Classic & Vintage - Do these tires make my...bike...look fat?

I got tired of the tubulars and the constant flats and decided to switch to some very attractive Rigida polished aluminum clinchers and a set a Panaracer Paselas in 700x28. I figured that for the type of riding I use the old Bottecchia for and considering my 200-lbs bulk this would be appropriate. But man to they look big! Like a fat-tired beach cruiser. They actually measure 26mm wide but they are substantially taller than the tubulars were or the 700x23s on my modern road bike. I'm not sure I like the look but I'm kinda stuck with it now. Maybe it'll grow on me. What do ya'll think?

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z77/Kommisar89/001-1.jpg

I think they look fine. If you are planning on entering it in a show, selling it, or racing it, you might not want to have those big tires. It looks like a bike that wants to be ridden.

I think they look fine. If you are planning on entering it in a show, selling it, or racing it, you might not want to have those big tires. It looks like a bike that wants to be ridden.

And ridden it shall be. But no shows, no racing, and it's not going anywhere unless you want to pick it up from my estate some day. Just building base miles, the occasional century, pub crawls, coffee shop rides, and such. And I still have the tubular wheelset for special occasions. I had these new wheels built up from my old hubs from my original Bottecchia back in the '70's so like a Phoenix its spirit has risen from the ashes and lives on.

I like them! The bike really looks well grounded.

A nice chrome silica pump on that peg would round it out well.

And ridden it shall be. But no shows, no racing, and it's not going anywhere unless you want to pick it up from my estate some day.

If it is a 60 cm, I would like to offer you a cigarette. :) Otherwise, live long and prosper.

A nice chrome silica pump on that peg would round it out well.

Indeed it would. I got outbid at $75 for the only one I found on eBay so far, dangit. You can find the long 80's style frame fit pumps everywhere but the older style that fits the pump umbrellas are scarce it seems. Know where I can get hold of one?

If it is a 60 cm, I would like to offer you a cigarette. :) Otherwise, live long and prosper.

58.5 c-c, 60cm c-t. But I quit smoking many years ago :D

Looks beautiful with the larger tires. I've always liked tires up to 28C, especially if they're quality gumwalls.

A pair of white Bluemels fenders would offset them and the bike quite nicely, if mudguards are your thing.

-Kurt

wow, that thing looks great. I would ride the brains out of that bike. haha

As mentioned many times... A beautiful steed. I feel the dependability is a good positive trade off on any perceived ascetic loss.

Big rivits and high flanges! What more could you ask for!?! If this size bothers you, switch to a solid black tires. For whatever reason, they look skinnier to me.

A good set of tyres.. I like the larger size tyres, as the thin ones are too restrictive - for example you can't ride over sharp bumps (gutters, potholes, etc) without fear of denting your rims.

But with those tyres you have a go anywhere machine...

To me, that Bottecchia looks beautifully proportioned.

I think older frames with relaxed geometries and large mudguard clearances look best with 700C x 28 (as on my 1959 Capo) or even 27 x 1-1/4" tires (as on my Peugeot). I even have 700C x 28s on my somewhat tighter Bianchi, although these are undersized Continentals -- "real" 28s would rub on the chainstays, and perhaps even the brake bridge and fork crown.

For general-purpose cycling, even with my non-racing club, I feel a bit safer and more secure on a slightly wider tire, in contrast to my days of being "20-something and immortal," when I eagerly migrated from 27 x 1-1/4" (32mm) to 1-1/8" to 1" (25mm) and even 7/8" (23mm).

It looks good. The Pacella's are very round and tall, thats likely what looks foreign to you. The ride should more than make up for it with around 95-100 lbs you will float down the road like a Buick.....

I like it!

I built a set of clincher wheels for my Gitane Tour de France. It came with tubulars and I didn't want to go that route. I ride it and love it!

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f106/RabidKoala/IMG_0337.jpg

Doesn't look any more disproportionate than the 27x1/4" Conti Gatorskins on my Atala.
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Looks exactly like a bike like that should look, to me. Quite attractive, in fact. You know, I wouldn't obsess over it. Road bikes used to come with 1-1/4 or 1-1/8 inch wide tires. Lots of people prefer to ride 28's, simply because if you ride in most urban areas, you can ride over almost anything and do so more comfortably, and if you ride in the country, you can ride over more surfaces than you can on a narrow tire.

Looks fantastic to me. I have 32mm Paselas on my Nishiki and the ride is exponentially better than with the narrow Gatorskins I used to use.

Well I guess I'm satified. I took it out for a 30 mile ride around town today that included broken pavement and packed dirt and gravel. I was able to charge through those rough sections at speed where I would have rolled gingerly through with my fingers crossed on the tubulars if at all. It's nice not to have to worry that something will break. Still breaking in that Brooks though. Ouch! :D

I like the look of the bike. If you ever get a chance to, take a look at some of the in-race pictures of Coppi or Bartali, or one of the riders of their era in the Giro or Tour De France. They used tires that are close to those proportions.

Your Bottechi must have some long chain stays. I put some 700x28 Paselas on my De Bernardi, and there's only about 1/2 inch clearance between the rear tire and the seat tube. I like how the Paselas look on your bike (as well as mine). Skinwalls just seem to fit on older steel lugged frames. The Paselas are some tall tires. I trouble fitting my rear tire in the drop outs because the clearance is so tight.

Your Bottechi must have some long chain stays. I put some 700x28 Paselas on my De Bernardi, and there's only about 1/2 inch clearance between the rear tire and the seat tube. I like how the Paselas look on your bike (as well as mine). Skinwalls just seem to fit on older steel lugged frames. The Paselas are some tall tires. I trouble fitting my rear tire in the drop outs because the clearance is so tight.

I considered the gumwall/skinwall a must when I was looking for tires. I tried some IRC tires that were nominally 25mm but they were really 22mm and too narrow for my rims. As I mentioned, these measure an actual 26mm but like you said, they are tall. No problem on the Bottecchia though, it's got plenty of room. It might even fit a 38mm tire if one were so inclinded (I'm not!).