[lucklust]

I scored a major deal today! Long story short, I got a Peugot road bike with a Reynolds 501 frame, Mavic wheels, and all top of the line (for the late 80's) Shimano parts, a brand new pump, 3 new jerseys (including a praying mantis Primal), a pair of brand new Shimano M080 MTB shoes with cleats and pedals, and a brand new Cateye Mity2 cyclometer for the low, low price of $200... The best part is that the money goes to charity!!!

Here's where you all come in... I'd like to get some opinions on how to turn her into a *****in' cyclocross bike, with a frame swap in the 'somewhat' near future (a year or so). In other words, I don't mind putting expensive parts on her if I can move them to another frame later on. You guys always have great ideas, so thanks in advance!!!

Torrin

[The BikeForums Team]

This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.

Ready to buy? Check out these two online bike stores:
- http://www.nashbar.com (you can find the latest bike nashbar coupons in this thread)
- http://www.performancebike.com (you can find the latest performance bike coupons in this thread)

Cya on the forums,
- The BikeForums Team
- http://www.bikeforums.net

[Kev]

What you will need to turn that into a Cyclocross bike, is new frame, new fork. And replace the large chain ring, cantilever brakes, new cyclocross tires and possibly larger range rear cassette.

[lucklust]

So it's essentially useless? that's too bad... can I start with the fork, chainring, brakes, and cassette, then switch them to another frame later on? You'll have to excuse my ignorance of bicycles (I'm a motorcycle mechanic), but can I buy a good chainring and cassette for use with my down-tube shifters, then switch them over to STI use later? How hard is it to switch to canti brakes?
Thanks again,
Torrin

p.s. I found a great page about canti brakes if you're into the science of it...
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cantilever-geometry.html

[Kev]

I read that article on Canti's at sheldon a bit ago, sheldon has GREAT info on his web site.

Basicaly canti brakes require braze-on's to bolt down to, similar to V-brakes on a Mountain bike. I would just get frame and fork at same time to be honest, Surly makes a nice steel frame and fork for aroudn $400. A standard road bike can't support the wide tires needed for Cyclocross or have mud clearance needed. Mud clearance and tires are also the reason for the Canti brakes. That is the reason for new frame and fork, so it can support the tires and canti-brakes.

How many speeds is the bike currently? Chainring is no problem neither is wider range cassette. Cambria bike has the Avid shorty canti-brakes on sale right now for $12. New smaller large chainring wont' be very expensive either.
Basicaly your biggest cost would be new frame, fork and brakes which would be done at same time.

[Kev]

One way you might go to offset the cost a bit, strip down the bike, sell of the frame and fork and move components to your new cyclocross. That is what I actualy did when I built mine up.

[peloton]

Depending on the spacing in the stays, the frame just might be able to accommodate wider, knobby tires. If it can, and it's a steel frame, you could take it to a frame maker and have him braze on canti posts. That would cost about $50.

You'd probably have to get a new fork, but you can pick up an aluminum or steel cyclocross fork for about $50. It's be a bit higher in the front, but not too much.

[lucklust]

Thanks for the help everyone... I'm in rehab right now (see post on the introduction page http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33875 ) so I think I'm just going to use my bike to get better, then throw down some money on a real bike when I'm healed. It sound like it'll just be a bit of a money pit if I try to upgrade it, so I'll just save the cash. Thanks for all the info!!!
This forum rocks,
Torrin

[hoodie]

doesnt big cheese make a canti adaptor that bolts to the frame (or fork) that allows you to run cantis? I think I looked for one of those when I had a steamroller I was trying to fit fat tires on. might work for this dude if the stays/fork are wide enough to put fat tires in.