How far can you push a cyclocross bike?

[WalksOn2Wheels]

At what point would you say the CX bike is just totally out of its element? Without getting into the long story, I have a Trek Crockett that I am very happy with. I've done some gravel events and plan on more in the next few months, including a 3-day stage type bikepacking event. The gravel ranges from nice crushed paths to washboard rutted stuff with half to inch diameter gravel. I am confident I could use the bike for all of these events, but if I intend to do more in the future, I could be looking at some less friendly terrain. Perhaps sand or some light single track riding.

My thoughts were to go to 40mm tubeless tires, flip the stem up and get some wide dirt drops, double wrap the bars, and get a suspension seatpost.

I'm leaning towards the fact that it's just not going to work, but I thought I would get some input from people with a little more experience before I put good money into one bike when I should be building up another. The biggest factor would be a dream vacation of a week tooling around on the Colorado Trail or parts of the GDMBR. I'm thinking the CT would absolutely require an MTB but parts of the GDMBR would be fine on the Crockett.

[bigeyedfish]

40 mm tires can get you far. This was the direction I went for a few years. I did eventually buy a rigid mountain bike and it's definitely better in the rough stuff, but noticeably slower on pavement.

[Adam Alphabet]

My 2 cents...

If I were to only have 1 bike to do it all it would be a steel (or ti) 29er mountain bike with adjustable dropouts (which is what I have). This platform is, in my opinion the most versatile for touring, bikepacking, racing, regular day rides, comfort, versatility, what have you. Thing with a cross bike is you can put 40's on it and that's about it. If you're talking Colorado Trail you're going to want 2.3's, probably a suspension fork, wide bars, etc..

A steel frame, like a Salsa el mariachi or a Kona Unit for example can be dressed up many different ways to tackle whatever it is you're setting out to do. Do a google search for either of these bikes and add 'drop bar' or 'touring' or 'bikepacking' or 'monster cross' etc.. Wolf in sheeps clothing in my opinion, I find it less limiting and dress it up appropriately.

But as always, there are arguments both ways. and of course each their own.

[WalksOn2Wheels]

Thanks for the input. As it stands, I'm fairly confident the Crockett can do the events for the remainder of the year without throwing any money at it. I have 38mm Gravel Grinder tires on there now and they have done pretty well on varying levels of gravel. Depending on how the 3 day event goes, I might decide from there whether or not to build a separate bike. It's only going to be about 80-100 miles a day, so it will be a relaxed enough pace to really see what is and isn't working with the setup.

But as I suspected, it looks like the CT is pretty much going to require fatter tires. I guess I could stick to the GDMBR sections in Colorado if I stick with the Crockett.

bigeyedfish, what was the main catalyst for moving to a rigid MTB?

[Biggus Duckus]

Honestly I've ridden my Wolverine with 32mm slicks, 41mm Knards and 2.1" Nanos for day rides, CX or MTB/adventure.  I've seen it with drop bars, flat bars, Rohloff, belt drive, single speed, 3x10, racks, fenders and naked.  It is pretty freaking great.

[RonK]

With standard cx gearing you might end up pushing your cyclocross bike quite a lot when the trail goes up. :lol:

[Smithhammer]

At what point would you say the CX bike is just totally out of its element?

At the point that the rider is out of his/her element, given the tool they are using.

[Jgrooms]

Its the gear range that is the limiter & then the bars when its super single track tech & steep.


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[jeremy11]

For the CT or chunky rocky desert singletracking you will be PUSHING the cross bike a LOT, and getting a lot of pinch flats.

[AZTtripper]

Here's one that's gone thru a push of sorts recently sold here http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/classifieds/fs-soma-wolverine-54-cm-27-5650b/ smaller rims and more rubber to smooth out the ride.

I've ridden some rocky trail with a 40c tire you just have to be willing to go much slower, also that was just day riding no loads.

One year a guy from PA started the AZT300 on a drop bar bike with no more then 2.0 tires. He made it to Tucson past a lot of tire slashing rocks, "being on a rigid bike with skinny tires forced me to pick good lines" he said, I was impressed but I wouldn't recommend that setup to anyone.

[Sparkyga]

You can put skinny tires on a big frame but you can't but big tires in a skinny frame. Put up a 29'er frame and you will not regret the discussion. What you lose in speed and weight you will gain back in comfort and improved traction on the rough stuff.

A MTB crankset and 40 mm tires on a CX is fun though. Gearing galore