One of the “fringes” of 29″ers is the “monstercross” bike. Besides its fun, cartoonish moniker, what is behind the name? What does the bike you see in your mind look like when you think “monstercross”? I’m going to delve into this vague, oft discussed, and debated term for a bicycle.
What We Can Agree On: There are so many variables when it comes to this idea of “monstercross” that it is easier to enumerate the things we can identify as commonly held beliefs on the genre. Here are the few points of agreement.
1: It is generally accepted that “monstercross” is based upon 700c wheels.
2: It is generally accepted that “monstercross” is fully rigid- no suspension.
3: It is generally accepted that “monstercross” utilizes drop bars.
4: It is generally accepted that “monstercross” means larger tires will clear the frame. (40mm- ??)
Beyond this there is a lot of debate as to what is meant by the term, “monstercross” Let’s take a look at the main variants.
The Traditionalists Monstercross Bike: Some hold to a more traditional take on a cyclo-cross bike for their version of monstercross. The example above, the Surly Travelers Check, is based off the popular Cross Check model, arguably one of the defining rigs of monstercross. Able to “Fit Fatties Fine”, (my convenient rearranging of the words here),this rig was tailor made for slamming oversized rubber in and hitting the dirt. Sure, there are a lot of other examples I could cite, but they all have the traditional horizontal top tube, cantlever brakes, and more traditional drop bar set ups. Generally speaking, these rigs are limited to 2 inch and narrower tires.
Modified Cyclo Crossers: Falling out of the traditional realm, things start to get weird fast. The addition of more mountain bike related parts starts in with bikes like the Salsa La Cruz, shown above. Disc brakes and room for larger-than-ordinary cyclo cross rubber is where the category starts, but it doesn’t stop there! Geometry can start to creep away from the ordinary cyclo cross fare, and forks start to look more “mountain bike-ish”. Still we are generally dealing with a traditional looking frame for the most part. Room for anything bigger than a two inch tire is still pretty rare.
Everything Else!: About a year ago I did a post entitled “Who Does Monstercross?” where a comment was left by “Mike” that stated the following: “When I think monstercross, I think of a bike with clearance for 700×45C tires, drop bars, and cyclocross geometry. Change one of the first two items and it becomes something else. Change the tires to 2.1 and it’s just a mountain bike with drop bars. Change the bars to flat and it’s a hybrid.” Well, this next grouping of “monstercross” rigs defies that notion with fatter tires, mountain bike geometry, and yes, sometimes flat bars, or “alt bars”. Do these bikes belong in the monstercross genre? Some will argue that they should, but there is no doubt that in the continuum from true cyclo cross rigs to the custom Badger bike above, there is alot of variances.
Whatever your definition of “monstercross” is, there is no denying that it has sparked the imaginations of a lot of people. Adventuring, back country exploring on rustic paths, and bombing along fire roads are all possibilities with this versatile category of bike. Plus, it can be a commuter, a touring rig, or just plain ol’ fun on a bike.
And that’s what it really is all about, regardless of how you categorize it!
To me, Monstercross is a bike with the heritage of a traditional Cyclo-cross bike mixed with some MTB DNA that really is the rubber and sometimes discs.
Pretty much what you said really 🙂
Hey that bike looks familiar 😉
I think with most mountain bike riders coming into the sport within the past – heck is it almost 10 years since 2000? – 10 years or so, all they know about a mountain bike is suspension. So a mountain bike that is fully rigid is kind of foreign to them. In their mind, a monstercross bike seems like it’s anything fully rigid with alt bars.
Whatever the correct classification, there sure are some interesting rigs out there. To me, a monstercross bike is a cyclocross bike that can be ridden in place of a mountain bike.
GT- This is a great post. The way I explain a monstercross bike as, a ‘cross bike that has (knobby) tires between cyclocross and 29er, with a traditional 2x_ or SS drive train and disc optional, yet with the belief that if we are going to call it type of ‘cross bike, it should not be disc.
I feel that the definition of “monstercross” can be as vague as “adventure touring”. Adventure touring could be a ride that is longer than your normal ride on a trail that you’ve ridden hundreds of times before, but never to the full extent. Or it could be a ride that is the normal duration, but takes a different path than you’ve enjoyed before. Likewise, Monstercross would be as subjective. But like Frankenstein, a man-made combination of different parts that when given life longed for the same things that most humans desired, Monstercross bikes all desire the same thing- to be “loved” in the same way as their brethren.
Great post – it is what it is….and that’s how you define it.
BTW – if/when you get tired of that Badger, I’ll give her a go 😉
Here’s a flickr group dedicated to Monster crossers:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/monster-cross-bikes/pool/
I’m currently using these images to inspire what I want in a mOnster Crosser. I know it’ll have room for up to 2.0″ tires, no more, probably close to traditional geometry, but with a bit taller headtube for comfortable ambling about. It most certainly won’t be a racer, nor a trail bike. It’ll be something used to explore gravel and b roads and mellower trails. Can’t wait!
