Cyclocross - Can I convert my Hybrid to a CX?

I just been looking at some of your pics of your bikes and it seems to me all I have to do is get some dropbars $30-$40 ,bar end shifters $50, some old school hooded brake levers $14, and presto! My 97' Specialized Crossroads is now a CX. Right?

That sounds about right to me. I don't recall what brakes come on the crossroads, but I believe they are cantis. Some cross frames are built with a slightly higher bottom bracket, however, I don't belive 2 cm is going to change whether you'll get off and carry or bunny hop. Sounds like a good set-up to me, but I'm sure some seasoned veteran might have another idea.

It can be done my CX rig is an old trek 750 hybrid with my old ultegra stuff from my road bike and some free bars from my LBS and a cheap stem.

Consider your options before dropping $30-40 for drop bars. I just got a set of drop bars for $31, and guess what I got with them: A frame, fork, wheels.......

:)

I actually bought that bike for the wheels. But the tire tubes are good (save me a good $10 compared to new tubes around here). I might use the headset. I might use the shifters and the derailleur. I'll keep the cables/cable housing for spares. Heck, if i get ambitious I'm going to make the bike into a fixie. (probably using slightly worn-out parts off my road bike.)

Cool!
Mww. Yes there the old style center pull cantis brakes!
Man, now I'm kinda excited about it. First thing I have to do is replace that old worn out bottom bracket.

Speaking of cheap bikes. I was in the bike shop the other day and the owner showed me something a customer brought in. It was a Schwinn World that he had bought at the Salvation Army for $16.

It look RIGHT OFF the showroom floor. The only "upgrades" to it were really nice tires, an expensive saddle and modern pedals. There wasn't a spot on the chrome anywhere and the paint was flawless.

Think I'll start haunting the Salvation Army again looking for that spotless PX-10 (which made very nice cross conversions.)

Go for it man! I converted a 1990 cannondale touring bike for cross racing and had so much fun that a year later I convinced myself into buying a brand new bike. But of course after a season of racing I knew exactally what to buy.

I just finished (?) converting a Trek 700 to a cyclocross bike.

The conversion included new freewheel, crankset (with biopace rings), bottom bracket, forks, handlebars, barcon shifters, aero brake levers, wheels, tires, seat, brakes. Most of the parts came from ebay.

BEFORE:
http://www.fitness4sports.com/images/trek-700.jpg

AFTER:
http://www.fitness4sports.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/cyclocross-bike-trek-700.jpg

^^^ Nice! I love homebuilt/weirdo bikes. That looks pretty fun.

Go for it man! A person can't have tooooo many cx bikes. I've got 3 (ok, ok, one is going to a friend).

http://www.fitness4sports.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/cyclocross-bike-trek-700.jpg

Are those Bio-pace cranks?

Are those Bio-pace cranks?

Yes they. I am intending to use the bike for an off-road duathlon. So after riding the bike for 10 miles, I will have to run another 2 miles. I have read biopace cranks can make the transition from biking to running easier. So I wanted to try them.

I've converted two hybrids to cross use. The first was a '94(?) Bianchi Advantage that was eventually given to my dad. Although it was heavy and didn't quite have tire enough clearance for sloppy conditions, it worked pretty well. I've recently seen similarly built up Advantage frames going on ebay for upwards of $500. It seems kind of weird to have set up my dad with a 24-speed "collector's item" of sorts.

I never weighed the frame by itself but the '96(?) Specialized Crossroads I converted ended up almost a pound lighter with similar components. The wheelbase on the Crossroads was a bit longer though, and the bike's handling always felt a bit sluggish to actually race cyclocross with. The few courses that get set up here are usually pretty twisty turny so I eventually sold it to a buddy for commuter use.

I now have a Soma Double-Cross and although its wheelbase/geometry is a bit longer/slacker than most dedicated cross bikes, it still handles a hair better than either one of the hybrid frames did.

Don't let that stop you from doing it. It will be a blast to ride. Just don't spend more than can be justified given the frame.

This was a Specialized Crossroads at one time. Set up more as a tourer but put cross wheels on and there you go.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o61/mudman93/P1010072.jpg

Hmmmm...a few of the parts for my Trek 700 cyclocross conversion came from a Specialized Crosscroads (the wheels, and cantilever brakes). I still have the frame and other parts. Maybe I will play with it, and build it up into a usable bike. Maybe I build it up into a hybrid. I can put the V-brakes on it from the Trek 700 (if they will work with the levers. The crankset on the Crossroads was bent, but I can use the cheap one from the Trek. About the only thing I think I might need would be a new back wheel. The back wheel on the Trek 700 when I got it was bent. The front one was fine. I could build another cyclocross bike, but would I do with two cyclocross bikes? Dunno.

Nice to see that the cross board isn't as purist as some others...

I'm thinking the bastard of all builds: old Bianchi tange prestige road frame, random steel fork, weinmann sidepulls or decent centrpulls if I can find/afford them, shimano 105 levers, maillard/wolber 36h tubular track wheels, sugino track cranks w. a 42t 3/32 chainring, some big cog in the back. Basically a lowish geared, tractor treaded ss/fg. I'm a little dubious about the braking surface / durability of those rims, but there's only one way to find out:)