Cyclo-cross bikes look very similar in design to racing bikes but make use of components that are more typically found on mountain bikes to allow them to be used off road. Cyclo-cross is very much a competitive style of riding and typically races require a rider to complete many laps of a short course of say 1-2 miles.
A cyclo-cross race course will usually involve cycling across a variety of terrain such as wooded trails, grass, pavement and can even require riders to dismount and scale obstacles. The cyclo-cross race season is a cold one and usually spans from September to January.