I’m converting a 1995 Kona Fire Mountain into a CX bike – would that count? Not sure if the Mavic Brake adapter I’m going to have to use in back will allow for really big meats – but it will be a cross type bike based off an MTB frame.
Still trying to figure out a few bits and pieces of the set up and waiting on the Mavic Adapters to be available again (please hurry the heck up Mavic!), but I hope it turns out to be a cool looking bike. We’ll see.
I’ve typically looked at a “Monstercross” bike as a ‘cross bike that can fit +40c fatties without rubbing, with a burly enough build that it’s no wimp off-road. For me, it’s really nothing more, nothing less. Others may look at it differently, but it’s always been pretty simple for me.
My Salsa La Cruz is a great monstercross bike too. It’s not a drop bar mountain bike… that’s a different beast, but it’s definitely a bit beefier than my Chili Con Crosso ‘cross “racing” bike, even though it shares the same riding position and geometry. There’s more than disc brakes and steel vs. Scandium that separate the CCC and La Cruz. The La Cruz has a sort of “BRING IT ON!” sort of attitude that defines a good monstercross bike, and that’s the certain “Je ne sais quois” that makes it a special ride.
I’m with you on most of these.
1. Agreed, though I wouldn’t dissallow 650b or any wheel with more of a pavement heritage.
2. Agreed -and furthermore I think it should be non-suspension corrected. Otherwise it’s just a funky-bar’d rigid 29er.
3. Agreed. I think moustache bars fit in here too, especially the ones that are 23.8mm.
4. Agreed. This seems to be where some cyclocross frames top-out, so in my mind if it fits a fatter tire than that it’s monster-crossable.
PS monster cross is what led me to 29ers! I built an old touring frame with 29×1.75 tires for an event, and had so much fun with it I ditched my full-sus 26er for a 29er hardtail.
I just built up a Salsa La Cruz this fall, I’m running tubeles tires and 22/32/42-34 gearing. for the past two years I’ve been linking on and off road trails here on the C.T. shorline and have found a monster cross bike to be a great winter training tool and super fun to ride. When the trails are too cruddy to ride on a mtb and the roads are too slick to ride a road bike out comes the monster cross… I had a Fargo on my hit list but i opted for the la cruz instead. Both bikes are disc specific and ready for panniers and than a traditional cross bike which helps on uncharted trails.
As far as my idea of a monster cross bike.
1. monster cross is about riding not racing.
2. It’s about the journey not the destination.
3. It has to have some sort of drop bar. for on and off road.
4. big wheels help but any geared or ss bike with drop bars fits the bill.
I also have a bianchi diss ss with 700c wheels that i converted over to a monster and its a blast to ride…
I think I could live with those ‘rules,’ Glenn.
I’m a big fan of the Monstercross spirit if solely for the imaginative builds and custom details. If there are two exactly alike, I haven’t seen them on the web. That’s what so great. They are all built with intention, and become a unique manifestation of the rider’s vision (if you’ll allow me to be a bit romantic about it).
I don’t see MonsterX bikes as ‘the beginners bike’ really, and I think that’s why I’m opposed to unnecessary categorisation. I’m not trying to be exclusionist, I just think that strict definitions will somewhat limit the imaginative freedom that MX builds allow. Most are built by people whose tastes in bikes have matured enough to know how and where they’d like to ride and what it’s going to take to accomplish their goals, it’s usually not someone’s first build.
Not only that, but how annoying is it to see someone’s imaginative build posted online only to have someone cite line and page, ‘That’s not a Monstercross because…’
Rant over.
Nonetheless, I liked the writeup, GT. Sufficiently vague. 😉
BTW, I’m riding a converted ’80’s Peugeot with WTB Interwolf 38c’s and WTB Mountain Drops. Loads of fun.
I think a monster cross bike is just fine with a suspension fork. Without a good sus fork you are basically just talking about a normal cross bike with a little more rubber and some disks. Once you put a good sus fork on the bike you have way the capability to hit trails that are not possible on a normal cross bike.
‘For me’ I think that a quality of the monstercross bike is quirky builds, one-off components or unusual combinations of components. Thus the builder is creating their personal version of a do-all bike that suits THEIR intended uses/budget/likes/personality – based on 700c or 29″ with drop bar and all terrain tyres.
I don’t have a monstercross bike (yet) but I love them. I own a 2012 dual suspension hi-end-superduper 29er. But commute on a crappy 20year old 26″ rigid MTB that I found on a junk heap and fitted with slicks. When $$ and time allow I will build up a “monstercross” for the commute (1×9 geared).