Hi, Have an old Litespeed Obed I want to convert from MTB to cyclocross. Already have a stiff steel fork on the front. Components are 8 speed except for a 9 speed Deore LX rear derailuer. Bearings in my wheels are shots, so I will be looking for a low cost sturdy wheelset. Aside from that:

1) Will a 12-27 road casette work with a MTB deraileuer?
2) Will road bike shifters work with a MTB derailuers? Curious about the front since MTB's use a top pull meant for a 22-42 triple setup. Most Cyclocross cranks I have seen are double's with 46 teeth. Also, will road bike shifters work with V-brakes?
3) If I have to stick with an MTB front derailer, will my existing Deore LX 8 speed crankset work with 9 speed?
4) Do most cyclocross riders use a straight bar or drop bar(road bike)?

Any other recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Thanks

1) Will a 12-27 road casette work with a MTB deraileuer?

Yes.

2) Will road bike shifters work with a MTB derailuers? Curious about the front since MTB's use a top pull meant for a 22-42 triple setup. Most Cyclocross cranks I have seen are double's with 46 teeth.

Check your front derailleur, most mtn. derailleurs are curved to fit a maximum chainring size (usually 44-46). The shifter doesn't know if the derailleur is top pull or bottom pull. As long as the rear spacing is the same (no mixing shimano and campy, 8 speed shifters with 9 speed cassettes), the shifters should work, but...

Also, will road bike shifters work with V-brakes?

...Road levers are short pull, most v-brakes are long pull. It is possible to set them up to work, but the feel and modulation is not as good as cantilevers. A travel agent would work, but I've never used one so I can't comment on it.

3) If I have to stick with an MTB front derailer, will my existing Deore LX 8 speed crankset work with 9 speed?

If the chainrings are not too thick (and they probably won't be) that should work fine. Put your pick of nine speed chain onto your crank and find out.

4) Do most cyclocross riders use a straight bar or drop bar(road bike)?

Most cross bikes have drop bars, but the geometry of your mountain frame would probably be best suited for flat bars. You'll have to try it to see what works for you. I raced 1/2 a season on my xc mountain bike without any changes (2.0 tires, flat bar, 80mm suspension fork) and never had a problem other than the bottle cage interfering with shouldering (an easy fix). Remeber, the most important component is the rider. The A standings in the Georgia Cross Series was won by a guy on a cross-country mountain bike last year (of course, he was on the US world championship mtb team). Keeping the flat bar would also let you keep the same shifters, levers, cables, stem and grips.

Hope this helps.

2) Will road bike shifters work with a MTB derailuers? Curious about the front since MTB's use a top pull meant for a 22-42 triple setup. Most Cyclocross cranks I have seen are double's with 46 teeth.

Check your front derailleur, most mtn. derailleurs are curved to fit a maximum chainring size (usually 44-46). The shifter doesn't know if the derailleur is top pull or bottom pull. As long as the rear spacing is the same (no mixing shimano and campy, 8 speed shifters with 9 speed cassettes), the shifters should work, but...


road and mtn front derailleurs have different cable pulls.

road and mtn front derailleurs have different cable pulls.

Tell that to my cross bike. Really, most road derailleurs are bottom pull, but mtn. derailleurs are commonly sold in bottom and top pull (and bottom swing and top swing and all combinations of the four). My sram x-gen mtn. derailleur can be set up for both bottom and top pull and works fine on my cross bike and my mtn. bike. As long as the derailleur works for the frame's braze-on setup, there will not be a problem. Chainring spacing is the same from road to mtn. so no worries there either.

road and mtn front derailleurs have different cable pulls.
that may be, but my old mtn suntour FD works fine w/ ultegra 10spd brifters.

Hi, Have an old Litespeed Obed I want to convert from MTB to cyclocross. Already have a stiff steel fork on the front. Components are 8 speed except for a 9 speed Deore LX rear derailuer. Bearings in my wheels are shots, so I will be looking for a low cost sturdy wheelset. Aside from that:

Congrats, my Litespeed brother. Here is my Hiwassee...



1) Will a 12-27 road casette work with a MTB deraileuer?

Should be fine. I prefer a short cage, less slapping and quicker shifting.

2) Will road bike shifters work with a MTB derailuers? Curious about the front since MTB's use a top pull meant for a 22-42 triple setup.

Yes, I have a similar set up and no problems.


Most Cyclocross cranks I have seen are double's with 46 teeth.

I removed my smallest ring and replaced my outer large with a 46. Just needed to move up my front der a bit.


Also, will road bike shifters work with V-brakes?

Yes. They work fine, but I like the way my cantis feel better so I have switched.

3) If I have to stick with an MTB front derailer, will my existing Deore LX 8 speed crankset work with 9 speed?

Yes, no problems with mine.

4) Do most cyclocross riders use a straight bar or drop bar(road bike)?

Drops, but flat bars are fine, especially for beginners. No bar ends though.

Any other recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Use a shorter stem than normal. Also do a search on mtb in this forum as I have seen this discussed with some great pictures in the past.

Thanks


See above replies in OP