Converting cannondale headshock to rigid fork

[hockeybike]

So someone finally answered my craigslist post looking for a cross/touring frameset with an older c'dale cyclocross headshock frame. The fork is on the fritz, but does anyone know whether or not it's possible to get some reducers in the headtube and use a standard fork. From what I can tell, it is doable, but I'm wondering if the smaller headtube stack caused by not having the headshock will lead to a commuter frame that feels like a pursuit bike.

Thanks!

edit-fork comes w/ frame, but headshock has some issues.

[DogpawSlim]

You'll need a set of reducers like these: http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=12471

As for the geometry, you might think about a headtube extender like this: http://www.eighthinch.com/headtube_extenders.html

But that's a lot of hardware in the headtube. Is there any way to figure out what the axle to crown was on the headshock cross forks? Should be fairly easy to approximate that figure with an off-the-rack 1 1/8" cross fork.

[Ken Robb]

I would keep looking for a frame/fork that didn't need jury rigging to arrive at maybe less-than-good results.
I gather from your post you have had a hard time finding a suitable f/f. What's the problem?

[hockeybike]

Mostly, i'm looking for something pretty specific--cross or touring type frame in 53-54cm w/ canti mounts and eyelets for a rack. Basically want to make it into a beater commuter because I'm sick of commuting on a MTB.

Not looking to spend much because I just finished up my primary road bike, and this frameset was offered to me for free, so it's tempting.

[Ken Robb]

Mostly, i'm looking for something pretty specific--cross or touring type frame in 53-54cm w/ canti mounts and eyelets for a rack. Basically want to make it into a beater commuter because I'm sick of commuting on a MTB.

Not looking to spend much because I just finished up my primary road bike, and this frameset was offered to me for free, so it's tempting.

I have never seen a real cross bike with eyelets for fenders but lots of old touring frames have them ,as you know.
A free frame would make me willing to invest so time/money in jury-rigging if I had reasonable hope that I'd like the result. My guess would be that the HT extenders would slow the steering a bit. Since you will be starting with a touring bike which probably is slow-steering to start with how do you like that kind of handling?

[hockeybike]

This is the frame:

http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2002&Brand=Cannondale&Model=Cyclocross%20Ultra&Type=bike

It has the eyelets near the top of the seatstay (cannondale mtbs had them, too--or at least the m400 i use as a beater has em). It's going to be a grocery getter and commuter, so all i want is space for fat tires. My guess is that it might just be a huge expenditure in the end, but the upshot is that it's free and comes w/ a crankset, so if nothing else, there's that.

Not too concerned about steering--I love how my current lynskey rides in every way, but since I'm not spending that kind of money, I'm holding my reservations at bay. Basically, I'm looking for a grocery getter/commuter as well as a decent (ie, it fits and has 700c rims as opposed to my mtb w/ fat tires) rain bike for when I want to ride in foul weather w/o messing up the lynskey.

[nahtnoj]

I used to have one of these.

It will clear about a 35-37 tire w/ a fender.

The A-C of the fork is longer than a typical cross fork. It is going to be a difficult retrofit.

[hockeybike]

Turns out the fork isn't gone--just some part of the headshock--I'll post pics once I have em. I'm thinking I maaay be able to just make it into a rigid fork with some tinkering and a minimal expenditure.

Any one have any experience with this?

[nahtnoj]

You probably can, its just a spring or elastomer in there, no damper. But, you will be left with what is perhaps the most bone-jarring ride in all of bikedom. That alu fork is no joke.

[hockeybike]

Oof, sounds fun. I'll quote seinfeld on this one:

George Costanza: I'll sniff out a deal. I have a sixth sense.
Jerry: Cheapness is not a sense

[keevon]

A little Googling indicates that this fork is probably in the 430-440mm axle-to-crown territory, which means that suspension-corrected 26" rigid forks would work. You'd have to use a front disc brake, though...

Surly Instigator fork (447mm):
http://aebike.com/product/surly-instigator-fork-26-i.s.-disc-tab-removable-canti-pivots-sku-fk0005-qc30.htm

Surly Big Dummy fork (425mm):
http://aebike.com/product/surly-big-dummy-fork-black-1-1-8x260mm-sku-fk0007-qc30.htm

Pair one of those with a 1.5" to 1-1/8" reducing headset and a front Avid BB7 Road disc brake, and you're good to go :beer:

[hockeybike]

Maybe cheapness IS a sense: http://www.ride-this.com/index.php/tange-prestige-29-canti-fork-118-black.html?source=googleps

Cannondale replied to my question on what to do about replacing the fork. Apparently, the axle to crown length was 433mm on the cyclocross forks--which is right in the ballpark of what you suggested. Worst case scenario is that I can't get the busted headshock to work as a rigid fork and I just get the 29er one.

[keevon]

Nice find! Be sure to post pictures of the completed bike.