Cyclocross - CX tires on reg road wheels?

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View Full Version : CX tires on reg road wheels?


Toxanadu
10-09-05, 08:54 PM
Can i put say 700x32 CX tires on a regular road wheels?


SerialLadyKillr
10-09-05, 09:10 PM
CX wheels are regular wheels

Toxanadu
10-09-05, 09:20 PM
ok cool. just wanted to make sure a 700x18 was not to small. I am just used to using 700x23/20 all the time.


andygates
10-10-05, 05:20 AM
I got some Hutchison Pro golds on my Mavic Open Pros. Works a treat.

SpongeDad
10-10-05, 08:15 AM
So I'm thing of getting a CX bike for winter and dirt trail riding. Am I correct that I can swap the 32mm tires for 23 or 25mm tires for metrics and century road rides.

Basically, I'd like to get use the same rims and not have to worry about readjusting the brakes because of different rim widths (if I had to run 2 sets of wheels).

jfmckenna
10-10-05, 09:08 AM
So I'm thing of getting a CX bike for winter and dirt trail riding. Am I correct that I can swap the 32mm tires for 23 or 25mm tires for metrics and century road rides.

Basically, I'd like to get use the same rims and not have to worry about readjusting the brakes because of different rim widths (if I had to run 2 sets of wheels).
You may not be able to fit the 32's in your current brakes unless they are canti's but cx tires can be mounted to regular old 700c road wheels. You may want to inquire about the fit in your brakes at your LBS. If they don't fit they make cx tires in 28 which might work...

SpongeDad
10-10-05, 10:52 AM
Thanks - should not be brake problem. I'm thinking a CX bike with cantilever brakes. Just wanted to make sure I could run standard road width rims.

Big Helmet
10-10-05, 11:14 AM
"CX" rims are standard road width. You can swap wheels without adjusting the brakes.

I have one set of wheels with the CX tires, and a second set with my commuting tires, and can switch 'em out in seconds. The CX-tired rear wheel has a wider gear cluster than the relatively narrower one on the "road" wheel.

You can swap tires too, though, as you suggest. It comes down mainly to cost (second set of wheels) vs. hassle (swapping tires is a pain compared to swapping wheels).

dragonflybikes
10-10-05, 08:56 PM
Sponge Dad the question is, are you going to make sure that your CX bike matches your Road bike?

As far as the wheels go, since my road machine is my main machine, my CX bike gets my road bikes leftovers; or if parts get upgraded on my road bike the part that was upgraded goes to my cx bike. Provided it will work on the cx bike of course.

toomanybikes
10-10-05, 09:03 PM
"CX" rims are standard road width. You can swap wheels without adjusting the brakes.

I have one set of wheels with the CX tires, and a second set with my commuting tires, and can switch 'em out in seconds. The CX-tired rear wheel has a wider gear cluster than the relatively narrower one on the "road" wheel.

You can swap tires too, though, as you suggest. It comes down mainly to cost (second set of wheels) vs. hassle (swapping tires is a pain compared to swapping wheels).

For the most part this is true. Most of my wheels can go back and forth easily. However, I have on set that I built with the Salsa Delgado Cross rims, those are a very wide box rim and even though I can mount 700 x 23's on them or 700 x 28 cross tires - the rim itself is wide enough that I have to adjust thr brakes to use 'em.

Had I known this before I bought 'em, I wouldn't have bought.

Oh well.

bokes
10-10-05, 10:22 PM
I ride a cx bike and have 3 wheelsets for it. 700x23 for road, 700x32 for bumpy roads and commuting, and 700x45 for off road. The 23,32 tires fit on the same size rim, but the 45 needs a wider touring rim.i have to spend a few minutes tightening or loosening the brake cables when going back and forth. maybe i should go disc brakes so i can avoid that step.

SpongeDad
10-10-05, 11:05 PM
Sponge Dad the question is, are you going to make sure that your CX bike matches your Road bike?

As far as the wheels go, since my road machine is my main machine, my CX bike gets my road bikes leftovers; or if parts get upgraded on my road bike the part that was upgraded goes to my cx bike. Provided it will work on the cx bike of course.

I think that's where I'm heading. I have a very nice road bike and a Trek 1500, which is good bike itself. I'd also like to have CX bike to ride some of the dirt trails around here and hack around with my kids. Can't fit or rationalize 3 bikes, and 32mm tires and canti brakes won't fit on the Trek.

So I'm thinking of buying a frame and fork and swapping the components over. Not sure if the economics sorts out though.

dragonflybikes
10-12-05, 08:51 AM
you can always pick up a frame rather inexpensively on ebay. You can get a basic one from around $200 - $500 and then of course on up. I am sure you have some bike stuff you could always sell to get to that dollar amount. OF course if that is not ocp enough for you then you could always have it custom painted and wait a year to get the frame back from the painter. :p