Okay, precursor to this post. I'm working on rehabbing my second broken knee, so I'm going bike crazy in my head thinking about... well, everything to do with bikes really, because I've been out of the saddle too long. I now have the go ahead from doc and physical therapist to do more intensive rides, just short time periods and ice after. Obviously this will be all on road, in more controlled conditions, for quite awhile. In fact, since my crash which broke the knee for the second time in some gravel, i now slow to a crawl near anything dusty and get very paranoid (that's probably an issue for another thread, getting confidence back after a bad crash)
Anyways, I had started working at a bike shop, and obsessed over the TCX for a long time before pulling the trigger. It's a pretty good deal when you get their pricing, IMO, couldn't pass it up. Finally got it, did some light trail stuff, but mostly wanted it for road use and threw some Riv Jack Brown tires on it and loved it(VERY fast for their volume). Fits great, rides great. But I've slowly become more obsessed with higher volume tires on drop bar bikes. Monstercross if you will, but also higher volume "slicks" like the 33.33 JB tire (measures to 35mm on my rims). Not sure if I'd ever ride less than 28mm on a bike purposefully again, preferrably not under 32. Only had it a month or two before breaking the bad knee again...
The only two theoretical issues I have with this bike is the higher standover and higher BB. The BB is not as high as some cross bikes, but not on the low side either. So I've been thinking more and more that I could kill a couple birds with one stone, by putting some 27.5/650b wheels on there. I can snag some Giant branded wheels for stupid cheap probably. I could potentially fit something like a 1.95 on there(would get out the calipers before seriously considering this), or just enjoy a nice 40-42 with a bit lower center of gravity. the 35s it had from the factory are nice, but the hard, not quite smooth trails I hit around here definitely left me wishing for more volume. But maxxing out the clearance on the 700c wheels just keeps pushing me sky high.
I know this affects some of the geometry and handling in less obvious ways, any reason this is a stupid idea? I'd talk to my boss and better mechanics, but they have all basically become "racing bike" zombies who don't really understand crossover traits in bikes, and spend most of their time flipping last year's CF wonder bike for next years CF wonder bike, mostly Enduro/all mountain type bikes, and am pretty sure I'd get laughed out of the shop. I know I've seen lots of Surly type builds with conversions, I just can't see an immediate negative. I'd probably keep the Jack Browns on the stock wheels for long pavement rides.
The bike brand new:
