Hello everyone a few questions for the community
Around 8 years ago I bought a brand new Cannondale CAADx 105 for my “all around bike.” Unfortunately life happened and after the first year or so of owning the bike I stopped riding.
With spring coming I decided to get back on the saddle and with doing some research on today’s bike tech I discovered the “gravel bike”
So my question is, how feasible is it to convert my CAADx into a gravel bike? I know I should probably save the money and put it into a new bike but I have attachment to the bike and I like the looks of the frame.
I’m thinking of upgraded wheels, carbon seatpost and possibly going to a 1x drivetrain
Anything I should be aware of? I know the tire clearance is limited. But I can get 38s on there currently which is good with me
by JMW515
28 Comments
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What do you want that you don’t have? This can do everything a gravel bike can do.
A cyclocross bike pretty much is a gravel bike, isn’t it?? What would you change that would make it more gravel less cyclocross?
There’s quite a few differences and they are mostly geometry related differences tailored to their different purposes:
Bottom Bracket Height: CX bikes typically have a higher bottom bracket to avoid pedal strikes during aggressive cornering on rough terrain. Gravel bikes may have a slightly lower bottom bracket for added stability and a more comfortable ride over long distances.
Wheelbase: Gravel bikes tend to have a longer wheelbase for stability during long rides, while CX bikes may have a shorter wheelbase for agility in tight turns and technical sections.
Head Tube Angle: CX bikes often have a steeper head tube angle, making them more responsive to quick steering inputs required in cyclocross racing. Gravel bikes may have a slightly slacker head tube angle for stability and comfort on rough terrain.
Chainstay Length: CX bikes typically have shorter chainstays to improve acceleration and maneuverability in tight spaces. Gravel bikes may have longer chainstays to provide more stability, especially when loaded with gear for bikepacking or touring.
Fork Rake : CX bikes may have a higher fork rake to improve handling in tight corners and muddy conditions. Gravel bikes may have a slightly lower fork rake for stability at higher speeds and over rough terrain.
Just get a gravel sticker and slap it on. Sorted.
Folks will want to split hairs to show how much they know about bikes on a question like this, but there’s nothing wrong with this bike. If you were a serious enough cyclist (read: a racer or aspiring racer) to appreciate the subtleties in geometry, frankly you’d be a *much* better rider than I am and probably wouldn’t be asking this question.
Please understand that’s not meant as a dig! Rather, just giving some perspective: sooooo much of the bike industry is geared toward racing when most of us will never compete and aren’t that wrapped up in “marginal gains.” It’s true that a clutched derailleur can be nice, but honestly I never use the clutch on mine.
I say ride what you have until you know what you need!
Wider tires and larger cassette if possible, otherwise you’re already good to go. There’s no “converting” necessary. 1x drivetrain is just a preference, not a necessity, but yes you can do that if you want.
Lol bruh i rode a cx on gravel for 8 years before they invented the category for no reason but a low bb
I ride a converted CX bike. I did end up going to lower gearing in recent years but nothing else was really needed. I run a 32mm road tire on mine.
You’re bike is ready for gravel. Grow a beard, dont shave your legs and go ride
I have used a similar Caadx as a gravel bike for many years. Gear ratio and tire clearance are like on a gravel bike. The frame is actually very good, the biggest problem is bad wheels and cranks, but there is no reason to change before it breaks.
You could swap the rear derailleur to a grx812, and an 11-40 cassette for mega range
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/grx-11-speed/RD-RX812.html
The cable pull between 105 11 speed and grx812 is the same
I’ve got an older Tricross that I use as a gravel bike. Works.
Stop calling it a cyclocross bike, start calling it a gravel bike.
Voila: you have converted cyclocross into gravel.
Next: water/wine
I would just stuff 35-38mm tires on there and let it rip.
You cant, but you can just ride it anywhere you would a gravel bike and then now you have a gravel bike.
In all seriousness you should just ride the bike the way it is where you want to ride it. Why go 1x and why get a Carbon seatpost? Just ride the bike.
38s are fine for gravel.
Unless you don’t like the gearing, you’re good to go on that.
My first gravel rig had mechanical disc brakes and QR wheels also – it saw some epic places.
My current gravel rig is a Ti cross frame. Works great.
I’m just surprised that an 8-year-old CX bike can accomodate 38mm tires! That’s awesome! Send it!
I have a CX bike that was marketed as a gravel bike. I bought it when I was just getting back into biking. It’s a great gravel bike. It may not be as stable on rough roads at fast speeds but it’s faster in most other situations, especially straight road biking.
Honestly, the only thing you might want to change is to get a more gravel oriented set of tires (CX bikes are limited to 33C), a stem that puts you in a more upright position, and replace the saddle with something more comfortable (or not if the one you have is comfortable).
Focus on what would make the bike better for long miles. Comfort and stability might be improved by changing the handlebar position and bigger tires. I’m a fan of tubeless tires, but you may not be able to justify buying new wheels just for that if your current wheels don’t easily set up tubeless.
Get some bags and such to carry additional water, food, and self-sufficiency gear.
The steps I took to convert my cyclocross to gravel:
1) Ride it on gravel
2) put on 38’s when the cx tires wore out
Don’t overthink it.
I finished the Unbound Gravel 200 on my CAADX in 2021. I rode on 38mm tires and had an a solo blast. Was it full of suffering? Yup. Did I upgrade to a new bike with bigger tires the next year? Yup! Ride whatcha got, wear out some tires and eat lots of snacks.
Completely off topic, but please read up on two issues CAADX have had over the years where you got your bike: If it has a carbon fork, please check if you should get a replacement from Cannondale and have a mechanic check the torq of the crank set.
Trust me, if your bike is affected, you’ll thank me.
The insufficient torq led to me spending a night in a hospital and I only learned of the fork having been recalled after the frame set had already been replaced.
On topic though: I rode my 2015 CAADX (and basically a 2018 model after having the frame replaced) like a gravel bike. Bike packing, trails, longer tours, city bike. It can do it all like 95%.
About 12 years ago I started out on a CX frame and since then I’ve upgraded framesets twice. What motivated me to switch frames was the desire for wider tire clearances. Currently I can fit a 2.2” 27.5” MTB tire in my Curve Kevin. Next move is to upgrade to 12 spd AXS once I’ve collected all the pieces. I still have my OG CX bike that I’ve since flat bar’d and ride it pretty regularly as a commuter/bar bike. So yeah, the differences are minor but fat tires make a huge impact on comfort and over the years I’ve just wanted them wider and wider.
A cross bike is a gravel bike. My first gravel bike came with 32s and not knowing any better I rode it for years.
I use a C-Dale CAADX as a gravel bike and I love it. Stock, except for the front brake which I upgraded!
I ride an old Redline (with rim brakes!) as an all-road/gravel bike. Get the widest, softest tires you can fit. That’s practically all you need. Every once in a while I wish I had a little lower gearing on long, steep climbs but I mange.
Just buy these soft colored maillots and wear a handkerchief around your neck, oh and instead of talking about cycling, comment on bike paint and colours.. no dig intended, just to the IG content out there.