What's The Difference Between Mountain Bike and Cyclocross Bike?

Most riders have heard of a mountain bike and a cyclocross bicycle. but could you distinguish them when choosing ? This article will explain both the mountain bike and the cyclocross bike, and give advice on which is better for you.

What is a Cyclocross Bike?

A Cyclocross bike is designed for the harsh conditions of a cyclocross racing.They look like a road bike at first glance. It differs from a road bike in that it has knobby tires, and the frame has a different feel and design. Typical cyclocross courses traverse muddy fields, grass, gravel, and sand.

What is a Mountain Bike?

The mountain bike was originally designed for riding on mountainous terrain.A mountain bike is a bike with a sturdy, lightweight frame, deep tread tires and multiple gears.The mountain bikes have a more upright frame. Their upright sitting position makes up for a more comfortable riding experience, especially under dirt tracks. The mountain bikes frame is sturdy and usually made of solid materials such as steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber.

Another distinct feature of mountain bikes is the knobby tires that provide better grip and traction on different technical terrains.

Mountain bikes aren’t suited for use on the smooth pavement, as they’re sluggish. However, they excel on technical terrains more than cyclocross bikes.

Technical Terrain

cyclocross bikes are fun to ride on the flat-packed dirt and gravel roads, which most people call “mountain biking.” Cyclocross also has a higher average speed for the run-up sections than a mountain bike, so the ideal trails would need to be smoother, less twisty, and without jumps and drops.

But for the actual mountain biking and technical terrains,such as many dense roots, rocks, and obstacles, mountain bike will take its role.The mountain bike will also plow through the muddy and rooty trails where your cyclocross peers would jog with their bikes on their shoulders or even with pinchy flats.

Frame Geometry

Cyclocross bike frame geometry

As cyclocross races are often held during the winter months they are also meant to ride over snow and various other winter road conditions.Therefore, to do the above, a cyclocross’s frame geometry is designed to ride as quick as they can over a manmade, bike obstacle course. In order to best do this the cross bike’s bottom bracket is higher than the mountain bike’s lower frame, which allows the cross bike to better clear barriers and other obstacles on the track.

Mountain bike frame geometry

A mountain bike has an upright sitting position.The upright position allows a mountain biker to see and “read” the terrain ahead much better while allowing you to blast over any obstacles. However,this design isn’t nimble and sluggish on the paved and hard-packed dirt. Using a mountain bike on a repetitive corner for a cross race that requires quick acceleration, tight turns, and slowing down rapidly sucks.

If you need the stability and ease of handling on the really technical terrains and off-road riding, you can’t really go wrong with a mountain bike.

Versatility

a mountain bike will take you to places where a cyclocross can’t even dream about, but cyclocross is a good middle ground and extremely versatile. A cyclocross bike is also quite versatile in that, like the road bicycle, it can function as a touring bicycle and as road racers. Cyclocross bike enthusiasts have even started a new trend of putting fat bike tires on their cross bikes, which can turn the cyclocross into an adventure bike. Generally, a cyclocross has quite a bit of functional overlap with many other bike categories, much more than an MTB.

Speed

A cyclocross bike is the kings of the road, next to a road bike and a gravel bike.

Riding a cyclocross will be more fun than riding a mountain bike on any fast and flat trail.they also have an aerodynamic sitting position, so you’re less likely to feel the wind resistance or anything.

Of course, how fast your bike goes will also depend on the terrain type.

An MTB will have marginal speed gains over the road bike/gravel bike on the rugged singletracks. An MTB will simply blast over any obstacles while a cyclocross bike tries to get through the debris.But other than the rough terrain, an MTB can never match a CX, speed-wise.

Tires

Cyclocross bikes have slicker and skinnier bike tires than mountain bikes.Usually, the tire width range for a cyclocross bike is 35mm.The Cyclocross race bike tires are generally useful for pavement and light off-road use.They’re not as stable as the mountain bike tires, and the truth is you’re likely to fall more often on a CX than on your MTB.

For ease of riding, the mountain bike uses wider tires and knobby tires which can stand up to anything on the road. They also work on sand, snow, and other loose off-road surfaces.Unfortunately, the extra weight also means they’re sluggish, especially on hard surfaces and pavement.

Weight

Usually,Cyclocross bikes is much lighter than mountain bikes. but mountain bikes need more heavy weight to do adventure biking over rough, mountainous terrain.

In conclusion

Cyclocross bikes are better on off-road riding.If you need a bike for cyclocross races or light off-roading, a cross bike is a superb choice. If you are planning to ride on more technical mountain terrains and riding off-road, a mountain bike is an incredible option for you. It can take you  across gravel, dirt, rocks and uneven terrain.