Cyclocross - Anyone turn a Crosscheck complete into a triple 10 speed?

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Unagidon
10-14-08, 03:44 PM
I recently bought a Crosscheck complete. I prefer STI brifter's and so never even used to bar ends, immediately converted to Ultegra 10 speed brifters (since they're cheaper than the 9 speed brand new) with 10 speed cassette.

Did some gravel riding over the weekend, and definitely would like some lower gears. And so, my two options were:
1) Find some 9 speed brifters (likely used), add a mountain bike rear derailleur, change FD to triple, and get mtb cassette

Or

2) Get small ring for cranks (bike comes with triple cranks but only 2 rings - 48/36), get triple brifters (ouch) and change FD to triple

I'm opting for #2 because that would allow me to swap the cross wheels/tires with my rode bike. And, I can save the double STI brifter I purchased for another bike (i.e. the Miyata you see in my sig for later conversion).

That said, does anyone have experience converting their Crosscheck complete from 9 speed double to 10 speed triple? And if so, how is it?

geoffvsjeff
10-16-08, 04:52 PM
I have no experience with this setup, but I like the idea of #2, pretty much for the same reasons you outlined.
lanman
10-16-08, 05:03 PM
Why not just get a compact Ultegra set up with a 12-27 or something? Much lighter, will shift more precisely and will do better in the mud

darksiderising
10-16-08, 05:47 PM
That said, does anyone have experience converting their Crosscheck complete from 9 speed double to 10 speed triple? And if so, how is it?

What you want to do here has very little to do with what brand of bike you have. The components are important, however.

Can you list the parts that you have available and already own? I am confused by all this jumping around from 9 to 10 speed.

Here's what I understand:
-The bike comes with a 9-speed double (with room for granny gear) with bar-end shifters.
-You replaced the shifters/brakes with 10-speed brifters
-You replaced the cassette with a 10-speed cassette (what gearing???)
-You replaced the chain with a 10-speed chain
-You have a brand new 9-speed cassette, bar-end shifters, 9-speed chain sitting around

Here's what you're going to need to do if you convert your existing 10-speed double to 10-speed triple setup:
-Another new chain
-A new left brifter
-Granny ring
-Possibly new bottom bracket (for good chainline)
-Possibly new front/rear deraileur