I have an old steel frame road bike. I am interested in converting it to a cyclocross bike. I know nothing about cyclocross bikes, other than what I read on Wikipedia and that they look like road bikes with wider tires. So, could I just get some tougher rims (my current rims don't look very robust), and wider tires (e.g. 700x35)? I guess I'd need to make sure I had enough clearance with the brakes.
I have another road bike for pure road, and I'd like the option on weekdays of taking some trails to avoid city streets which I have to take to get to the nice riding. I can bypass most of the city if I can take dirt trails. Cyclocross sounds like the perfect solution, and my old road bike doesn't see much action anymore.
Any drawbacks? Anything I should consider? Any idea on which wheels might work (say $200-$300 for the set)? I have old Campagnolo components, and my rear gear cassette has six gears, I think. Thanks.
one major aspect of cyclo bikes is they have braze on brake mounts for cantilevers. road bikes do not. you can put beefier wheels and tires on but be will be limited to side pull brakes. another limiting factor is the width between your chain stay bars, the clearance of the side pull brakes is also usually limited. you can have brake mounts brazed on, but you need someone qualified for that.
one major aspect of cyclo bikes is they have braze on brake mounts for cantilevers. road bikes do not. you can put beefier wheels and tires on but be will be limited to side pull brakes. another limiting factor is the width between your chain stay bars, the clearance of the side pull brakes is also usually limited. you can have brake mounts brazed on, but you need someone qualified for that.
Okay, if I understand you, then if I can get the wider tires to fit with my chainstays and current brakes, then I'll just have much worse braking than if I convert to cantilever. Correct?
I'm wondering if I'm going to ratlle my teeth (or something more precious) out doing this. Guess I'll find out!
Okay, if I understand you, then if I can get the wider tires to fit with my chainstays and current brakes, then I'll just have much worse braking than if I convert to cantilever. Correct?
I'm wondering if I'm going to ratlle my teeth (or something more precious) out doing this. Guess I'll find out!
It will work with sidepull brakes, but you will be subject to the limitations that sidepulls have in mud/wet. The cantilevers shed mud better and offer more braking leverage which helps in the wet/mud/snow. The cantis also better accomodate a larger tire, but I doubt that you would go larger than 32-35 anyway so most sidepulls would still clear the tires.
It is one thing to have a bike just to ride for the fun or to be ideally outfitted. A standard road bike will work for a time trial, but not as well as an TT specific aero bike, similarly a cross bike is just a road bike with a few specific modifications.
