Staying fit is one of the most common concerns of today's modern individuals. As such, people today not only carefully choose which food to eat; they also perform various training exercises. Among these exercises, one of the most popular is cycling. Nonetheless, despite the popularity of this activity as a training exercise, it is still practiced by many cyclists as a professional sporting activity. With the number of purposes of cycling, bicycles are also today available in a wide array of types to choose from, among the popular of which are cross bikes.
Also known as a "hybrid" type of bike, a cross bike is a cross between a road and a mountain bike-that is, it combines the features that are found on the two mentioned types of bicycles. Though popularly used for casual morning bike rides, cross bikes are designed for cyclo-cross racing where the bike is being carried over the shoulder, and hence, are made from lightweight materials.
As mentioned, a cross bike features components of both a road and a mountain bike. Its three front chain rings and straight or sweep up handle bars are based from those found on mountain bikes while its tires resemble those found on road bikes. These combined features make up a cross bike which may also be described as a lighter road bike and heavier mountain bike.
One of the important parts of a cross bike is its frame. In order to cope with the stresses associated with cyclo-cross racing where the bike is carried over the shoulder to as much as 60 times, the bike's frame should be stiff and responsive, slightly wider to accommodate the size of the tires, and most importantly, lightweight. To achieve these characteristics, cross bikes are manufactured from light materials such as aluminum, carbon fiber, steel, and titanium.
Given the difference of the cross type from other bike models, some people are having difficulty choosing the best one to invest on. Among the first thing that needs to be looked upon when choosing a cross bike is its frame. A clean and wide triangle frame is recommended to allow the bike to be carried over a shoulder with ease. Tit also needs to be stronger to cope with the high stresses of riding fast off road. The tyre is another part that needs to be carefully checked. In the typically wet and muddy conditions, a pair of knobbly tyres with plenty of grip and mud clearance is essential. Double sided SPD type pedals are on the other hand are favored over other types due to their ease of use and small cleats which don't hinder running. Finally and most importantly, do not forget to heck the brakes and gears. Due to the varied terrain and steep inclines, the gear combinations and brakes need to be fool proof.
A cross bike is indeed an excellent type of bike that can be used either as a tool for training exercises or as a gear for cyclo-cross racing activities. As such, it is important to carefully choose which among the number of options to select from the best one to invest on.
Also known as a "hybrid" type of bike, a cross bike is a cross between a road and a mountain bike-that is, it combines the features that are found on the two mentioned types of bicycles. Though popularly used for casual morning bike rides, cross bikes are designed for cyclo-cross racing where the bike is being carried over the shoulder, and hence, are made from lightweight materials.
As mentioned, a cross bike features components of both a road and a mountain bike. Its three front chain rings and straight or sweep up handle bars are based from those found on mountain bikes while its tires resemble those found on road bikes. These combined features make up a cross bike which may also be described as a lighter road bike and heavier mountain bike.
One of the important parts of a cross bike is its frame. In order to cope with the stresses associated with cyclo-cross racing where the bike is carried over the shoulder to as much as 60 times, the bike's frame should be stiff and responsive, slightly wider to accommodate the size of the tires, and most importantly, lightweight. To achieve these characteristics, cross bikes are manufactured from light materials such as aluminum, carbon fiber, steel, and titanium.
Given the difference of the cross type from other bike models, some people are having difficulty choosing the best one to invest on. Among the first thing that needs to be looked upon when choosing a cross bike is its frame. A clean and wide triangle frame is recommended to allow the bike to be carried over a shoulder with ease. Tit also needs to be stronger to cope with the high stresses of riding fast off road. The tyre is another part that needs to be carefully checked. In the typically wet and muddy conditions, a pair of knobbly tyres with plenty of grip and mud clearance is essential. Double sided SPD type pedals are on the other hand are favored over other types due to their ease of use and small cleats which don't hinder running. Finally and most importantly, do not forget to heck the brakes and gears. Due to the varied terrain and steep inclines, the gear combinations and brakes need to be fool proof.
A cross bike is indeed an excellent type of bike that can be used either as a tool for training exercises or as a gear for cyclo-cross racing activities. As such, it is important to carefully choose which among the number of options to select from the best one to invest on.
About the Author:
Michiko Yang is a cyclist based in Switzerland. Throughout her cycling career, Michiko have tried using different types of bikes and one of her favorites is the Crossbike.
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