Cyclocross - Wintage, cobbled together, run what you brung CX bike photos

I went through the whole thread of SSCX photos and all the bikes but one were high dollar masterpieces. I'm building an old vintage frame into a SSCX bike and would like to see any other cobbled together bastardized vintage CX bikes.
Long reach centerpulls, or 27" wheels, old lugged steel, old roadies with cross forks, stem shifters, all welcome!

I wish I had taken pictures of mine when I had it together. It was a early 80's Bridgestone 400 built for 27's. 700's worked really well some centerpulls. It wasn't light but it was a blast to ride. I'm running it as a 1x7 commuter currently.

I've got just the bike for you. :D

It's a '77 Gitane Gypsy Sport.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4043996647_1936bf5c3b_z.jpg

I didn't take a "before" picture, but when I got it, it looked like this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/3388724867_8b79bb5ceb_z.jpg

with these parts on it:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3436515236_e56b4258fe.jpg

Nice mud clearance on the vintage brakes:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2688/4044721376_590338a22a.jpg

I replaced the rusty 27" wheels with Formula/CXP22's. I also went new with a Nitto stem, Salsa Poco bars, Tektro brake levers, Kalloy seat post and Origin-8 crankset. The pedals tires and saddle were all in my garage already. It ended up way over budget at around $400, but it weighed in around 22 pounds.

The first time I raced it, the seat clamp came loose on a remount and the rest of the race was like riding on a rocking chair.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/__fYEzao1H4w/SqncpIMueJI/AAAAAAAACDo/fC9H_8IaL4Y/s800/atala01.jpg

I fit right into this thread. My vintage cross ride started life as a 1972 Atala record professional, very nice bike in its day with very ornate long point chrome lugs. THe bike came originally with mostly neuvo record parts. Nice slack geometry that works well for cyclocross. Decent mud clearance at the back but not really enough clearance at the front fork for mud. The chain tended to fall off the original campy derailer so I swaped it out for a 600ex to keep the chain on over the bumps. Shifting via single suntour friction bar end shifter. I have kept the universal mod 61 centerpulls, the calipers actually stop decently once I rebuilt the brakes with new pads, cables and newer levers.
I have changed it up even more since the picture last year, ditched the MTB looking stem for a proper horizontal stem, installed wider handlebars, auxillary MTB type brake levers and new saddle. I also got rid of the 170mm campy strada crankset, it was too short for me and I once had a strada crank break while I was sprinting out of a corner, I have never really trusted them since. I still have a bunch of old obsolete freeswheel tubular wheelsets leftover from by late 1980's road racing days, next change I want to make is to get a pair of cross tubular tires so I can swap tubulars onto my cross bike.

http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu131/austy37/IMG_5424.jpghttp://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu131/austy37/IMG_5425.jpg
my apollo III, a hi ten bike built for 27" wheels. handlebars are some old vintage ines i turned upside down in a moustach imitation, they worked out ok, but i prefer regular drops

Cool! I like the variety of bikes and setups. I've got to buy a wheelset, or find one somewhere that will survive.
Think any old 36 or 32 spoke 700 wheelset with a thread on SS will hold up to the abuse? Spoke would probably bust through the rims...

Here's my frameset:

Not in commission anymore, but it was raced last year.

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj86/dolphinsnats/IMGP1202.jpg

Cool! I like the variety of bikes and setups. I've got to buy a wheelset, or find one somewhere that will survive.
Think any old 36 or 32 spoke 700 wheelset with a thread on SS will hold up to the abuse? Spoke would probably bust through the rims...

Here's my frameset:

I did it with several old thread-on wheels. I would redish them, it will give you a good chainline and make a stronger wheel. My current wheel is a Dura-Ace freewheel hub laced to an open pro.

http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu131/austy37/IMG_5424.jpghttp://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu131/austy37/IMG_5425.jpg
my apollo III, a hi ten bike built for 27" wheels. handlebars are some old vintage ines i turned upside down in a moustach imitation, they worked out ok, but i prefer regular drops

How did you get those brake levers to fit?

