Question on cyclocross bikes

[Aidan_Kiah]

If I put knobby tires on my current road bike... would it then be suitable for cyclocrossing? Is there anything about cyclocross bikes that my frame would lack? Aside from clearance for wider tires, of course.

But would I be risking premature fatigue of my frame were I to ride with my current bike? I ride a Fuji Ace (2004), Aluminum frame.

[ultra-g]

CX frames have more bottom bracket clearance too, aside from the tire clearance.
And the main triangle (seat tube/top tube/down tube) is larger so you can shoulder the bike easier.

Your aluminum frame should be fine I would guess.

[jeremyb]

yeah it would be okay if you wanted to try a race or two, but do you really have the clearance to run a 700x30 or bigger? id doubt it, but cool if you do. also, dont do a muddy course, the caliper brakes wont work right, but you probably wont be able to get the big meat rubber of a cx tire to fit into calipers anyway.

if you have a mtn bike, youd be better off using that.

jeremyb

[velocipedio]

a l;ot of folks do tgheir first races on road bikes with small knobbies. that'll do in an early season, dry race, but as soon as the rains and mud come, you'll want fatter tires and more clearance. try it for now, and seriously consider getting a cyclo-cross bike.

btw, i met one of my friends when she was hung up in the mud in a race, riding an old bianchi road bike. we had a chat as we mounted our bikes and pushed on.

[fogrider]

a l;ot of folks do tgheir first races on road bikes with small knobbies. that'll do in an early season, dry race, but as soon as the rains and mud come, you'll want fatter tires and more clearance. try it for now, and seriously consider getting a cyclo-cross bike.

btw, i met one of my friends when she was hung up in the mud in a race, riding an old bianchi road bike. we had a chat as we mounted our bikes and pushed on.

how sweet...

[Scooby Snax]

Did it work out?

I met my wife working on they highway...