Cyclocross checklist

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"Drew Cutter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Looking to convert a old road racing bike into winter training bike . Could someone give me a
checklist on rims , tires , brakes (good with winter gloves), cranks , bottom bracket ? are
lightweight parts necessary compare to summer bike ?

I think first you need to measure the bike and see just how wide of tires can be put on the frame.
For cyclocross, I doubt you'll want 700 x 23 tires.

Pat in TX

In article said:

Looking to convert a old road racing bike into winter training bike . Could someone give me a
checklist on rims , tires , brakes (good with winter gloves), cranks , bottom bracket ? are
lightweight parts necessary compare to summer bike ?

Hi, Drew,

I converted a chromoly Specialized Sirrus into a cyclo-cross bike back in 1990 or thereabouts. I
had a frame-building acquaintance add cantilever-brake bosses on fork and seat stays, then remove
the chainstay bridge and move the seat-stay bridge up an notch to accommodate wider tires. I was
still only able to get 700x28s in there, and a lot of guys these days are using some seriously
wide rubber.

As to the rest of the gear, I'd say use whatever you have lying around. What's on the bike right now
may be perfectly suitable with a few minor modifications. I keep it cheap: Old eight-speed Shimano
105 works fine for your drivetrain, as does Ultegra. Bar-ends are cheap, light and offer a friction
option when shifting gets dicey, if you don't want to go the STI route (I prefer STI). You probably
want to lose the 53/39 or 52/42 chain rings in favor of a 48/38 combo, and swap the 12-21 cogset for
a 12-27 or -28.

For wheels, anything Mavic. Excel Sports does a nice wheelset, the Cirrus, for under $300. Tires: I
like the Michelin Jet and the Vredestein Campo. Pedals: Time ATAC or Egg Beaters. Brakes: If you're
not going to add canti' bosses to your old frame, I don't know what to recommend ... but if you go
the canti' route, I like Paul's Neo-Retro in the front and Touring Canti' in the rear. Avid Shorty
canti's are another cheaper, popular choice. Top-mounted brake levers, like Paul's or Empella
Froglegs, are another nifty addition and let you brake from the bar tops as if you were riding a
mountain bike. Bars: Salsa's Bell Lap, a bit wider than you ordinarily use on the road. Stem: You
may want to swap your road stem for one that's a touch shorter with a little rise to it, to give
yourself a slightly more upright riding position. Move your brake levers a tad higher on the bars
for the same reason.

Finally, don't skimp on the seat post and saddle, 'cause you'll be giving 'em a workout, jumping on
and off the bike. Lighter is not always better.

Hope that helps. Have fun out there.

Cheers,

Patrick O'Grady Mad Dog Media maddogmedia.commaddogmedia.comOpen ↗

Thanks . The local bike shop recommended a new bike instead . He suggested redline . This is
strictly a winter only bike and one I can bang around with out worrying about the repair bill.
Thought about using my carnac mt. bike shoes . Colorado cyclist doesn't seem to have to much in the
way of cyclocross . The shop carries lemond , cannondale , trek bikes. Any suggestion on a good
cyclocross mail order company ?

Surly Crosscheck in Durace from Excel Sports for $1250 comes to mind. Did you look at a Trek XO-1?
Many good choices out there.

"Drew Cutter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks . The local bike shop recommended a new bike instead . He suggested redline . This is
strictly a winter only bike and one I can bang around with out worrying about the repair bill.
Thought about using my carnac mt. bike shoes . Colorado cyclist doesn't seem to have to much in
the way of cyclocross . The shop carries lemond , cannondale , trek bikes. Any suggestion on a
good cyclocross mail order company ?

Drew Cutter at [email hidden] wrote on 7/9/03 8:34 AM:

Quoted message said:

Thanks . The local bike shop recommended a new bike instead . He suggested redline . This is
strictly a winter only bike and one I can bang around with out worrying about the repair bill.
Thought about using my carnac mt. bike shoes . Colorado cyclist doesn't seem to have to much in
the way of cyclocross . The shop carries lemond , cannondale , trek bikes. Any suggestion on a
good cyclocross mail order company ?

LBS route: Ask 'em if they can order a Surley Cross-Check frame for you through QBP. Good Value,
$-wise. You can get 'em as frames or built up.

Also, I've enjoyed my Lemond Poprad -

home.earthlink.netLemondcross.htmlOpen ↗

- I do see a few of them available cheaply with pretty decent stock components. Light steel, good
clearance, nice behavior in a variety of trail and racing conditions.

Mailorder route: Sheldon/Harris - sheldonbrown.combikes.htmlOpen ↗ (and you can search
for "cyclocross" there as well) Cyclocross world - cyclocrossworld.comcyclocrossworld.comOpen ↗ CC tends to have
stuff in the catalog closer to fall Excel sports -
excelsports.comnew.aspOpen ↗

Hope that helps,

-- Jim

In article said:

Thanks . The local bike shop recommended a new bike instead . He suggested redline . This is
strictly a winter only bike and one I can bang around with out worrying about the repair bill.
Thought about using my carnac mt. bike shoes . Colorado cyclist doesn't seem to have to much in
the way of cyclocross . The shop carries lemond , cannondale , trek bikes. Any suggestion on a
good cyclocross mail order company ?

Hi, Drew,

Redline makes a fine blue-collar 'cross bike. Surly is another inexpensive option, albeit a little
heavy according to some of the folks I've spoken with (haven't ridden one myself). There are lots of
companies doing decent, reasonably-priced aluminum 'cross bikes out there these days ... I'd suggest
shopping around and riding a few. It's a whole lot easier than tweaking an old road frame. Swaps and
shop bulletin boards are another useful source of cheapo 'cross/winter bikes.

As to mail order, Excel Sports carries a bunch of 'cross stuff, as does Schwab Cycles,
cyclocrossworld.com and durance.com.

Regards,

Patrick O'Grady Mad Dog Media

Take a look at the Frankenbike project page.

tinyurl.comghtkOpen ↗

--

alan

Anyone who believes in a liberal media has never read the "Daily Oklahoman."

"Drew Cutter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Looking to convert a old road racing bike into winter training bike . Could someone give me a
checklist on rims , tires , brakes (good with winter gloves), cranks , bottom bracket ? are
lightweight parts necessary compare to summer bike ?

According to Kevin <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Surly Crosscheck in Durace from Excel Sports for $1250 comes to mind. Did you look at a Trek XO-1?
Many good choices out there.

I'm reminded of my own cross-like frame from the Czech republic. In two (three?) years I've seen
some orangepeel in the powdercoat, but it's been great otherwise.

fortframes.comfortframes.comOpen ↗