Converted my old Nishiki specifically to race the coming SSCXWC (http://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/video/sscxwc09-entering-the-yakima)

It will be my pit bike otherwise.
...and possibly taunt me to enter the SS category races, too, if I haven't flogged myself enough during my geared attempt.

Headset is a little loose, and brake caliper clearance barely cuts it, but it performed just fine in the soggy practice race earlier this week. But whoa, that chainstay bridge is like a specially designed mud and grass catcher. I'll be in trouble if it's a mudfest.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/4952950931_70a018684b_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/4952951003_27553d3490_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/4952950717_5edc6604b1_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/4952950819_8686fa70f7_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/4952950649_79102bee26_z.jpg

I'll be posting mine soon, right now i'm on a quest for tires. Myclem, are those WTB cross wolfs?

Myclem, are those WTB cross wolfs?

Yup. The Cross Wolfs have been pretty good down to about 40psi, give or take a few. (I'm 170lbs)

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3hyXBndrXcs/TG2xxtqdPaI/AAAAAAAAAug/AOqAyvi0VJc/s400/232323232%7Ffp63276-nu%3D32%3B5-832-745-23-6832836257ot1lsi.jpg
Mafac Racers:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3hyXBndrXcs/TG2x9vMl8UI/AAAAAAAAAus/yKcengdViUA/s400/232323232%7Ffp63386-nu%3D32%3B5-832-749-23-683283-257ot1lsi.jpg

Late 80's Shogun Ground Breaker. It started it's life as a flat bar mtb/hybrid. Only thing orginal is the frame. Sorry no pics in previous state.

As for cheaply cobbled together, everything came off bikes I found in the local trash, including the bike. Not bad for a TOTALLY free CX bike.

Set up for bad weather/winter commuter bike right now.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k25/Elad63/BICYCLE/ShogunGroundBreaker001.jpg

you found those brifters in the trash? I'm so jealous

168560
Concours frame... solf by Huffy! But I think it was actually made by Motobecane (the real one) or Carlton.Still a tank. fork was an eBay find for like $20. Salsa stem, Nitto 115 bars, Kalloy seatpost, Speed V saddle. NOS Coda mtb crank, 11-32 8-speed in back with barconsw, STX cantis up front, centerpull in back. With Kool Stop salmons, stops great. Oh yeah - the Fulcrum 7's I bought for antoher bike. The wheels and saddle don't quite fit on this, as it's like polishing a turd but it's what I had on hand to get this together for the Frankenbike 50 yesterday. It worked!

Used a "C" clamp to squish the chain stays for a bit more tire clearance. I know, crude and ugly but it works.
http://www.bikeforums.net/images/misc/pencil.png

Ah forget it... I can't get my photos to pop in at the correct size using the "photo" button. Ugh.

Awesome thread, thanks for posting, all.

I've posted this before, but seems appropriate for this thread...
'81 Fuji
http://a.imageshack.us/img213/1103/fuji0154u.jpg
Early 70s Dura-Ace brake
http://a.imageshack.us/img213/2473/fuji0155.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img213/2473/fuji0155.jpg

How does that old center pull brake work for you. I've been trying to find a solution for on of my frames, where the long reach calipers dont provide enough clearance for cx tires. I have a set of old mafacs somewhere, I was thinking about using.

How does that old center pull brake work for you. I've been trying to find a solution for on of my frames, where the long reach calipers dont provide enough clearance for cx tires. I have a set of old mafacs somewhere, I was thinking about using.

Works about as good as the canti on the front. Good levers and pads are not to be overlooked in the equation.
Also note the straddle wire bolt mod, allows for tunability as opposed to the fixed length setup.
Brakes "only slow you down" anyway.

See if you can guess what this started life as.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/4164073649_391050c562_z.jpg?zz=1

See if you can guess what this started life as.

MTB hardtail.

