[Closed] Monster Cross

It's either that or a rigid 29er with drop bars (most cx frames won't take big tyres).

Handy for mixed/fire road riding/touring. Also looks frikkin cool.

I became somewhat obsessed with it last summer, lots of info here

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=192307

This is my attempt from last year, it rode well - A little like my old Raleigh Massif.

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Ah, so if I were to stick drop bars on my Swift it would stop being a MTB and would become a 'monster crosser'?

I don't think the UCI has provided a definition of monster cross yet, but that's my understanding - 700c/29er wheels needed though.

I'd have thought the difference was in the geometry, monster cross = 29er with drop bars and 'cross geometry i.e. faster handling.

so a cyclocross bike with fat tyres?

what a load of chuff, doesnt need a new niche carved out for it.

My Fargo is sort of a monster cross. Drop bars, rigid, disc specific 2.35 tyres. Ace bike, great on the roads with the fat slicks on but also more than capable off road with a change of tyres. And yes, they do look cool (even though my XXL has a headtube only a mother could love).

float - Member
what a load of chuff, doesnt need a new niche carved out for it.

It also looks frikkin cool.

I read somwhere that the cross rules stipulate that tyres can be no more wider than 35, so is a Monstercross anything with road/cross geometry and wider than 35 tyre?

Seriously, bars aside, isn't any rigid 29er a monster cross then?

slowjo, maybe its in the geometry? - more compact.

slowjo - Member
Seriously, bars aside, isn't any rigid 29er a monster cross then?

I guess, except the bars bit makes it not monster cross, so at the same time, no.

Maybe... it will be interesting to find out. Gives me something to do in those quiet moments! 🙂

Point is the drop bars change how the bike rides and what you can do on it, they also require a shorter stem or (ideally) top tube.

My definition
What a Monster 'Cross bike is;
Drop bars
700c
knobby tyres more (pref much more) than 35mm wide

What it isn't;
Anything with suspension
Anything with flat bars
Anything with slicks
Anything which would be better define as a tourer, commuter, or in fact any other kind of bike.

In the end though, it doesn't really matter what you call it, as long as it's a bike you have fun riding.

Think I'd go with Sam's definition (as it fits my 'monster cross' bike!) This was my Cross Check, now become a Traveller's Check but the same thing basically other than S'n'S couplings.
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A cross bike with bigger tyres.
A 29er with drop bars.

Somewhere in the middle, you get a monstercross.

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As Sam said. This is mine - becomes a monster when 1.8 29er tyres are added. the ride in comparison to normal is like a monster truck. i guess that is where the name comes from

edit: beaten to it by someone with the same tyres 🙂

Hehe, sorry Matt - great minds, etc. 🙂

Current Traveller's Check incarnation is also running bar end shifters / aero-lever Vs as yours is - it's a hoot. Some old 700c Panaracer Smokes also just about fit in there but the Bonties roll faster.

So basically a 29er with dropbars.

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I'm building one up right now. Reason being I fell out of love with MTBs and riding a pure race crosser on the trails just wore it out.

Builds based on a Croix De Fer frame.
700c disc wheels
Hydro discs with 'modified' levers to fit Midge bars.
42mm tyres
Road compact up front, XT mountainbike cassette and mech on the back.
Bar end shifters in friction mode
Weighs a ton.

Perfect! - for me, steel framed, fully rigid, drop bar'd 29ers are [i]the[/i] ideal bicycle. I even(!) tolerate gears on [one of] mine.

My next build (spec'ing now) is also on this template, but will be racked and run almost permanently on big volume tyres (and consequently replace my MTB). I tend to stick to skinny little 35's on the others, as they get used for quite a bit of road work in-between the farm-lanes, and back-country tracks I ride.

Any, err *cough cough* pictures of that Fargo MrTall, just in case well, y'know ... 😉

Supposedly my Cotic X will take 42mm tyre. Can anyone recommend something. I suppose I need a fast riding centre bit with some mud loving knobbles on the edges. Very much open to suggestions though. As big as possible. Perhaps I shpuld have bought a Singular but was put off a bit by prices and didn't seem to be eble to get a short enough top tube. So I spent as much on the Cotic. No logic. Nice bike but tyre options small.

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