Cyclocross

New England is cyclocross territory. For those who may not know, ‘cross (for short) is sorta the fine art of racing the wrong bike, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

Though they’re so much more than they appear, cyclocross bikes closely resemble road bikes, with drop handlebars and relatively skinny tires (as compared to mountain bikes, at least). Racing takes place on tight, windy circuits consisting of grass, dirt, sand, mud, and a little pavement. Then, just in case asking one bike to do all that well isn’t enough, the ‘cross season takes place in the fall and winter, making sure that wet leaves, snow, and ice will all befall the races at least a few times -- and sometimes all at once.

Cyclocross bikes aren’t only about racing, though. With extra room for tires wider than your average road bike’s, higher bottom brackets, and stronger brakes ‘cross bikes are a fun alternative to a true ‘gravel’ bike that can take you a little farther still off that beaten path.

We love our ‘cross bikes. Some of us use them in place of a proper road bike, even. A really good cyclocross bike is a jack of all trades and master of all.