Can a road bike be converted to cyclocross?

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Gordz

Regular
I'm essentially looking for an everyday rain or shine bike to be used mainly on poor quality country roads which are usually muddy, therefore I know a cyclocross is probably the best option... however... they're very expensive and I was wondering if it would be possible to get a bike such as the B'Twin Triban 500 SE and simply adapt it?

Is this possible or should I just stick to looking at cyclocross bikes?
 
U

User6179

Guest
Usually road bikes only have clearance for skinny tyres so the answer is no .
 

screenman

Squire
There looks like some cheap one's on Ebay.


Now I should really not have had a look there, I can feel the wall may need another hole drilling in it.
 

Cycleops

Legendary Member
Yes, as Eddy says the tyre clearances are where you are going to have a problem. You could maybe go as far as 28c if you are lucky but that's it. You could possibly get a CX frame and build a bike around that if you have a donor and lace on some wider rims.
 

HLaB

Marie Attoinette Fan
As said, it depends on the clearance; my two kinesis I think could easily but my bianchi couldn't. It doesn't sound to me like you need to though. I cycle a lot on muddy country lanes and I wouldn't dream of converting my road bikes.
 

T.M.H.N.E.T

Rainbows aren't just for world champions
No, the cables are in the wrong place, the geometry is wrong for shouldering the bike, no clearance, no canti brakes
 
OP
OP
Gordz

Gordz

Regular
Thanks for all the very quick responses!

Think I may have titled this thread incorrectly... a better question would be "Could a road bike be useable on poor surfaced wet country roads?" as I don't necessarily need the full off road / jumping over gates capability of a full cyclocross bike, but I do need a bike that can be used on slightly muddy less than perfect roads.
 
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User6179

Guest
Thanks for all the very quick responses!

Think I may have titled this thread incorrectly... a better question would be "Could a road bike be useable on poor surfaced wet country roads?" as I don't necessarily need the full off road / jumping over gates capability of a full cyclocross bike, but I do need a bike that can be used on slightly muddy less than perfect roads.

Yes ,what do you think we all do in the winter :smile:
 

shouldbeinbed

Rollin' along
There seems to be some sort of urban myth that road bikes are made of fairy wings and tissue paper, they are plenty robust enough for a bit of a punishing road surface. Put some mudguards on (my 700x23 frame has absolutely minimal clearance & no lugs but still takes crud roadracers happily enough) & mud is no longer a problem, soften the tyres a few psi and you increase the comfort over the bumps. But CX are corking too, unless you're really thrashing along, the speed differential isn't massive & the geometry is a little easier but still gets you down and out of the wind when you need it to

CX's usually have a higher BB for better ground clearance too but that doesn't necessarily equate to needed for bad country roads, more bouncing over tree roots and rocks on off road courses

I ride different bike types on bad quality roads & country ones frequented by tractors and horses so usually not clean at all & TBH have no more worries with my roadie than my hybrid or MTB. I occasionally take the roadie through my country park commute on decent quality mud & gravel paths too & its still alive.
You adapt your pace according to where you are, if the roads are that bad, you're not going to be pelting along and banging through potholes on any bike, however robust, without consequences.

Slick tyres vs CX knobblies. are you talking inches deep mud through which you never actually touch tarmac - in which case bite the bullet and buy a CX - you'll need the frame clearance for suitable tyres
Or the usual field wash off and tractor tyre deposits that you still make contact with proper road through - in which case take your pick, slicks will cope & common sense is the order of the day, don't be making sudden direction changes mid gloop and you're good - again though, overcook it on any tyre/bike type and you're on your backside in the road.

If you do go for a CX, have a look at the Edinburgh Bikes 'Cross' range for competitively priced, remarkably well specced for the money and very useable CX bikes - I had a 2010 base model and loved it - someone else took a shine to it when my son parked it up one day too though, never got it back.
 

shouldbeinbed

Rollin' along
Thanks for all the very quick responses!

Think I may have titled this thread incorrectly... a better question would be "Could a road bike be useable on poor surfaced wet country roads?" as I don't necessarily need the full off road / jumping over gates capability of a full cyclocross bike, but I do need a bike that can be used on slightly muddy less than perfect roads.

Just clocked this, I was typing my above post out while doing other things too so it took a while to get to pressing post. Short reply: yes a road bike is perfectly capable on poor surfaced wet country roads
 

ColinJ

Puzzle game procrastinator!
Get a road bike, fit the widest tyres it'll take and you're good to go :thumbsup:
I have had road bikes that only just take 23C tyres!

I do use my road bikes on the odd stretch of bridleway, tow path or farm track but I am going to buy a cyclocross bike for that kind of thing so I don't have to be quite so careful, and could tackle even rougher stuff without having to use my heavy MTB. If I can afford it, I might buy a second set of wheels so I can have one pair with (say) 25 mm slicks on, and the other with (say) 38 mm semi-knobbly tyres.
 

TheDoctor

Noble and true, with a heart of steel
Moderator
True, my carbon one only just does 25 mm tyres. But the OP was talking about a Triban, which I think are more tolerant.
 

SatNavSaysStraightOn

Changed hemispheres!
True, my carbon one only just does 25 mm tyres. But the OP was talking about a Triban, which I think are more tolerant.
Our tribans were not any more tolerant sadly, but they are T3's in red. Mine was just capable of taking 25c tyres if you didn't mind scrapping mid out of the top of the fork everytime you meet mup on the road and which for me was every ride. 23c tyres have the best clearance and just about allowed for mudguards.
 
There seems to be some sort of urban myth that road bikes are made of fairy wings and tissue paper, they are plenty robust enough for a bit of a punishing road surface. Put some mudguards on (my 700x23 frame has absolutely minimal clearance & no lugs but still takes crud roadracers happily enough) & mud is no longer a problem, soften the tyres a few psi and you increase the comfort over the bumps. But CX are corking too, unless you're really thrashing along, the speed differential isn't massive & the geometry is a little easier but still gets you down and out of the wind when you need it to


Agreed, having just read a couple of wheel building books I would go one further and opt for stronger wheels/rims with more spokes, hand built just as @Yellow Saddle recommends :smile:
 
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