Cyclocross - Need help buildin a cross bike

Right now I have a schwinn road bike http://www.schwinnbike.com/products/bikes_detail.php?id=605. I just wanted some help in figuring out what I need to modify in order to make this bike ride like a cyclocross bike. I just want to be able to ride through rough city streets and cut though some dirth paths from time to time. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

start with a new wheelset... same number of gears, knobby tires on your second wheelset...
that way you can swap out when you want to go cross and swp back when you want road...

If its just to change your bike to ride on trails and road... just buy new tires...knobbies that arent too big, probably a 700x30, but check with your Local Bike Store to see what your tire clearance is. Also you would probably need a 1 1/8" threadless cross fork with cantilever brakes on it... not tough to mount But that all depends on how safe you feel off roading with your calipers...


Maybe down the line you can consider investing the money in upgrading the parts you need... but at that poin I would just suggesting o buy a cross bike instead of trying to convert a road bike. Might be cheaper.

cheers

Maybe down the line you can consider investing the money in upgrading the parts you need... but at that poin I would just suggesting o buy a cross bike instead of trying to convert a road bike. Might be cheaper.

cheers

I'm thinking that selling the current ride and buying a cross bike might be cheaper also. Good luck

Tim

The whole thing is about the tire clearance. If you can put some 30ish tires in there, just do that and consider you've gotten the best bang for the buck possible. If you can't, there's no point in even thinking to go further.

Ron