Once you start riding a cross bike, you'll naturally become interested in faster road bikes.

The main difference is that cross bikes have straight handlebars, while road bikes have drop handlebars.

This might lead you to wonder if a cross bike could become a road bike just by changing the handlebars.

When riding long distances of 50 km or more, having multiple hand positions on the handlebars helps reduce fatigue.

Drop handlebars offer multiple grip positions, which is advantageous over a road bike (Editor's Note: this sentence seems to contain a contradiction; it should probably say "over a cross bike").

Even if you bought a cross bike for commuting to work or school, considering these points, it's natural to become curious about road bikes.

Differences between Cross Bikes and Road Bikes

Let's review the differences between cross bikes and road bikes.

As mentioned above, the shape of the handlebars is different.

Cross bikes have straight handlebars with only one grip position.

Road bikes primarily have three grip positions.

If you change the handlebars, you can't use the existing brake levers, so you'll have to replace the entire bracket.

In many cases, you also won't be able to use the existing shift levers, so you'll need to replace those too (this depends on the model).

Cross bikes are designed for an upright riding posture.

Road bikes can be ridden both upright and in a forward-leaning position, allowing you to ride with your body closer to horizontal and looking forward.

This point is often overlooked.

In other words, the frame shapes are different, and road bikes are designed to accommodate a forward-leaning posture.

On the other hand, cross bikes are primarily ridden in an upright position, making a forward-leaning posture difficult.

While there are ways to adjust by lowering the handlebars or raising the saddle, it often requires adjustments beyond the feasible range, and this is where many people struggle.

After going to the trouble of changing the handlebars to make it look like a road bike, it often leads to the tragedy of it being difficult to ride.

Also, road bike frames are thinner and lighter.

Cross bikes are generally designed to be more robust.

Tire width is generally narrower and lighter on road bikes.

However, modern road bike tires are increasingly 700C (equivalent to 27 inches) with widths ranging from 23C to 25C.

Cross bikes have a wider range, from 28C to 35C, but some are 25C, so the difference is not as significant as one might think.

In terms of weight, many cross bikes weigh around 10kg to 13kg, while many road bikes weigh under 10kg.

Many people find cross bikes easier to ride for commuting to work or school, while road bikes are better for long-distance cycling, climbing mountain passes, or long uphill climbs.

Converting a Cross Bike to a Road Bike Won't Increase Speed

People who've converted their cross bike to a road bike and failed often say, "The speed didn't increase as much as I expected."

And that's to be expected.

Changing the handlebars doesn't significantly affect speed.

The human body creates the most wind resistance.

Riding in a forward-leaning posture undoubtedly reduces wind resistance and allows you to ride faster.

However, the overall weight is almost as important.

Road bikes weigh under 10kg.

On the other hand, cross bikes typically weigh around 13kg, and when modified by changing handlebars or other parts, they often become even heavier.

When pursuing speed, professionals try to shave off even 100g, so if you add weight, it shouldn't get faster.

Moreover, with a "modified road bike," the straight part is often the easiest to hold due to balance issues, so in this case, the benefit of reduced wind resistance from a forward-leaning posture is also lost.

Disadvantages of Handlebar Replacement

One disadvantage of handlebar replacement is that it's not just a matter of replacing the handlebars alone.

It involves a relatively large number of replacement parts, including brake levers, brake brackets, and shifters.

Some enthusiasts even replace the brakes themselves.

At this point, the cost of modifications can become quite substantial.

While it might not be enough to buy a brand new road bike, it can certainly amount to the cost of a less expensive bicycle.

Conclusion

The conclusion so far is that it's better not to try and turn a cross bike into a road bike.

Technically, it is possible to modify a cross bike to look like a road bike.

However, since the fundamental riding styles are different, people often struggle with adjustments after the conversion.

Among my cycling friends, three attempted to convert their cross bikes into road bikes, and when I asked them about it later, all three were no longer riding their "modified road bikes."

That seems to be a telling answer.

When asked why they chose to modify rather than buy a new one, there were two common answers: because they had a long history with the bike and felt attached to it, and because they wanted to minimize costs. They also mentioned that attachment was a higher priority. It was interesting how their opinions aligned.

Methods to Reduce Fatigue

If you're looking to reduce fatigue during long rides, there are drop ends available for cross bikes.

These are parts that can be attached to both ends of the handlebars as an addition.

You can either continue using your existing brake levers or replace them with brake levers similar to those found on road bikes.

Try Renting a Bike

The aspiration for a road bike is something every speed-seeker probably shares.

If you've never ridden a road bike before, borrowing a friend's is one option, but there's also the option of renting a bike.

While you might be able to test ride at a bike shop, it often involves just sitting on it indoors, so actually riding one will give you a real sense of it.

From what I've researched, many prefectures offer road bike rentals, and you can enjoy them for around 4,000 yen for half a day or just under 10,000 yen for a full day.

External Writer: Koichi Okuno