Cyclocross Frame Design

Cyclocross racing is all about transitions. Into a corner, out of a sandpit, over the barriers. If you have ever raced in New England or at national level events, chances are you have raced on courses that I designed. I know how I want a cross bike to ride: responsive and agile.

A good cross bike is essentially a road bike with extra mud clearance. But most production cross bikes have slack head tubes, forks with a lot of rake, a high bottom bracket, and lengthened chain-stays. What you get is a stable bike and a soft ride. You won't feel agile, you'll have a high center of gravity, and the steering will be heavy at lower speeds.

I keep the chain stays short by using pre-bent tubing to allow more room around the tire near the bottom bracket. High bottom brackets are a leftover design consideration of racing with toe clips that would dangle precariously during dismounts and remounts. But clipless pedals pose no such risk, and not only does the lower bottom bracket help with stable bike handling, it also allows for better elbow clearance when shouldering the bike on run-ups.
By building the frame to fit the individual rider, I can maximize the elbow clearance, especially for middle- to small-sized riders who often have difficulty with production frames.

My cyclocross bikes are ridden by National and World Champions. Read about them here and here.