FXjohn

Is there such a thing? For people who want to ride on lots of unpaved roads.

nick burns

Some touring frames have enough clearance for cross tires. Some come with canti bosses, too.

Here's a post from the Using a cyclocross bike for the road thread:

jfmckenna

FX here is my cross/touring bike https://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...&postcount=121

It is definitely not as aggressive as a real cross bike and doesn't handle as well. It's also a bit heavy but it works for me and is a very versatile set up

FXjohn

that does look rugged...wild seat!

nick burns

That is one tall frame!

neil0502

I'm gonna' take some liberties here and just bump this ol' thread. Hope you don't mind....

Long story short: I wound up with two high-end road bikes because of a car vs. bike wreck. Both of the road bikes are ok, so I'm thinking of turning one of them into a high-speed, high-end tourer for credit card touring. I bought some Specialized Armadillos, and will be ordering a Tubus rack + seat stay clamps and quick release adapter (it has no braze-ons or eyelets).

That would leave me with no particular use for my Cannondale T2000.

(https://www.nbeener.com/T2000.html)

I was thinking this might be a relatively easy way for me to get a cyclocross bike together. Never had one. Totally new to the idea.

Am I just a pair of semi-knobby tires away, or is there much more to do (and, if so, what)?

I wouldn't be pursuing anything too technical. No racing, either (well . . . it never starts that way, right?) Mostly fire roads up in the mountains, non-technical single-track, etc.

I'd be grateful for any thoughts....

amahana1

Surly Crosscheck. braze-ons for rear rack and front and rear fenders, and will take a really beefy tire.

neil0502

I presume that was in response to my ? about converting my Cannondale T2000 to a cyclocross bike?

Not looking to buy a new frame. Trying to see how far off my existing frame/component setup is from being a decent entry-level CX bike.

Here's what I have. Any thoughts on whether a quick change of tires would give me a decent start?

https://www.nbeener.com/T2000.html

Michel Gagnon

Very decent indeed. The Cannondale T-2000 accepts 700x37 (maybe even wider tires front or rear) plus fenders, so it's a good candidate for lousy-road riding.

The only problem is that it has a lower bottom bracket than a Surley Crosscheck or the typical cyclocross bike. It's easier to put your foot on the ground, but it also means you stand more chance of scraping a pedal on a rock, mud puddle, etc.

has

neil0502

Thanks much, Michael.

Looks like $75 for a set of reasonably decent CX tires, a little extra care not to bash the ol' bb unnecessarily, and I'm off.

Looks like a lot of fun

bac

Hi John. I bought a rear rack for my Salsa Las Cruces. Now, if I'd like to do some light touring, I simply snap on the rack, and I'm ready for either a trunk-bag, or paniers. When I want to just pound the dirt/road, and don't want the extra weight, I just remove the rack. It makes for a very versitile set-up.

Sorry, but I don't have a pic.

MsMittens

Or Gunnar Rock Tour (which I'm currently waiting for my custom version to be done). Both of these are meant for roads that are "less travelled" or non-existent.

SAB

Also the Surly CrossCheck frame will take a serious beating - and not even notice.

desmobob

My '05 Bianchi Axis has eyelets for fenders/racks. I consider it the truly "universal bicycle." Not much it can't do, really. The triple chain ring and 11-32 cassette give you all the gearing you need to haul a load and the frame has clearance for just about any size tire you'd care to mount (it came equipped with 700x35's).

Seems like it's practically made for dirt road touring....

Good riding,
desmobob

ZenNMotion

I dunno what size youre looking for, but I just ran across this sweet old bike on Ebay. Univegas are under-rated, I pulled one from the trash and converted it to a fixed gear, and it's really a great bike. They have good quality light butted cromoly tubing, great lugwork, classic european design and geometry. Really. This is a sweetheart deal for someone who has some parts and some tinkering time to upgrade this. I'm tempted myself, but oh man, my stable is outta control already. And no, I have no relationship to the seller- looks like a cool organization though
https://cgi.ebay.com/Univega-54-cm-Re...QQcmdZViewItem

metalrings

For what it's worth I'm one of those people. I like to tour, and tend to look for the path less paved.

The bike - Surly Crosscheck - disk brakes on mine. The down side - not an eyelet to be found on this, it was built to be a race bike.

So I changed my mind and the bike is a great touring beast. I installed an "Old Man Mountain" rack on the front. This one bears on the axle not the frame. www.oldmanmountain.com. No rear racks I towed a bob trailer.

I tooled down the Blueridge Parkway for 400 miles this summer and it was nearly perfect. I prefer the short wheelbase and the idea of a multi use bike. For winter I ride at night. I pulled the fenders and racks off put on fat tires and it's a whole new bike.

I've ridden several fully loaded touring bikes and none handle like the cross check with the bob trailer. The low center of gravity on the trailer with about 15 pound in the front panniers is a sweet ride. Except for that weight thing, it's almost as if the trailer isn't there.

weed eater

If you're just planning on riding off- or non-road, does BB height matter quite as much? I can understand how it'd make a difference if you're planning on leaping over rocks and logs, but otherwise is there that much difference between a 72mm drop (on many touring bikes) and a 66mm drop (on the cross-check)?

i've got a 1982 trek 510 that could take wide tyres and I am thinking of turning it into a (cross-)country bike, in a muddier take on the Rivendell model. Is why I ask...

also, re the above post, I thought Cross-checks had lots of eyelets.

legalize_it

cross-checks the first 2 years had no rack/fender braze ons. the very first year it was a mean cross machine, made out of reynolds 631. sweeeeeet

greybeard87

Gaansari Mudplugger , nice hand built in USA frame available lugged, fillet brazed and with braze on's, great folks to deal with too:

https://www.gaansari.com/mudplugger.htm

weed eater

ok, now i get it. Thanks.

Thor29

I just swapped out my Long Haul Trucker to a Crosscheck. The difference in bottom bracket height is noticeable. The LHT was difficult to ride up rocky hills due to pedal strike. The LHT was very tanklike, the Crosscheck is more nimble. The Crosscheck can handle a full touring load just fine, but the LHT feels more rock solid when loaded. I loved the LHT but it really works best as a dedicated touring bike; the versatility of the Crosscheck is unmatched. Because of the 132.5 rear spacing I also have a set of fancy road wheels with 23c slicks so that I can turn it into a road racer too. But to answer the original question - yes, most touring bikes can be used as cyclocross bikes but they are slower handling and prone to pedal strike in rough conditions. Some bikes (such as the Bianchi Volpe) are marketed as cyclocross/touring bikes.