Cx hybrid conversion

shewy

Thinking of converting my Boardman team hybrid into a cross bike, is it just a matter of popping on some drop bars and changing the Sti's? Got hydraulic discs so would I need some different shifters from my road bike as they are rim brakes. Calipers are shimano br-m477
Obviously a tyre change as well as got slick 32's on at the minute.

Matthewfalle

not withstanding geometry or gearing differences or tyre clearance issues, then yes.

shewy

Looking at the specs below I have the 49cm Hybrid, and would need the 50cm CX, worth fitting a shorter stem?

Hybrid Team S M L
45cm 49cm 54cm

Top Tube (effective) (mm) TT 565 590 615
Seat Tube Length (mm) ST 450 490 540
Head Tube Length (mm) HT 120 145 170
Head Angle (Degrees) HA 73 73 73
Seat Angle (Degrees) SA 73 73 73
Chain Stay Length (mm) CS 425 425 425
Fork Offset (Rake) (mm) FO 43 43 43
Bottom Bracket Drop (mm) BB drop 65 65 65
Crank Length (mm) - 170 175 175
Stem Length (mm) - 90 100 100
Handlebar Width (mm) - 580 600 600

50cm 53cm 55cm 57.5cm

Top Tube (effective) (mm) TT 540 555 570 585
Seat Tube Length (mm) ST 500 530 555 575
Head Tube Length (mm) HT 125 140 160 175
Head Angle (Degrees) HA 71.5 71.5 72 72
Seat Angle (Degrees) SA 74 73.5 73 73
Chain Stay Length (mm) CS 435 435 435 435
Fork Offset (Rake) (mm) FO 50 50 45 45
Bottom Bracket Drop (mm) BB drop 65 65 65 65
Crank Length (mm) - 170 175 175 175
Stem Length (mm) - 90 100 100 110
Handlebar Width (mm) - 400 420 440 440

fat daddy

I have often thought of doing this with my team hybrid

(1) the top tube is longer on the hybrid and it also has a longish stem to get the reach ... if you swap to drops you are adding another 40mm-60mm on the reach to the hoods ... you might want to reduce your stem

(2) wheel span is longer ... its great for stability and speed, not so good for changing direction off road and riding the trails .. BUT .. I kind of like it as there is no toe overlap

(3) Brakes - you will need STIs obviously .... but you can use mechanical or semi hydraulic calipers and keep the rotors etc.

(4) gears - make sure your STis are compatable with the derailleurs I cant remember if its an MTB or Road setup

(5) Tyre clearance is fine - I run 32mm gatorskins AND racing ralphs with no issues, could probably go bigger

But it should be doable .... I have taken the hybrid .. in its hybrid form off road on the MTB trails several times and it copes well ... other than the occasional over shooting tight bends .... but thats more me not having confidence in teh grip and staring at the bend and not looking through it ... although I pretend its the 700c wheels and long wheelbase

fat daddy

IF you do it though .... keep us updated to how it goes, are you happy and what components you opted for as I am so tempted to do this

shewy

will keep you updated, got hold of some drops and some tiagra 4700 mechanical STI's, will pair them with some R317 sora mechanical callipers, thinking of putting in a 50mm stem. Also got my eye on some RS405 hydraulic callipers but not sure if compatible with the M477 brakes but people on here think this is doable.

Jterrier

I'm going to say the obvious here; once you have added in the cost and faff of all that, you may as well flog your hybrid and buy a cheap cx bike. It will undoubtedly work out better, and there are some amazing bargains about.

fat daddy

Jterrier wrote:

I'm going to say the obvious here; once you have added in the cost and faff of all that, you may as well flog your hybrid and buy a cheap cx bike. It will undoubtedly work out better, and there are some amazing bargains about.

yeah ... thats whats stopped me from doing it in the past .... if you look at the cost of a 1x11 hydraulic groupset ..... for a few pounds more you can buy a Boardman Team CX

That might have changed now if prices have comedown on components ... but a single shifter in the region of £200 .. the price soon adds up

shewy

all in all I've spent £200, If it doesn't work out then I'll convert it back and flog it, if I do like it then I may well buy the cx team as I really like the simplicity of the 1x11, but that would be for next winter

shewy

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1DQTtjbPhMYW4vSc2

All done, reach is only 5cm longer than my Merida 500, going to stick on some gravel tyres as well, but happy with the way it's turned out so far.

apreading

Thats going to be really twitchy with such a short stem, surely?

veronese68

apreading wrote:

Thats going to be really twitchy with such a short stem, surely?

I’m not sure. Would the additional reach to the hoods not offset the reduction in stem length?