My brain says: what you see and what you feel don't go together.
The trail undulates through gentle bends, with only tiny roots protruding from the forest floor. But the receptors are signalling: Alarm! Now I know what Erik Becker meant. "Even a very good riding technician quickly reaches his limits on a cross bike," the mountain bike trainer and former German cross-country champion explained to me as we rolled along the gravel track. Now he is leading the way on the narrow path. I am in the middle of a self-experiment and am beginning to see the trails, which I had previously dismissed as uninteresting, with new eyes. Rigid fork, rigid rear triangle, almost four bar of air in the 33 millimetre wide tyres: The bike with the look of a racing bike transmits impacts from the smallest pebbles directly into the nervous system via the handlebar arch. One thing is immediately clear: riding a cross bike is super-concentrated hardtail biking.
"You automatically do athletic training on the cyclocross bike. Arms, upper body, core muscles, everything is challenged," smiles Erik on the next gravel section. The strain on the various muscle groups results in a very high energy turnover. A lot can be achieved even with short units. Ideal when the days get shorter in winter and the cold makes long basic units a torture. Hobby bikers in particular benefit from the unaccustomed strain. It is extremely important to keep providing new stimuli in order to counteract the body's habituation, explains the former professional racing cyclist, who now trains mountain bikers at the Olympic training centre and the Bavarian squad.
With a broad grin, he takes the next ramp in the cradle. "Simply awesome," he grins. "That's exactly why everyone who sits on a crosser for the first time is so excited."
I nod and feel how every grain of power I apply to the pedals is converted directly into propulsion. It's clear that my everyday enduro bike can't offer this feeling. But even compared to my 29er hardtail, the cross-country bike is a world of difference.
Switching to narrow-tyred bikes in winter is a tradition among racing cyclists. Both for racing. But also to have an alternative to the road bike for everyday training.
"With the cyclocross bike, I'm much more flexible and can organise my training in a more varied way," says Elisabeth Brandau. The marathon specialist became German cyclocross champion in 2016.
"I'm much more motivated over the winter this way," she explains her racing endeavours. Even downhill legend Steve Peat regularly gets on his crosser in winter. "On long rides, I can switch between forest tracks, trails and roads as the mood takes me, depending on the conditions. It's a real source of fun," says the Brit. However, the coach of Olympic champion Nino Schurter also has a word of warning: "If you're racing cyclocross in addition to a mountain bike season in winter, you have to be careful not to overdo it. A break is immensely important before I get on the cross bike after the season," warns Nicolas Siegenthaler. Of course, this is less of a problem for the average cyclist.
The next key section snaps me out of my thoughts. Just in time, I see Erik in front of me lift his rear wheel over the large cross-root. I would hardly have noticed the obstacle on my bike. "You're learning to ride actively again. And precisely. Ride with the terrain instead of letting the bike work against the terrain," Erik calls out. He wipes the raindrops off his glasses and beams: "Perfect cross weather." The wind shreds the cloud of condensation that his breath blows into the cold morning air.
Unfortunately, we can't convince ourselves of the outstanding grip properties of the thin cross tyres on snow that Erik raves about on our lap. Don't panic, I think. The onset of winter is sure to come.
1x1 FOR CHANGERS
How to get the most out of winter training on a cyclocross bike.
1. running
Integrate carrying and running sections into the training round. This keeps your feet warm in winter, provides variety and trains neglected muscles in your legs and upper body.
2. back training
The racing handlebars on the crosser offer different grip positions. This is pleasant on long rides as you can vary the positions. The positions should be deliberately alternated, which activates new muscle groups and strengthens the back.
3. goals
How about a cross-country race at the end of the winter? Those who have a clear goal are more motivated than those who just want to get fit through the winter. There are many races for everyone,
where amateur bikers can get a taste of competition.
4. dosed starting
Slowly feel your way around, both in terms of terrain selection and speed. The demands and stresses on a cross bike are very different from those of mountain biking and road biking - it takes some getting used to.
5. air number
Tyre width and air pressure have a massive influence on handling, just like on a mountain bike. Hobby crossers should use tyres at least 33 to 35 millimetres wide for off-road use. Depending on rider weight and terrain, 2.5 to 4 bar is sufficient. Tubeless or glued tyres help to prevent punctures.
