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Cross
Conversion
First attempt at converting an old
steel fram road bike to a cyclocross bike.
After
looking over a lot of forums on
bikeforums.net, which is a great site for finding
bike info. I decided that a conversion could be def be
done, be fun, and a way of saying 'screw paying 2k for a
bike I can build and have fun with.' With that in mind
realize that while yes this bike works, its not the
'optimal' for racing, but compared to what they use to
race is pretty darn good.
Now cross has
certainly evolved over the years and has reached the
point were it even has its own models of bikes. For more
info from people much more knowledgible on this then me
follow these links;
-
Wikipedia: Cyclocross
-
YouTube vid
-
CX
Magazine
Materials:
-55cm Steal Reliegh 'Grand
Prix' frame, unkown year $25
-Cromoly 'hybrid' forks, with brake posts
$45
-Campy 172mm crank and new Shimano bottom bracket
$50
-Cheap aluminum handle bars $35
-New cables and cable housing $20
-Used seat, Shimano ultrega shifters, 105 derailer
Free
*Now I had an aluminum road frame that was to
small for me from
Leader USA
(which I really did like, good bike, just to small)
that I traded in with a cool local bike shop call
G
Oscars, here in Tulsa, OK. His main buisness is
refurbing old road bikes along with some new stuff. So
in reality I only bought the handle bars and the new
cables and housing.
The Build:
Fork-
I went with the
new fork because I liked the added tire clearance as
compared to the old one. Further the 'hyrbrid' style was
heavier and larger then the original, which I was
affriad may brake and crumble under my weight and a good
hit one day. Had the added bonus of the brake post
already being apart of the forks to, so saved some time
there. I think if you weren't planning on beating up the
frame as much as me that the original forks would be
just fine.
Frame-
For the rear brake posts I really didnt do anythign to
scientific. Bought some posts from the LBS, measured the
distance from the pads to the post hole, put on rims,
and marked point on rear triangle. For the other plane I
completely eyeballed it with the rim in place and one
half the brake on and threw on two spot welds with the
MIG wleder. Now alot of people like brazing, but MIG
is already in
the shop and therefore no extra money to me... I'll
look up pros and cons and post them. But really it went
alright. Had to brush the paint off the frame first to
get a good arch. Turned the voltage way down and took my
time. The second post I got in a little of a hurry and
burned through but filled it in nicely. I'll prob stip
the whole frame and repaint it sometime.
Handlebars-
Attempted to
extend the width of the aluminum handle bars I had....
bad idea. Broke on first ride. Then bought cheapo
ones...
Crank-
Had no bottom bracket so installed a new Shimano one...
Note! Use the proper bottom bracket tools! I thought, ah
screw that I can do it without it, and got it in. But
not all the way, and broke the plastic cup on the other
side. Now have a shimy in the crank and going to have to
remove it, replace the cup and do it right this time.
172mm arms are nice, but I think I would have
gone with something a little shorter. Clip alot of stuff
when I'm off road. But then again this may make me seat
higher and put the center of gravity to high for easy
handling. So kinda one of those things I'll feel out,
and may be more personal preferance.
Brakes-
Took some
tinkering but got them figured out. They're some older
Shimano canti's that are a little narrower then newer
styles it looks like. But overall I have been quite
happy with their performance. Should have again done
more research first becasue I did not set them up
exactly right at first. Plus the rim is an older Campy
road rim that I think the MTB pads may not be compatible
with. Because when the rim get wet... braking goes
waaaay down.
- Sheldon Brown's
"Canti Adjustment"
-
Vid from Park Tool
Tires-
Good clearence left with the narrowest
part being near the bottom bracket, using 32mm
Vittoria
"Cross Evo XN" And so far love them. Took them out
in the pic of the bike burried in the mud down below and
they actually handled quite well. Not great mind you,
but for such a crappy day I was impressed. Neadless to
say upgraded to 34mm much bigger nobes that week.
Pics-
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