29er vs CX bike with data

Hi there,

i have been wanting to let go some of my bikes and now after some testing i am selling my CX bike.

I have just done 2 different rides with data,

1. along a rough cycle track with some muddy parts, tarmac, and some smooth hard pack canal path. 12 miles.

Both bikes had WTB Nano's 700 x 40c

2. All on road, including a 3 mile climb with some very steep parts.

Both bikes with Vittoria Voyager Hyper's 700 x 35c (37mm wide)

Both rides were done February in the UK, so very wet and cold.

I rode at about 70% - 80% of my maximum power, on average, a fast cruise.

THE BIKES:

2013 Voodoo Bizango MTB hard tail. 14kg. With the tyres used in the test, the bike weight would be getting close to 13.2kg. Flat pedals. BAR ENDS, Tioga power stud 6.

2014 Boardman CX Team. 9.6kg. With Shimano MT35 wheel set which is 400g's lighter than the stock Mavic xm319's.

SPD pedals.

THE DATA:

CANAL PATH muddy in places, HARD PACK, KNARLY BUMPY CYCLE TRACK.

I had the WTB NANO's at 39psi R and 37 psi F.

A little hard for the conditions, not as much float as i'd like normally, but this gave good speed on the smoother parts.

CX bike

1:01:06sec

12 miles

ave speed 11.85

max speed 20.5

29er

57:32sec

12 miles

ave speed 12.6

max speed 24 

6% faster

ROAD RIDE

The Vittoria Voyager Hypers were at 80psi R/F, as they are 37mm wide, it would be roughly the same as 32mm tyres at 95psi.

CX bike

1:31:20sec 

21.7miles

ave speed 14.25

max speed 40

MTB bike

1:33:40

21.7 miles

ave speed13:86

max speed 38 

2% slower

WHAT IT FELT LIKE

CANAL/KNARLY CYCLE TRACK

Going from the CX to the 29er with its much wider bars and excellent Tioga bar ends, i felt so much more secure, so much more leverage.

The Suntour SR fork soaked up most of the bumps. And as most of the conditions were (typical British winter conditions) wet, muddy, mossy tarmac surfaces having the extra control inspired confidence to push harder with the 29er.

I had more fun on the 29er for sure.

On the CX bike, it was fun too, but with the front end jumping around a bit more, i had to choose my lines more.

Not surprised at all that the 29er was a lot faster.

ROAD RIDE

Over all the CX was a little more comfortable with its various hand positions. But the 29er with bar ends was ok, no problem. Maybe a really long road ride i'd want the CX bike, but i don't like being on roads with cars that much. I did 6 years as a cycle courier, done my time with traffic.

At 2% slower the 29er is close enough to the CX for me to sell the CX.

And the CX has lighter wheels, is 3.5kg lighter and has SPD's.

I think if the 29er had these, the times would be almost identical.

CONCLUSION:

I am 50 years old. When i was in my prime as a courier riding all day long 25 years ago i may have got more out of the CX bike at the higher speeds, thats a guess.

The test has proven to me, what i thought, that with the same tyres and with bar ends to get more aero, a MTB or hybrid can keep up with road style bikes.

But a CX just can't keep up with a hardtail on rough surfaces.

And of course the CX would get blown away on proper single track.

I am now going to sell the CX bike. 

I'm going to have 4 sets of tyres for the Voodoo Bizango.

3.0 front (rigid fork) and 2.4 rear (the most clearance allows)mtb tyres for mud and mountains.

Thunder Burts or Panaracer 42mm Gravel kings or 40mm Nano's for gravel.

2.35 Schwalbe G-one speeds front and rear for hard pack and road. These tyres have the same rolling resistance as fast 25mm road tyres.

and

40mm Voyager hypers for tarmac touring.

I am quite amazed at the Voodoo Bizango. I bought it for £280 on Ebay. Highly recommended.