Interview with Erik Becker, MTB trainer at the Olympic training centre: "A crosser is the most versatile bike of all and perfect for winter training - especially for hobby bikers."
Why should mountain bikers get on a cross bike in winter?
There are many reasons for this. For example, training with the crosser is much more intensive, so I can achieve a lot with short units. That's ideal in winter.
What can I train specifically?
This ranges from basic endurance to intensive units and riding technique. With cross training, I set completely different stimuli, and it is precisely this variety in training that is immensely important, especially for hobby cyclists. As I have to ride very actively on the rigid bike, many more muscle groups are addressed - arms, shoulders, torso. A kind of athletic training is therefore directly included.
What do bikers need to consider when getting on a cross bike for the first time?
With the cross bike, all comfort is lost, and this increases the demands on riding technique. The well-trodden home trails become new challenges. So: approach the terrain slowly. The same applies to intensity. Due to the enormous power output, I can completely wear myself out on the crosser in no time at all. Therefore: take it slow!
What equipment do you need?
Just a cross bike, that's the beauty of it. Clothes, shoes, helmet - I can take everything from the mountain bike. When the roads are slippery and dirty in winter, the cross bike is a great alternative to the road bike. The same training is much more interesting on field and forest paths. If you do need to take to the road, you can also fit road bike tyres on it and there is plenty of room for a mudguard. In this respect, a cross bike is the most versatile bike of all.
We show you three cross bikes that are guaranteed to keep you from getting bored during winter training: from entry-level models for under 1000 euros to the noble collector's item. Gravel bikes are considered a more comfortable and versatile alternative. However, manufacturers define "gravel" in very different ways. Both concepts can make sense for mountain bikers.
The entry level - Merida Cyclo Cross 300
Price 949 Euro
Weight (without pedals) 10.43 kg (52 cm)
Frame / Fork Aluminium / Aluminium
Impellers Merida Comp 22
Circuit Shimano Tiagra 2x10
Brakes Tektro Mira Disc (mechanical)
Info www.merida-bikes.com
For less than 1000 euros, Merida builds a solid all-rounder that comes with details such as internal cable routing and disc brakes. Although the brakes work mechanically, they still provide the disc brake power that we wouldn't do without on a cross bike. The 2x10 gears also offer reserves for longer climbs. The weight of just under 10.5 kilos doesn't exactly make you jump for joy; you'd have to dig deeper into your pockets for less. Crossers in this price range also have to do without thru axles. For dry rides in dirty weather, the CC 300 is prepared for a mudguard mount.
The middle class - Cube Cross Race SLT
Price 1999 Euro
Weight (without pedals) 9.23 kg (56 cm)
Frame / Fork Aluminium, 142x12 / Carbon 100x12
Impellers Mavic Aksium Disc
Circuit Sram Force1 1x11
Brakes Sram Force
Info
www.cube.eu
For just under 2000 euros, cross bikes leave little to be desired. Good weight, solid equipment, hydraulic disc brakes - that's all you need for fun winter training. The Cross Race SLT weighs just over nine kilos, comes with thru axles, high-quality equipment including carbon cranks and a carbon fork with internally routed brake cable. The cables are also protected from dirt and mud in the main frame. The aluminium frame has been redesigned for 2017 and offers a cross-specific, rounded frame triangle for more comfort on the shoulder.
The noble crosser - Santa Cruz STigmata CC
Price 5599 Euro
Weight (without pedals) 8.17 kg (58 cm)
Frame / Fork Carbon 142x12 / Carbon 100x15
Impellers DT Swiss 350 / WTB Asym i19
Circuit Sram Force XC1 1x11
Brakes Sram Force XC1
Info
www.santacruzbicycles.com
No editorial colleague made it past the Stigmata carbon bullet without pausing for a moment. So much exclusivity comes at a hefty price. Santa Cruz is known for its focus on gravity, so it comes as no surprise that the cross bike is also designed to deliver high off-road capability. As is now customary, the Californians have opted for mountain bike-compatible axle dimensions. There is plenty of room for tyres up to 40 millimetres wide, and there is no mud-collecting strut between the seat stays. The cables are routed completely internally, including in the rear triangle and fork. Gravel or cross? The Californians don't want to commit to that.
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
