Getting into cyclocross: 6 events until January and which bike will do

Autumn brings mud, cold hands and short circuits with big crowds. It's cyclocross season, and it's a good time to give it a go: you don't need an expensive bike, great fitness or a club behind you. You need a park with grass, some knobbly tyres and a willingness to jump off the bike and run up a bank.

This guide is for you if you want to get into cyclocross this winter. We tell you which events are coming up in the calendar, which bike will do (you probably already have one that works) and what to check if you buy a second-hand one.

What cyclocross is and why it's addictive

Cyclocross is raced on a short, closed circuit of grass, dirt, sand and mud, which you lap for under an hour. There are tight bends, sections where you have to get off and shoulder the bike, steps, barriers and the odd impossible ramp.

That's what hooks you: every lap is different because the mud changes, you're always riding flat out and the crowd is a metre away. And since the circuit is short, nobody gets lost or left alone. If you're at the back, you've still got company.

If you ride on the road or on gravel, it's also a very complete winter workout: technique, power in short efforts and handling the bike when it slides.

The cyclocross events coming up

The cyclocross Spain Cup (Copa de España) is already under way. These are the cyclocross events currently in the bicis.net events calendar, from October to January, with the date from each organiser's official website:

Next up is Amurrio, on 31 October, and two weeks later comes Les Franqueses del Vallès. The early December bank holiday brings three events together in the Valencian Community and Madrid, and in January the World Cup returns to Benidorm.

The Spain Cup events are for licensed riders. To get started, the best thing is to go to one as a spectator: you'll see how riders clear the barriers, take the corners and where people get off the bike. Many organisers also put on youth, junior or open races the same weekend. Check each event's official website to see whether there's one open to beginners.

Which bike will do to get into cyclocross

A cyclocross bike looks a lot like a road bike: drop handlebars, 700 wheels, but with more mud clearance, knobbly tyres and geometry designed to turn quickly and carry on your shoulder. The good news is you don't need a dedicated one to start.

A gravel bike, the easiest option

If you already have a gravel bike, you've got almost everything. Fit some knobbly tyres narrower than the ones you use on tracks, drop the pressure and start training. It's a bit heavier to shoulder and a bit less nimble in tight bends, but for your first rides and your first open races it's more than enough.

A mountain bike, for training

A mountain bike is good for learning technique in a park or a pine wood: bends on grass, getting off and on while moving, short ramps. It isn't usually allowed in races, but it's perfect for training this winter.

A cyclocross bike, if you're hooked

If after a few weeks you find you love it, that's when a dedicated bike is worth it. And this is where second-hand comes in: there are plenty of cyclocross bikes with only a few seasons on them, sold when their owners switch to gravel.

What to check on a used cyclocross or gravel bike

bicis.net doesn't yet have enough cyclocross listings to give its own median price. As a reference, in the road category, the closest one, the median asking price is €1,150 per bike, with half the listings between €710 and €3,025 (42 listings, data as of 19 October 2026, in Ciclismo en cifras). That's what sellers ask, not the final price.

Before you meet the seller, go through this:

• The frame and fork. Cyclocross is hard on a bike: falls on grass, knocks when you shoulder it. Look closely at the stays, the bottom bracket area and the fork. If it's carbon, look for cracks or chips in the paint.
• Tyre clearance. Check what tyre width it takes with real mud. If it's tight with the tyre fitted, it'll clog up on a rainy day.
• The brakes. Disc brakes stop better in mud and water. If it has cantilevers, as many older cyclocross bikes do, you can race with them, but they need a firmer hand.
• The drivetrain. Mud eats chains, cassettes and chainrings. Ask when they were replaced and check the wear on the teeth.
• The bearings. Headset, hubs and bottom bracket suffer from pressure washing. Spin the wheels and turn the handlebars: there should be no play or noise.
• The size. In cyclocross people tend to ride a slightly more compact position than on the road, to move the bike around easily. Try it before you pay.

You'll find all the used bikes in the bicis.net second-hand listings: search for «ciclocross» or «gravel» and filter by your area so you can see it in person.

How to get into cyclocross this season, step by step

1. Go and watch an event. Pick the nearest one in the calendar and spend the morning at the circuit. Notice the sections where people get off.
2. Find a park with grass. Set up a short circuit with tight bends, a ramp and a low obstacle or two. Do short, fast laps.
3. Practise getting off and on. It's what saves the most time in a race and what's hardest at first. Start slowly, on grass.
4. Play with tyre pressure. With low pressure you get more grip in the mud. Experiment until the tyre grips without the rim bottoming out.
5. Find company. Many clubs have a cyclocross section or go out training in winter. Asking at your club or your bike shop is the quickest way to find an open race.
6. Choose your first race. An open race or one in your regional league, not the Spain Cup. Go to have fun: mud is a great leveller.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get into cyclocross with a gravel bike?

Yes. A gravel bike with narrow knobbly tyres and low pressure is the easiest way to get into cyclocross. It's a bit heavier and less nimble than a dedicated bike, but it'll do for training and open races.

Do I need a licence to ride a cyclocross race?

For the Spain Cup events, yes: they're federation races. Some organisers put on open races the same weekend; each event's official website tells you what it requires.

When is the cyclocross season in Spain?

From autumn to January. The bicis.net calendar currently has events from October to January, and the last one is the Benidorm World Cup, on 17 January 2027.

How much does a second-hand cyclocross bike cost?

bicis.net doesn't yet have enough cyclocross listings to give its own median. On the road, the closest category, the median asking price is €1,150 (42 listings, data as of 19 October 2026).

What's the hardest thing when you start?

Getting off and on the bike without losing rhythm, and learning to brake and turn on wet grass. You'll pick up both quickly by practising in a park.