My current road bike takes 700c wheels, while the cross bike is built to take MTB 26" wheels. I'm planning on building the cross as a fixed gear bike. My concern is with the wheelbase and trail differences. Are they significant, and if so, how will I notice them? I'm not able to try to the cross out, so I'll have to go on numbers.
My current road bike takes 700c wheels, while the cross bike is built to take MTB 26" wheels. I'm planning on building the cross as a fixed gear bike. My concern is with the wheelbase and trail differences. Are they significant, and if so, how will I notice them? I'm not able to try to the cross out, so I'll have to go on numbers.
It looks, on the surface, like a good choice. Increased trail on a cross bike or mtb relative to a typical roadie is common. The difference in wheelbase isn't enough to matter, but longer tends to be better for this type of bike. In particular, a greater distance between the vertical centerlines of the rear axle and the seat gives better climbing stability in off-road trail situations. Grades that are seldom seen on streets are often present on trails. -- Typoes are a feature, not a bug. Some gardening required to reply via email. Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
My current road bike takes 700c wheels, while the cross bike is built to take MTB 26" wheels. I'm planning on building the cross as a fixed gear bike. My concern is with the wheelbase and trail differences. Are they significant, and if so, how will I notice them? I'm not able to try to the cross out, so I'll have to go on numbers.
Why are you "concerned" about them? The difference in wheelbase and trail, is typical for this different application as will be the likely increase in bottom bracket height that you don't mention. The difference in wheels will make as much difference in feel as anything else.
The new bike will feel more like a cross bike - stable in horrid conditions but still light fast and tossable. Assuming it's a competent build.
My current road bike takes 700c wheels, while the cross bike is built to take MTB 26" wheels. I'm planning on building the cross as a fixed gear bike. My concern is with the wheelbase and trail differences. Are they significant, and if so, how will I notice them? I'm not able to try to the cross out, so I'll have to go on numbers.
Why are you "concerned" about them? The difference in wheelbase and trail, is typical for this different application as will be the likely increase in bottom bracket height that you don't mention. The difference in wheels will make as much difference in feel as anything else.
The new bike will feel more like a cross bike - stable in horrid conditions but still light fast and tossable. Assuming it's a competent build.
The only concern I'd have in this case is the possibility of toe touch - a real aggravation for fixies. The relevant specs here are BB spindle to front axle distance, length of cranks, and tire and shoe size. Smaller sized 700c bikes generally exacerbate toe overlap, but the OP's custom CX's smaller 26" wheels may provide enough clearance to prevent the problem arising.
