How to convert a Hard frame MTB to Cyclocross

fismaster

I have a mid 90's Peugeit Team Canyon Pro full hard fram MTB and want to convert it into a cyclo cross bike.

Can i just add the 700cc cyclo cross wheels and some egg beater pedals or is there more to it?

stickman

Schwalbe 26x1.3 cx tyres is all i'd change, or maybe also a single chainring to knock some weight off.

Ber Nard

There's more to it.

Once you've fitted 700c wheels with cx tyres the clearance may be getting tight. The biggest problem, though, is the brake bosses will be in the wrong place in relation to the rim. I think there are adaptors to get round this.

Also, to make it a cx bike, you'll need to fit drop bars. That means changing the shifters and brake levers.

The gearing won't be the same either, but that's not really a problem.

Even after all this the geometry won't be the same and there's not a lot you can do about that.

I'd save the effort and keep it as an MTB or sell it and by a cyclo cross bike.

Rob

stickman

Won't need drop bars in local league races.

LangerDan

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/tech/200 ... bike.shtml
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mz__jo

LangerDan wrote:

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/tech/2002/features/frankenbike.shtml
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Well I read this article and I must admit I didn't see the point. If he wanted gearing so tall that a 44/11wouldn't do for trail riding, surely one of his 10 frames was a road frame with enough clearance to fit 30 section cross tyres (I have done this on a 1940's road frame with only 5 gears and no bb clearance to ride mtb circuits, no real problems). Otherwise he could have just changed the tyres on his mtb for the type he found for his "crosser" and put on bar-end drop converters (like SJS use on their Rolhoff bikes) if he insists on a drop-bar position (having used an mtb with drop bars I wouldn't have wanted to go that route). A lot of this, IMHO, is just building the machine for the sake of it. And he still hasn't used proper cross tyres!

petejuk

I have almost completed a build similar to posted url above (pics will follow). I used a old Dawes Syntesis frame that a friend kindly donated. Things were slightly easier for me in that the frame and forks were made for 27inch wheels and I had the majority of the parts I needed from previous builds. However, I needed to buy a new chainring, cables, seat tube, cantilever brakes, chain, bottom bracket and handlebar tape.
The thing I found is that, although I had the majority of the main parts, I was still faced with a fair amount of buying (I suppose you could argue that fact with any build from scratch). If you're intending to change the role of a bike from one type to another in order to save money buying something purpose built, be very careful- rarely is it cost effective and you will undoubtedly encounter problems which are likely to cost money (and time) to solve.
That said, the problem solving aspect in any build is really good fun.

fismaster

Thanks all for your advice, I am going to save up and get a CX bike later in the year instead as the clearance and bosses are a major pain!

I will keep the Peugeot intact as a vintage and wind up my MTB pals by riding it on trails!