Cyclocross courses, ranging from two to four kilometers, feature a mix of paved and off-road surfaces, with running sections. To get a head start on the restart in rain and mud, it's important to choose the right equipment, starting with a high-performance bike. How can you maximize its smoothness? By choosing the best cyclocross wheels, of course! Here are our tips.
Cyclocross: The Importance of Being a High-Performing Biker
Cyclocross presents many challenges, which can test even the most experienced riders. Born as a winter training system for road cyclists, cyclocross is a discipline in which combining muscular explosiveness with a good dose of endurance is crucial. This makes the difference in various racing situations.
A CX session is a succession of different situations that you'll face multiple times during the various laps you'll complete to reach the finish line. The distinctive feature of this discipline is the alternating series of sections that can be ridden on asphalt and off-road (often muddy) terrain, with segments where the rider will need to run while carrying the bike on their shoulders as they tackle climbs, steps, or jump over a series of obstacles. It's therefore inevitable that a cyclocross rider understands the importance of choosing a bike that favors them during the relaunch phase, that is, when the change of pace between one race situation and another (for example, when remounting the bike, or accelerating after a sharp turn on a muddy section) can provide a significant advantage in terms of seconds. But how can this advantage be achieved?
Cyclocross: Quality wheels can give you an edge
When climbing back onto your bike after a running section, or accelerating after taking a sharp, muddy turn: these are two examples of how you'll need all the watts your muscles can deliver during a race. Obviously, repeating these efforts lap after lap will waste a significant amount of energy , which will gradually negatively impact your performance. How can you limit this problem? For example, you could work on your bike's setup.
Wheels are important components in this sense, as their technical features can change the performance of your bike.
At the professional level, professional cyclocross riders choose a type of wheel with well-defined general characteristics: these are medium/low profile rims (37 mm), strictly made of carbon , compatible with disc brakes and with a thru-axle. Tubular tires are glued onto them (You can learn more here to find the best cyclocross wheel setup ). There are several wheel brands that offer an infinite number of models with these basic characteristics; the differences you may find are related to production, a detail that affects the quality of the product and consequently, its performance. For example, if the carbon is not perfectly processed , you risk having a pair of wheels that are not resistant to the stresses that a cyclocross race can offer. If they break, you could risk injury, as well as being forced to retire or at least make a pit stop to change the wheel. This is just one of the reasons why we strongly recommend choosing a product of guaranteed quality .
Stiffness and smoothness
The technical characteristics you should focus on to choose a pair of cyclocross wheels that will truly impact your results are mainly two:
- Stiffness: As you probably know, cross bikes don't have suspension: the frame is similar to a road bike, except for a slightly different geometry, more suited to this discipline. This demonstrates that manufacturers strive to minimize the bike's absorption of the rider's effort. Installing a rigid wheelset will therefore allow you to create a highly responsive bike setup during the most demanding changes in pace.
- Smoothness: What's the point of transferring power from the pedals to the wheel as quickly as possible if the hub doesn't adequately support its movement? Always make sure your bike's hubs are as smooth as possible. Any mechanical play will inevitably slow you down. Our Miura TS37 Evo Disc features one of the smoothest hub models on the market.
Lightness and reliability
When it comes to purchasing a new set of wheels, riders typically look for lightweight performance. This is certainly a key consideration for cyclocross, but it's crucial to choose a product that combines lightweight performance with high reliability. These wheels must withstand the harshness of unpaved terrain, prevent the carbon fiber from cracking, and ensure effective disc braking.
Conclusion
Cyclocross bike wheels: how to choose the best ones? We've discussed the key technical features of a cyclocross wheelset and seen which ones translate into a real advantage on the track. Are you ready to prove you're the best? All you have to do is pedal quickly to our online shop .
