New rules:

pixychick

pixychick

JORBA: Ringwood
JORBA.ORG
So just when you think it is safe to buy more CX stuff, more changes coming.

http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=5042

So now we have disc brakes, max tire width and feeding. Us short legged people thank the UCI for the max barrier height!

Any thoughts on the changes? I see the product taking a few years to transfer over in the disc area, and will it be the preferred choice? I'm not so sure, but I am new to this CX stuff.
 
I don't think you will see an immediate impact in the amateur ranks but it will be interesting to see what happens at the pro level.
 
Discs... I don't like the idea of people's brake rotors floating around near me on the dismounts and pile ups. Also, I'm not sure that it'll be a huge advantage over the rim brakes anyway. Braking is traction limited and with skinny cross tires I feel like it wouldnt make as big of a difference as it does with mountain bikes. The obvious difference would be mud clearance, but as for braking itself, I dont think it'll change much - especially with a narrower front tire.

Tire width... Not sure why there's a limit on that in the first place. If I want to run a 29er tire, why not? Sure, I'll be able to rail a corner a little harder, but my top end will suffer A LOT.

Feeding... Its in the pit, is this a big deal? in an hour long race, the only thing I can think of that I would ever need would be a shot of water to wet my whistle. nutrition products consumed during an hour long event would have no impact on your performance. The hay is in the barn... so to speak.

I'm guessing the pros will be the last to change things up. It'll take the amateurs changing their ways before the manufacturers start pushing the changes on their pros.

Disclaimer: I've only raced a handful of cross races, so I probably have quite a different view of things than most.
 
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Well I've done 1 cross race, so my view is useless.

I suspect the idea of disc brakes is sexy to some, but when people start burning through $50 worth of brake pads every week or 2, they may reconsider.

Why have they been banned before anyway?
 
one of the companies that had a hand in getting the disc brake rule passed was a carbon wheel/rim manufacturer. with no V/canti brakes wearing/braking the rim just think of the sales. its all about selling carbon rims and new hydro road brake/shift levers
 
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The disc brake change is pretty huge. While they have always been allowed in the amateur ranks, the manufacturers wouldn't touch them because the consumers only want what the pros ride. 🙄

Consider that in a messy cross race, the brakes get so clogged full of crap that the wheels won't turn. That may still happen but frame clearance will be the limiter instead of the cantis and cables.

Brakes pads should be less of an issue. While our MTB brakes can be toast after one event, cross is different. The events are shorter. The mud is also different. It is mixed with grass and tends to be thicker. It is less likely to get into the disc brakes. I'm not saying it won't happen but it will be less of a problem than MTBing.

the first thing to be decided is rear hub spacing. MTB hubs are 135mm wide while road stuff is 130mm. Some of the disc road bikes currently on the market are spaced at 135 and use a MTB rear wheel. So the big question is, do we make a new standard for road disc hubs/wheels...or do we just use some 29er MTB wheels?

Last but not least. The UCI has made this decision too late to effect this years cross season. Manufacturers are getting ready to introduce the 2011 stuff. Frames are already in production. If change is going to happen, it will be seen in a year, with the 2012 lines.

One more thing, the pros may not care for a while. They can get a fresh bike every half-lap. I think we will start seeing fancy carbon wheels with discs. Anyone racing carbon CX knows that the brakes are useless when wet. Disc carbon wheels will be interesting.
 
I wonder if running discs would get rid of brake chatter? That would be cool. 33mm tire rule is silly, tires come in 32 and 34 sizes so it pretty much means that you'll need to run 32s. I'm fairly certain most people run 32s anyway? I know all the tires I've ever sold or mounted have been 32s at least:hmmm:

I am actually quasi upset about the barrier rule, even though it may never effect me. Barrier technique is something a ton of guys spend a lot of time getting right. While having varying height barriers won't change much, having variable distance ones will. Everyone that races cross is very familiar with the 5-steps it takes to go over barriers, no?

-Jim.
 
I have conti tires that measure 33 but say 35 on them. 😕

Do you think the tire width limit has anything to do with contact patch and the new disc rule? I hope this does not limit children too small to ride cross bikes when racing at National Championships.
 
pixychick said:
I have conti tires that measure 33 but say 35 on them. 😕

Do you think the tire width limit has anything to do with contact patch and the new disc rule? I hope this does not limit children too small to ride cross bikes when racing at National Championships.
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Not sure. I'd think running a smaller contact patch and a disc brake would make people die, think how easy it is to lock up an 29er tire, that'd be damn right scary on a cross tire. Even now, a canti brake can produce far more braking power than a cross tire can handle.

-Jim.
 
warcricket said:
uci rules are lame.
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First and foremost, i understand that the romanticized notion of cross being a silly and wacky, "go out and have a good time regardless of how you finish" type of off-season sport is a waning theme in today's competitive cross atmosphere. However, it's not a dead one. Events like junkyard cross and 5th street cross, un-stifled by regulations like the "6 obstacle limit", aren't afraid to hit the snooze button on copious regulation and keep the dream alive (yes, i have been waiting to pull that one out). I'm not saying that having whip cream poured down your shorts in order to take a shortcut on the course is the "right" or "only" way to have fun racing cross, but it sure as hell is the way that i want to be doing it. Pushing yourself to new limits or moving your way up in your division are by far some of the most appealing aspects of competitive cycling. Naturally when you have people devoting the amounts of time that serious athletes do to their sport, high pressure situations like racing are bound to cause someone to bitch about barriers being to high or the fact that someone had an easier time on the course because their tires were 3mm bigger. Thus regulations are indeed necessary. But they're still lame.
 
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cyclocrossfool said:
warcricket, how many cyclocross races have you done in your lifetime?
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He's technically still in high school - or was at the start of the month. Cut him that amount of slack. At least it was a well thought out answer, much better than his first shot.
 
Norm said:
He's technically still in high school - or was at the start of the month. Cut him that amount of slack. At least it was a well thought out answer, much better than his first shot.
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Ditto.

I think for the amateur races this shouldn't be an issue. I think the mercer cup might be the only race where the rules apply. I doubt you will see an officials out there measuring your tires. FWIW I am running 34s on two of my wheelsets. 😕
 
ArmyOfNone said:
Ditto.

I think for the amateur races this shouldn't be an issue. I think the mercer cup might be the only race where the rules apply. I doubt you will see an officials out there measuring your tires. FWIW I am running 34s on two of my wheelsets. 😕
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Bingo. I think Mercer, HPCX and Beacon are the only UCI races in the immediate area but o don't anyone who is Cat 3 or 4 is going to be seriously looked over.
 
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