember you were always such a huge fan of Giant bikes

[jimjigga]

I have a cannondale slate with a lefty Oliver fork and i consider it cyclo because of the steeper head angle and road gears. I love it because it is like 2 bikes in one, when i don't do mtb, i ride miles on road on the slate, to a trail park, i do a loop in there and come back for 23 mile round trip. The road gearing gets me up to speed coming back home.

[ronlind]

Still ride my old Bianchi Roger CX single speed... disc brakes and all. Love it..

[howejohn]

I’ve been using my transition rapture cx on cross country single track and it’s been a riot. I have no intensions of going huge distances on it so the steel CX bike has been perfect to bring life into flat trails I never ride.

[MrBig]

I use a giant tcx for cyclocross, gravel, and road. Just swap the wheels to the ones with tires to accommodate whatever discipline I'm doing.

[MrJulkku]

I have the same bike from 2021, and really loving it. Using it for CX races and gravel. Ended by swapping the wheels for Dt swiss since had several issues with the original wheels, which are also really heavy.

[ridegreen]

I've ran both for gravel. There's not doubt that the CX bike is more direct and feels snappy. But for what I do I've definitely enjoyed to more relaxed nature of the gravel bike. I'm mainly just focused on going out for long Z2 rides when I'm on my gravel bike. For me its a useful way to get away from my road bike and the mentality that I always have to put up good numbers for Strava. If I was considering more race events, I would heavily consider a CX bike with as big of tires as I could fit.

[IIISentorIII]

That is a beautiful Bike Clint! Looks like a TCX advanced pro 2.
Now I have to take a close look at this Bike myself...😅
Cheers

[ricky]

I have a TCR and a Revolt I dig the TCX love that It can take a dropper post.

[Frw]

great video, i have a 2020 giant tcx advanced and put on Panaracer gravelking SK 43's and it changed the whole experience riding non agressive single track.
cant wait for the re-visiting project with the gravel vs cyclocross bikes.

[FloridaBikeAdventures]

My CX bike is perfect for the faster more race like gravel events and it doubles as my road bike. It was a perfect bike for the cross Florida race which has multiple dirt road sectors but paved trail and faster road sections. It is more responsive and fun to ride when I want a fast aggressive ride. I switch back and forth between my gravel and CX bike all the time.

[tomv]

CX racing seems alive & well in new england fortunately. Next year I'll be on a poseidon x budget bike with a few upgrades. It seems to have geometry close to some other cx bikes, but somewhat gravel-like in some of the numbers. I find local gravel is best on xc mtb tires, I have other bikes for that.

But, maybe the popularity of gravel will soon bring more folks like me into CX racing. I hope so, it's a blast!

[jtburgess]

Picked up a Niner RDO/RLT earlier this year and I love it over my older gravel Cannondale.

[ElevationEveryWeekend]

I still own my Giant TCX from 2010, and it’s still a super tight and fun bike despite the old tech!! Running 35mm tires now, and I have used mine on the trainer too before getting my Giant Trinity.

[osobnyw]

Well, I've been on the TCX since 2seasons... exactly for that reason - wanted sporty geometry and lightweight frameset. That bike is phenomenal! Accelerates like a rocket, power transfer is as great as in best road racing machines. Do own 3sets of wheels, mounted 45s with 11-34, 35s with 11-32 and road set 28s with 11-30. Can't feel any instability due to higher bb on the road, likely due to relaxed head angle as compared to road racing geo...

[hawgwild]

I use a Cannondale SuperX cyclocross bike on the canal towpaths here in the UK. Never out of its depth and total harmony.

[AdamJStoryDC]

Hi Clint: In my area of Southern California, I can't understand why cyclocross isn't as popular as gravel...not the bikes, but the sport. Gravel takes all day, usually long miles. Cyclocross is an hour. Gravel events are expensive. CX is cheap. Your family can come cheer you on (or heckle) in CX. Gravel isn't "spectator friendly." It sucks because I personally get to scratch-the-competitive-itch with cyclocross but with gravel, it's more of a gran fondo type of experience. While one can split hairs between a gravel bike vs a cyclocross bike (and it's been overdone on YouTube), I noticed for the professional gravel racers, that they hardly ever use gravel bikes, but rather use cyclocross bikes...and now even with road bikes allowing super wide clearance for tires as well as disc brakes, they'll use road bikes. I mean, what's the difference between a road bike with 33 mm tires that has disc brakes and a cyclocross bike with the same tires and disc brakes? Not much.