Had to add this to the thread. I've been looking this long!
Finally got what I'll be using and converting to SSCX for next year.
I'll commute on it in the mean time.
1978 Trek TX730

I raced my first local cx series on this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/aleach/100_1936.jpg

Fixed gear '79 Motobecane conversion with $7 Kenda cross tires. Did very well in the C's, got upgraded to the B's and even won a couple of B races on it against mostly geared riders.

I've since started racing on an actual geared cx bike.

Here is my cx bike I just put together this week. I went to look at it on Sunday as it was advertized on CL as a road bike and I was hoping it was something that would work for a college student I know that was looking for one, but I struck out on that option. Well, I was there and it was in pretty good shape so I offered $50 and she accepted.

I got it home and had to figure out what to do with it. I decided to got the cx route and this is where it is so far. There is too much snow too ride it yet, but it rides great from the dining room to the living room. =) I added drop bars, a newer wheelset and some cross tires I had laying around. I added a seat from the thrift store for a $1 I am looking forward to trying everyting out to see ow it works and hopefully finding my cable and housing cutters by then to trim and route things correctly. I don't really plan on doing and cx racing, but I think it might be good instead of my road bike for the long unpaved trails outside of town that I want to ride when its warmer. I actually like the paint job partly because it reminds me of an Oreo Blizzard. Now I am hungry again.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa85/monsterpile/IMG_2166.jpg

Had to add this to the thread. I've been looking this long!
Finally got what I'll be using and converting to SSCX for next year.
I'll commute on it in the mean time.
1978 Trek TX730

Very nice. And those tires look vaguely familiar...

Yep, they do!
They work great for sandy single track but I made a bad choice to use them in sticky mud! Knobs held a lot of mud!

What gearing do you have on it?



I raced my first local cx series on this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/aleach/100_1936.jpg

Fixed gear '79 Motobecane conversion with $7 Kenda cross tires. Did very well in the C's, got upgraded to the B's and even won a couple of B races on it against mostly geared riders.

I've since started racing on an actual geared cx bike.

I've posted this before, but seems appropriate for this thread...
'81 Fuji

What fork is that? Looks good!

186461

This thread is super cool. It inspired me to share one of my old bikes.
Here is an old conversion I did in winter 1997/8. It was an Offroad Climber hybrid (made with Tange Infinity) that I bought as a new frame, but stripped of parts, for $50 when Proflex was liquidating their remaining inventory. I don’t think the black Proflex fork was correct for this model. I put a mix of Shimano Ultegra 600 and Sun tour cyclone components I had from a Miyata carbon bike that I crashed.
The first build was a flatbar with XT thumbshifters and v brakes, which I rode for a year or so, then switched to a drop bar with barend shifters for 4 years. I think the stem was an ITM with the Colnago logo on it. I bought it new on a close out from a dealer who was getting rid of quill stems. It had a beautiful finish when new.
I took this picture a couple of days before I sold it in 2003. I used it when I was a messenger and later as a commuter to college. It was wrapped in old inner tubes on the top tube and down tube from build until the day I took this picture for posterity. I practically gave it away for $175, but when I reach a total of about 5 in the stable I run out of room. It’s fun to get some fresh blood every 5 years or so anyway.
My current cyclocross bikes are a Surly cross check built as a single speed and a Kelly Knobby x with a mix of Campy. Although now the wheels are turning for a new conversion project!

What gearing do you have on it?

42:16

MTB hardtail.

Almost. It was a hybrid.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii34/alex140275/c52a38b9.jpg

This is the bike I'm going to start CX'ing with, mostly have just been riding it in bad weather over the winter.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/1967cutlass/crisscross1.jpg

I raced my first local cx series on this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/aleach/100_1936.jpg

Fixed gear '79 Motobecane conversion with $7 Kenda cross tires. Did very well in the C's, got upgraded to the B's and even won a couple of B races on it against mostly geared riders.

I've since started racing on an actual geared cx bike.

wow, this rules.

