Cyclocross - can I turn my road bike into a cross bike?

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mtb_man_14
09-10-09, 07:04 PM
I really want to do cyclocross this year but im not sure how i will like it so i dont wanna spend 400-800 on a cross bike if i dont like it so can i put cyclocross tires on my fuji newest 3.0 and race it like that? i could use a mtb but that wouldnt feel like a cross bike so i would not know if i liked the feel. i heard road bikes feel more like cross bikes than mtb's.

garysol1
09-10-09, 07:05 PM
If you can fit a tire as tall as a cross tire on your Fuji then I say give it a go. I kinda doubt you will enough clearance though.
jonestr
09-10-09, 09:24 PM
you might be able to get a not very knobby 28, but you wont know till you try

ZenNMotion
09-11-09, 09:49 AM
Just use your MTB, with some narrowish light tires. Lots of people start with MTBs, the main disadvantage is the weight while carrying the bike. Lock out the suspension in your fork if you can for quicker handling, and the best tire choices are going to be narrow, light and low-tread (compared with most MTB tires). You won't be allowed to race with bar end extensions so take those off and just go have fun, and think about a "real" cross bike later for your future addiction. And you will get addicted to cross- 4 out of 5 cross newbies do, and the other ones don't count as they all have died a righteous death in their first race. Look up at the clouds or (down in the mud) and you can see them still smiling from heaven (or hell) every time it rains, cause it was really worth the trip.
mattm
09-16-09, 07:19 PM
Hmm, I have a Surly Pacer that fits 32's - would like to [race] cx but don't have room for anything other bikes.

I figured my road brakes would just get gunked up and generally not work. Any thoughts on that?
jtgotsjets
09-17-09, 07:45 AM
^ride it fixed and brakeless.

you might die, but the crowd will love you.
speed demon
09-17-09, 08:18 AM
Not a very good idea to convert a race bike into a crossbike, the frame's geometry is very different, crossbikes are longer , have a higher bracket ,slacker angles and longer chainstays.
This makes them much more stable riding through dirt , uphill and downhill.
I personally would transform the Mtb into something racy and light , with slimmer tyres , say 26x1.4" at the most and try it like this.
You have to adapt your chainrings too, 34 and 46 in the front and 12 to 25 8-speed in the rear.This will make your riding faster, harder and less complicated.
You will fall less often than riding the racebike on dirt and have a great time !