Looks like it will be a lovely project. I have a yellow steel cross bike (see link). Sadly, I crashed it and the RD hanger is bent, still trying to find someone in Belgium to fix it.
Thats a lovely build, i too quite fancy a cross bike, what size/type wheels/tyres have you used, what else is needed to convert (say a reynolds 501 80's/90's roady), and what costs am i looking at to make something a bit better than entry level?
I have got some spare road bike mechs (which are fairly tough), but am i better off using MTB mechs?
Them's are Easton EA50s, with 700 x 35 schwalbe landcruisers (de rigeur for the Three peaks)
don't convert a road bike- not enough clearance. Find a tourer with canti bosses and plenty of room for tyres. MTB mechs allow bigger cassettes but make sure the work with your shifters....Costs? piece of string.......
This sort of thing might be a good base for a cheap and cheerful cyclocross type build.
Don't think it matters what sort of mech you use in terms of strength, but I think it is better if you can get a frame with a separate rear mech hanger which will break off if something gets caught in it - better than a broken mech or a broken frame.
Good luck anyway, cross bikes are loads of fun.
Johnny
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