Early 70's World Voyageur with no name bar, stem, seat post, brake leves, Suntour friction bar end shifters, older XT rear derailleur, Campy Nuovo Record front derailleur, Suntour Sprint hubs laced to Mavic MA40 rims, Dia Compe center pull brakes, Sugino 44-34 crank (triple with the small ring removed). Rides great, a "little" heavier than my modern cross bike. This frame has been a loaded touring bike, a junior racer, a fixed gear and a cross bike. I love versatility!



188069
I went through the whole thread of SSCX photos and all the bikes but one were high dollar masterpieces. I'm building an old vintage frame into a SSCX bike and would like to see any other cobbled together bastardized vintage CX bikes.
Long reach centerpulls, or 27" wheels, old lugged steel, old roadies with cross forks, stem shifters, all welcome!

looks good, love the lugs up front.

This is my 1982 Peugot. It is currently in commuter mode with fenders so there is no room for knobbies but it can handle up to 35 with almost no clearance. I am running it as a 1X9 right now. You asked for "run what you brung/cobbled togther"...note that my crank arms don't even match, LOL. The only original parts on this bike are the frame, seatpost, headset and BB. Even with all the new parts, it still weighs in at about 28 lbs. That carbolite is heavy stuff. That said, my fastest century yet was on this bike set up as a 42X15 fixed gear.

Ok, the other frame is getting benched for my latest acquisition for beater status:
Bridgestone T500

Yes, awesome post. Thanks for posting everyone. I love seeing these pics!

This is the bike I'm going to start CX'ing with, mostly have just been riding it in bad weather over the winter.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/1967cutlass/crisscross1.jpg

Love the color on this one!

More centerpulls:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/CalOso/IMAG0189.jpg

Side shot.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/CalOso/IMAG0170.jpg

In action.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/CalOso/Bikes/sactocx1.jpg

That's a great shot from the compound. You racing at Lembi or the rodeo this weekend?

I'm hoping to make it Saturday, but need to check Lucas' soccer schedule.

i like this thread.

i did my first cx race on this, three years ago.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/3071742745_096531c386_z.jpg

Cynikal: You'll be interested: The dropouts on the Trek are so short that I only have a couple of teeth adjustment space. I went over to Rex Cycles last week to talk to Steve about cutting them out and replacing them with track ends. But that was going to effectively shorten the seat stay, which meant that we'd have to cut out and raise the brake bridge, at which point it would start to run into money. A lot more than the bike is worth. And at this point, I might as well buy a cheap SSCX frame like a Motobecane.

So basically, Steve refused to take my money.

Steve hates doing that kind of work. What size do you ride? I'll see if any BEER guys are selling anything.

The motobecane is a boat anchor. I had one for a while and I wouldn't recommend one. Wonky geo and 120mm rear spacing. Look at the Origin 8 cross frame and fork. Around $200 and both geared and SS capable.

225261
Just passed this frame off to a friend who wanted to do cross on a cross bike.
It was a house brand hybrid from a shop in Wisconson that I bought off CL for $100. Wheels custom built from rims I had, $200.
My first fixie build. For what I paid, I could have bought new. Oh well.
It's been my fixie, the wife's roadster, my SSCX bike (for a training series). Now it's a friend's SSCX bike, built frakenbike style with parts from the take-off drawers.

Steve hates doing that kind of work. What size do you ride? I'll see if any BEER guys are selling anything.

The motobecane is a boat anchor. I had one for a while and I wouldn't recommend one. Wonky geo and 120mm rear spacing. Look at the Origin 8 cross frame and fork. Around $200 and both geared and SS capable.

Holy crap. That Origin 8 is exactly what I was looking for. Nice!

I was also looking at the On-One Pompino, but it also has 120mm rear spacing which means I can't use a spacer and cog freehub wheel. Okay, I think I'm going to take a closer look at the Origin 8.

My Cx bike - 1990 Bianchi Volpe, previously used as my commuter, bad weather bike, etc. I removed the small chainring, replaced the Suntour Command shifters with a cheap set of brifters and 8spd Shimano wheelset, and started to get muddy...with my fitness level I really doubt the bike gives me any additional disadvantage :).
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