Cyclocross - OK to start with Hybrid??

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chmiluby
08-28-09, 10:12 PM
Before dropping money on another bike wondering if it is acceptable to try cyclocross on a Trek 7.3 hybrid to see if I like it. Although it has a triple which I know isn't perfect, cheap way to get introduced to the sport. Thoughts??

CB

TimJ
08-28-09, 11:07 PM
Sure, why not? I don't think it will explode or anything. It's gonna be heavy and perhaps the geometry weird, but sure.
fogrider
08-29-09, 10:20 PM
are you going to race? do you just want the experience of riding in light trails?

desmo13
08-30-09, 05:11 PM
I am doing it.. first CX season for me, wife said no go on buying a CX bike unless I race CX first..

the result... turned my Kona Dew hybrid commuter into a CX bike for 150 bucks.. had to buy tires, cables/housing and brake pads. everything else is from stuff in my garage.

before...

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u141/desmo0341/2-12.jpg

and now...

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u141/desmo0341/cx2.jpg
chmiluby
08-30-09, 07:05 PM
Just want to give it a try to see if I like it. If so, I will probably invest in a bike I can race.

Thanks
CB
c_m_shooter
08-31-09, 12:21 AM
Beginner class races are run what you brung. You won't be the only one with flat bars. Have fun.
acorn_user
08-31-09, 09:17 AM
I just took the rack and fenders off my Dawes Kalahari and raced that for a year. I had a blast!@
oharescrubs
08-31-09, 03:06 PM
theres plenty of people turning their CX bikes into hybrids more or less, so why not?!?!
jonestr
08-31-09, 06:38 PM
^ looks like you are ready for cross

get ready for a lot briefcasing
MadGrad
08-31-09, 09:01 PM
desmo13- want to give us a brief rundown on exactly what you changed? I have a hybrid and some spare parts lying around too...
grizwold
09-01-09, 01:31 AM
I did my first race on a 7.3FX. Just changed the tires, nothing else. It worked fine but I was slow and not in shape so not competitive at all. I can't contribute those problems to the bike though. It'll be fine to use.
ranggapanji
09-01-09, 10:10 AM
I guess it's fine, I also build my 'cross bike based on a MTB frame. had to deal with lower cantilever studs and all, not to mention the longer toptube, shorter seattube and headtube, higher BB height, and more.
I liked it so far.
desmo13
09-01-09, 11:05 PM
desmo13- want to give us a brief rundown on exactly what you changed? I have a hybrid and some spare parts lying around too...

Drop bars from my old roadbike left over when I went to wider bars. Wheels off my old roadbike. Shifters/RD left over from when I upgraded my mom's bike to 105. These are Sora, but I have some tiagra-105 coming to me free. Canti-brakes from my 1st MTB, a 1988 Stumpjumper (had to switch the stock v-brakes didnt work well with road levers, too spongy.. though these are not much better) . Stem was laying around garage. Post and seat from my current MTB XC race bike. I stripped down to run 1 ring up front, used middle ring, took big ring to the grinder to make a bash guard. Chain keeper is a modified frame pump holder. Vittoria XM tires are new, so are the pads and cables/housings. Bar tape was laying around. Pedals from my XC bike.

edit: Oh. the cable guides for rear brake mounted to the seat tube collar, and the one that mounts like a spacer for the headset were given to me.