What is a cyclocross race? And, what is difference between a cyclocross bike and a hybrid?
Exhibit A:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross.php?id=/photos/2006/nov06/scionstumptown06/usgpcx20061119145216b
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What ever you do…don’t ask about proper mounts and dismounts.
Cyclocross is an excuse to be 12 yrs old again & play in the mud. It’s intense competition & very challenging.
I don’t have much (i.e None) knowledge or experience with hybrids so I can’t compare, but I’ll give it try…
Safe to say that a hybrid has a flat handle bar & the cross has a drop bar.
Hybrid probably uses trigger shifters & the cross uses dual levers (STI)
Hybrid probably has cable routing below the top tube & a cross has them on top away from your shoulder when carrying your bike
Hybrid probably uses round tubes, cross uses a oval shape or flat underside to distribute weight over a wider section of your shoulder.
Hybrid probably uses v-brakes & cross canti
I really guessing now, but the cross bike is likely to have a higher BB
Cross frame probably much lighter
I hope I helped 
Ask Fredly or Cousin Ellwood… they’re experts on everything on this forum 
Cyclocross bikes are for racing.
Hybrid bikes are for tooling around.
Cyclocross bikes are more likely to have aggressive geometry for lots of tight turns by aggressive riders.
Hybrid bikes are more likely to have slacker geometry for few turns by riders enjoying the view of the lake.
Cyclocross racing originated in northern Europe (France, Belgium, Holland) as a way for the roadies to stay in shape for the winter without having to go out for long rides far from their homes. They were often set up in a farmer’s field, and are a combination of on-road and off-road conditions. Off-road conditions are not usually very rocky, but can often be: sandy, grassy, muddy, sloppy, hub deep water, snowy, greasy, etc. Most courses will have running sections up to 80 meters long that occasionally include some sort of barrier or obstacle for racers to jump/step over. They consist of a relatively short loop (often around 2 miles, give or take) with multiple laps. The races are usually based on time rather than a fixed number of laps. For instance - elite races are ‘60 minute’ races. Non elite/open class races range from 30 - 60 minutes. After about 1/2 of the time is up the officials look at the laps that have been completed and try to calculate the remaining number of laps to try and have the leader finish an around an hour. They will then do a countdown of the remaining laps. In big races if you get lapped you get pulled, so if you are really dragging ass and the leaders are coming up behind you then just sit up a little bit and let them pass you just before the line. You do this because everybody finishes on the same lap as the leader. If you push it so you don’t get lapped then you have to do a whole extra lap and it won’t help your standings unless you pass racers in front of you. Timing is everything on this particular move - if you get lapped early it is considered a DNF, and if you sit up too much waiting for the leaders then you can get passed by dudes that were behind you. I was lucky enough (for a slow guy) at Nationals last year to get pulled just as the leader was going in to his last lap. I still got scored but the suffering ended 5 minutes early.
Cyclocross is FUN, FUN, FUN! If I had to pick just one type of bike race that I could do, it would be cyclocross. Other racing is lots of fun, so I am glad I don’t have to make that decision, but it beats out tri, road racing, and MTB in my eyes.
PAIN!
Cyclocross is PAIN!
Beautiful PAIN!
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Must be near the start those guys are way to clean
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A cyclocross race is basically a steeple chase for bicycles, which includes riding and running. When you cannot ride, you run. A hybrid bicycle was designed to be used on the road as well as offroad. A true cyclocross bike is lighter and the geometry is different. A hybrid bike with dropped handlebars and a few modifications can be used for cyclocross. Just remember, the rear braking system must be reversed on the left if you are right handed and dismount on the left side. Otherwise, as you are dismounting and braking, once your weight is off the seat you and the bike will flip right over the front end.
Mike Fraysse
Member, USA World Championship Cyclocross team and 3-time World Cyclocross team coach
mike, I think the days of the reversed brakes is going the way of toe clips and straps…
Nys, Wellens, etc all use a standard right/rear, left/front set up.
I think a few of the Italians still do that but they ride on the road like that too.
Kurt
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3015017479124502676
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8431495527374579506
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2347404609389505543
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http://i16.tinypic.com/2a99urr.jpg
http://i11.tinypic.com/352p44p.jpg
Pretty cool pictures from pezcyclingnews.com
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Cyclocross bikes are lighter than hybrids. Some have flat top tube undersides to make it more comfortable to shoulder your bike during barrier run-ups.
Cross courses that I’ve raced typically have 3 or so barrier sections (including sand pits, barrier run ups and sections of 3-4 barriers). The hybrid will be a little tougher to carry over the barriers, but you could certainly give it try. At the Cat 4 level the hybrid might not be too much of a disadvantage. In Wisconsin we actually have a beginners race and a Cat 4 race that start at the same time…and you will see plenty of mountain bikes and hybrids. Running a hybrid in the CAT 1,2,3 or masters races would be a different story though…
Oh, and I forgot to mention that cyclocross racing is fun, but PAINFUL. I’m an experienced XC mountain bike racer and let me just say that 40 minutes + 1 lap in CX is more painful than any mountain bike race that I’ve ever been in. I’ve almost puked and passed out at some CX race finishes.
Have fun!
Thinking about getting a cross bike for a long time now. Does frame size differ much from road size? What else should I consider when looking? Thanks!
those skinsuits are hot. where can i get one?
Which ones… the Rutgers Skinsuits? Are you an alum?
If you need any RU Gear… go to rutgerscycling.com and contact Don Yunger… his email is there… he can set you up.
Dude, is that you in those pics? Where is that?
No. Unfortunately I was behind the camera for those…
They are all of colligate teammates.
All the pictures were taken at EVO Cross 2 weeks back in New Hope, PA.