Cyclocross - What do you think about THIS plan?!?!

I have a road bike that I love, a 2001 Schwinn Fastback Pro with 2004 105 parts and newer ISIS bottom bracket and cranckset.

Thought 1: I don't want to subject the road bike it to another northeast winter of slush and salt.
Thought 2: I really want to dabble in cyclocross
Thought 3: I'm a poor college student and can't afford a new bike : (

I'm thinking instead of getting a cheap winter beater bike, I pick up an inexpensive cyclocross frameset and put the road bike parts on it. Ride some 'cross on it and use it to commute in the winter.

Then come spring, If I've saved enough from Christmas, odd jobs, etc - I can upgrade the road bike frame. If not, I can just put the original components back on.

Does this seem like a viable thing to do? Let me know if there's something I'm completely missing here.

Thanks!

could work. just make sure you purchase some new brakes for the cross bike. also budget out every single part you'd need for the build. when you scrap bikes to gether you forget about how much the little things cost.

+1 on working out the whole budget before you start -- brakes, cables, tires, etc. Sometimes a cheap/used complete bike is cheaper. If you do get a frameset, look for something with a headset included. I think Performance has a pretty nice budget frameset.

Also, you should be aware that the main subject of wear and tear is the components, and cross isn't nice to components at all. If you end up having to move the parts back to the road bike, you may find you've subjected your road bike to the abuse of winter plus the abuse of CX racing..

I'm looking at a frameset with frame, headset, and fork. (Fork is steel not carbon, but beggars can't be choosers). The way I figure it, I just need additional tires and brakes.

I'm aware that the main wear and tear is on components, but the ones I have now are old enough that I was beginning to think of upgrading anyway - its not as if they are 2010 model.

Thanks for the replies, I think I'm going to do it. Cyclocross just looks too fun to pass up for another year.

Cyclocross just looks too fun to pass up for another year.

This is absolutely correct!

i just did this, cept instead of loving my road frame i loved it but it was too small for me. so i got a cheap cyclocross frameset, swapped everything over but the brakes, and now i have a cross bike that fits me and i love it.

i'm selling my road bike frame because it's too small, so that will help make this a somewhat seamless transition.

just don't let anyone fool you, cantilever brakes suck. they're a bad design and they are hard to set up. especially when you buy a fork because it's got enough steerer but it doesn't have the little holes for the spring. the **** am i supposed to do about keeping the pads off my wheels now?