Equipment

Bicycles

Cyclocross bicycles roughly resemble the racing bicycles used in road racing. The major differences between the two are that cyclocross bikes:

• are slightly stronger,
• have knobbly tyres,
• allow for greater mud clearance,
• have slightly higher handlebars resulting in a more upright position,
• have cantilever brakes, and
• have lower gearing.

A second set of brake levers on the tops, called top mount brake levers, are favoured by some competitors. Singlespeed bikes also have some popularity due to the advantage of mechanical simplicity in the often very muddy conditions and the fringe nature of the sport.

Clothing

Clothing is similar to that of road racing, however, since cyclocross is a cold weather sport there is an emphasis toward warmer clothing such as long sleeves, tights, and arm and leg warmers. In the warmer races there is a very strong preference for skinsuits for maximising freedom of movement. Mountain bike shoes are adopted as they allow the competitors to run unlike their road racing counterparts.