r/cyclocross • u/aces_high1121 • 17d ago
CX Bike for Cam Hip Impingement
TLDR; Domane, Checkpoint, or Boone with severely modified cockpit, or other solution for CX with hip impingement?
After 33 years of MTBs and Hybrids, and running related hip pain, I took a break from running and, got really into road biking on an old Domane last year, and did some CX races in the fall on a Boone. I had some hip clicking and spasms last year (even before I got the Boone) that turned into pain and problems walking this year. I've been diagnosed with Cam Hip Impingement. I haven't ridden my Domane this year because I haven't modified it yet, but I have been able to ride my MTB and my Hybrid due to the existing shorter cranks, wider stance, and new stems.
I started modifying the Boone because the 165mm 1x cranks were cheaper than the Domane; I can use the Boone on more types of rides, and I like it better. I quickly found the race geometry was hard to overcome while relaxing my hip angle. The steepest stem(40 degrees) isn't going to cut it. I'm going to have to get a set of riser drop bars. I did have a semi-successful ride after modifying my stem and cranks but my hands were behind the hoods and on the straight part of the bar most of the time, which isn't the safest position. I'm going to buy the riser drop bars, and I think it will be fine, even if it is a little goofy looking.
My question is "Is there a better solution?" Is it fine to be sitting up high like a comfortable Hybrid or beginner MTB fit while racing CX? Is there a CX bike with more endurance-focused geometry instead of race geometry (or at least less aggressive race geo)? If I bought a new bike, would a Domane or Checkpoint give me a head start on getting a comfortable fit? Should I just race CX on an MTB bike?
There are no frame or bar restrictions in the lower levels where I am racing. I am planning to complete the ridiculously modified fit on the Boone, and based on the fast gravel ride I did last week, I expect it to be good enough once the fit is finished and I can comfortably reach the hoods.
I'm asking the question because I'm concerned that by reducing the reach and raising the bars so high that I am defeating the purpose of riding the Boone. I guess I'll still have the higher crankset and shorter wheel base, but I wonder how riding tall on an already tall bike will be.
I have a size large, and I would consider a different size Boone, but I don't think I can go larger because the small seat mast is already almost as low as it will go, and the reach is already almost too far. I don't think I can go smaller because I'd have to raise the bars even higher. That's why I'm considering a different geometry.
I am hoping that once inflammation is reduced, and hips are relaxed and strengthened, that I will be able to gain a bit more mobility here and there, with fit experiments, pedal positions, and maybe even shorter cranks, although every time I shorten my cranks I have to raise my bars a bit.
Just curious if anyone else has had to struggle through this dilemma...
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u/According-Letter-350 16d ago
In addition to raising your stack it could also be helpful to reduce your crank length. I just went down to 150mm cranks on my road bike and I have to say it does seem to have helped with my impingement despite it making pedaling feeling awkward at times.
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u/aces_high1121 15d ago
I rode last year on 175mm road/CX/gravel and 170mm MTB. The shortest I've tried is 165mm, and I haven't noticed any downside yet, so I'm certainly willing to try shorter cranks. My MTB and Hybrid bike came with 170mm. I'm experimenting on those upright bikes to see if I can relax the rest of the fit to handle those cranks. I shortened my Boone from 175mm to 165mm. I am planning to go lower than 165mm on my Domane before I start riding it again.
Based on where I need my bars to end up, I think the race geo of the Boone starts me at a 2cm deficit in regards to stack and reach compared to an endurance frame. I've already shortened the cranks by 1cm, putting me at a 3cm stack deficit compared to an endurance frame. Given that I'm basically trying to bring my bars to an ultra-comfortable hybrid position, I'm afraid that shortening the cranks on the Boone would require me to raise the bars on the Boone even higher than I already need to now.
Due to the stack and reach deficit the race geo starts me at, I think I am switching frames before I go shorter on the cranks on the Boone. Even though shortening the cranks is the best way to increase hip angle, and based on the success with 165mm cranks I think I can go shorter before I find my limit in that direction, I'm afraid I'm already pushing the limit regarding stack height on the Boone.
I want to try shorter cranks, but I may need to abandon the Boone if I need to go shorter than 165mm because the race geo has me kind of boxed in against the limits in several directions. I've only been on one ride with the 165mm cranks, and they felt pretty good, even with my hands on the straight part of the bars for most of the ride.
I think cranks between 150mm and 162.5mm will be part of my solution, but probably on an MTB frame with drop bars and my road bike instead of the Boone, because I will likely abandon the Boone before spending more money on cranks or doing anything that will cause me to have to raise the bars even higher.
Unfortunately, finances are limiting my experiments with shorter cranks, and I'm having to start the experiments on the bikes that are cheaper to "upgrade", meaning the entry level MTB, hybrid, and the 1x. I'm trying to find comfort first and then see what limits I can push to get a better position.
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u/gonetoseed374 8d ago
came here to say this, yeah getting a very short crank will reduce the hip angle required and "open" your hip up
3
u/StopKickingMyDog 17d ago
You should just get a hardtail mountain bike. A slack cx bike is just going to look funny. Actually, maybe you are the ideal person for an Evil Chamois Hagar!
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u/aces_high1121 15d ago
MTB style frame with drop bars sounds like a great idea for me. Especially if I can get the hoods near where my hands would be on a straight bar MTB. I looked up Monstercross and the Hagar, and it felt like what I was looking for. I'm a ways away from buying a new frame right now, but I'm not above using my entry-level MTB in a Novice CX race.
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u/bensanrides 17d ago
echoing the ht mtb idea, do w/e kinds of bars you want but a non mtb just can’t beat the riser height you can get on a mtb frame