Cyclocross - Converting a cheap road bike to a SS CX???

I'm pretty green when it comes to cycling so bear with me. :)

I just got a Panasonic Sport 1000 for cheap and I want to convert it to a single speed cyclocross bike. I'm probably going to end up changing everything out. And I'm looking for some advice from you folks for what wheels and tires to look for. I don't even know what size wheels CX bikes use. What gear ratios should I get for an area that isn't too hilly? Are there any cranksets anyone can recommend?

What I think I know so far: I'm going to have to get a new fork (suggestions?) since the current fork isn't fitted for cantilever brakes (that is that I want for CX, right?) and to shed some weight. I'm going to have to get pivot points for the rear brakes welded on. I'll check around some of the local shops to see if anyone around here can do that. Clearance for the rear wheel is going to be an issue. Is there any way to check this without actually installing a wheel?

And I think I might end up going for a bull-horn style bar instead of the drop bars. But I'm not really sure. The main reason I want to do this is that this bike will pretty much be a commuter/fun bike. I'll be riding around town a lot and will be jumping curbs and all that. Drop bars just don't work with me as far as bunny hopping goes.

Is there anything else I should be thinking about?

Thanks.

EDIT: Forgot to ask. What is required to mount disc brakes for the rear brakes. On my frame, where the wheel mounts, there are two holes right above the mout-point. One is threaded and one us slightly larger and unthreaded. What are these for? Thanks, again. :)

I'm pretty green when it comes to cycling so bear with me. :)

I just got a Panasonic Sport 1000 for cheap and I want to convert it to a single speed cyclocross bike. I'm probably going to end up changing everything out. And I'm looking for some advice from you folks for what wheels and tires to look for. I don't even know what size wheels CX bikes use. What gear ratios should I get for an area that isn't too hilly? Are there any cranksets anyone can recommend?

What I think I know so far: I'm going to have to get a new fork (suggestions?) since the current fork isn't fitted for cantilever brakes (that is that I want for CX, right?) and to shed some weight. I'm going to have to get pivot points for the rear brakes welded on. I'll check around some of the local shops to see if anyone around here can do that. Clearance for the rear wheel is going to be an issue. Is there any way to check this without actually installing a wheel?

And I think I might end up going for a bull-horn style bar instead of the drop bars. But I'm not really sure. The main reason I want to do this is that this bike will pretty much be a commuter/fun bike. I'll be riding around town a lot and will be jumping curbs and all that. Drop bars just don't work with me as far as bunny hopping goes.

Is there anything else I should be thinking about?

Thanks.

EDIT: Forgot to ask. What is required to mount disc brakes for the rear brakes. On my frame, where the wheel mounts, there are two holes right above the mout-point. One is threaded and one us slightly larger and unthreaded. What are these for? Thanks, again. :)Cut your losses and start with a proper frame. A cheap incorrect frame is no bargain, and you are about to throw alot of money down a rathole.

I'm very green too, so you are not alone.

If you follow sydney's advice...well I've heard that the Surley Cross Check frameset is a good way to go..
http://www.surlybikes.com/crosscheck.html

Thanks sydney and Umbra. I've been reading up on the Cross-check and I like it. I'm also looking at the Pompino since it seems to be designed more for SS.

And thanks for the reality check.

wait a minute. come on guys. have a little creativity here. a rebuilt road bike could make a really cool ss cx bike. does it have 700c or 27" rims, it should say on the tires or the rims themselves. also, you dont have to switch everything out as you mentioned. the handlebars, cranks, bb, stem, seatpost, saddle will all be fine theoretically.

im building up a ss cx bike from an old nishiki. you can see it here: www.bikeproductsreview.com.istemp.com

also you can check out sheldons ss cx page at : http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlecross.html

the biggest question is if it has the room in the rear triangle to handle a wider tire. if the bike was made for 27" wheels, then youll have more room if you run 700c rims (which are easier to find and smaller)

try to reuse the old before you break down and get a new bike.

jeremyb

I have a SS CX bike from an 80's Falcon road bike. Great fun and no hassles to build/ride. I used big old long reach $10 cheapy road brakes on mine, no need to get canti's if you don't have to. They brake poorly but they do work good enough for me.

Pup, those holes at the back are for racks, not disc brakes.

Gearing, about 2 to 1, I run a 38x16 or 38x18 if it's hilly.

I say hold on to the frame, especially if it's just going to be a "commuter/fun" bike. I've got a Fuji from the early '80s that came with 27" wheels and long-reach calipers. Swapping over to 700c wheels gave me enough room to run at least 700x35 tires. I'm actually running 700x32 cross tires with fenders right now. By the way, one of those holes on the rear drop out is for a rack, the other is for fenders.

Unless you're racing in the mud, you won't really need cantilevers or disks. I am, however, contemplating putting a cheap steel disk fork on the front to give me the option of running a disk brake up front, but that's more for my winter commuting needs.

I've been extremely happy with my crosscheck. I even had S&S installed on it so the frame comes apart for easy traveling.

Well, this is pretty encouraging. Thanks for the links, jeremy.

I think I could probably do this cheap. All I'd have to replace would be the drive train and wheels. I even think I might do a bit of repainting just for grins.

What kind of rims do you folks recommend I look for? I'd like to go used, and there are a few decent shops around that have a decent stock of used parts. But I don't really know what do look for and would probably end up going generic due to price. Everything else should be pretty straight forward. I think I might even get a set of center pull brakes if I can find a decent set. But, yeah, I'm not going to be riding through a whole lot of mud with this thing.

Another question I have is that this frame has a semi-horizontal, forward-facing drop out. How will this effect performace as a single speed. Is there anything I can do to make sure I don't pull my wheel out when I'm pumping up a hill?

EDIT: Oh, and before I really start to spend any time or money on this thing, can anyone here comment on the Tange 900 frame? I'm not expecting anything wonderful, but do you think it's worth building a cheapo CX bike around?

The main reason I want to do this is that this bike will pretty much be a commuter/fun bike. I'll be riding around town a lot and will be jumping curbs and all that. Drop bars just don't work with me as far as bunny hopping goes.

First, if you're not racing cross, you don't really need a cross bike. Many older road bikes have enough clearance for knobby tires. Put on a wheel and measure the fork and rear stay clearance width where the tire will be. If you've got 38mm or more, then you're good to go. CAVEAT: You probably won't have much mud clearance and you might have to deflate the tire to get it through the road calipers.

Which brings me to the next point. Older road calipers will accept a wider tire. Try bike swaps or Ebay.

There are a fair number of cyclocross racers who can bunny hop 16" high barriers spaced 15' apart -- and they are using drop bars. Bullhorns and flats are not required.

Now, if you plan on racing, you're gonna want a real cross frame.

I think I might even get a set of center pull brakes if I can find a decent set.

This would be determined on whether your bike has brake bosses on the seat stays and fork.

I would say just have some fun with it! Either way, you'll learn a lot about working on the bike, and bikes in general. Sounds like a good project to me!