Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - 700c tires question.

I have decided to get to gettin on cleaning up and making ridable a 1976 Motobecane Nomade that I picked up on the cheap last year, this will be my first road bike, vintage, read 700c wheeled bicycle..

I have a question on tires, I am thinking that bigger is better with tires (its just how I feel about it at my size, I just don't trust skinny little tires under me) how do I go about figuring the biggest/most robust tire that I can fit onto this bike barring buying a bunch of different sized tires and trying them out?

is there a standard "clyde" tire that people use?

700c x ??

specific brands and models would be appreciated as well as just a standard "700c x XXX will work good" kind of reply.

There are some pictures of the old gal on my blog HERE (http://twowheelsandafatguy.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-old-project-1976-motobecane-nomade.html) if you are interested in taking a look at the starting point for this project.

ANY input on the subject will be appreciated and considered! I ride mountain bikes... this is new for me :o

I would look at tires in the 28 to 32 size range.

Do you have a price point?

I would look at tires in the 28 to 32 size range.

Do you have a price point?

I think that I would like to do this as cheap as possible seeing that this is my first go at this type of bike, up to $20 - $25 per tire maybe? but in all honesty the cheaper the better and it does not have to be some racy kind of tire as it may see the occasional short cut across the smoother section of a rail trail, or is that a crazy idea on a bike like that?

Thanks for the quick reply!

Cool bike man!

Can you read the sidewall and figure out what's on there now? Judging by the pics, it looks like you've still got a lot of space to work with.
What I'm keying in on is the space around the break calipers and the space between the rear tire and the front derailleur clamp. Not sure, but it looks like there should be enough room in there for at least 28s.

Myself, I like 25s, but there's nothing wrong with 28s or even larger tires. The only 700c tires that I have real experience with is the Continental Gatorskins/Ultra Gatorskins/Gatorskins Hardshell. They're great tires, albeit a bit pricey.

Cool bike man!

Can you read the sidewall and figure out what's on there now?

Sidewall says "27 x 1 1/4" and looks like a lot of space between the RD and tire as well as the stays, a lot of room on all counts from what I can see.

is that even a 700c wheel? I was assuming and had not looked.

Are you sure you don't have 27" wheels? I'm fairly certain 700c wheels would not be stock on that bike so, if it has 700c wheels, they were upgraded later.

Depending on your budget, I like the Forte Strada K (Performance Bike Shop) at $15 each. They have them in 27 x 1 1/4 and 700 x 28 so they have sizes to fit whichever wheel size you may have. If you want to spend more, I've had great luck with Continental Gatorskins but they are closer to $50 each.

EDIT: Just read your last post. You have 27" rims and 27 x 1 1/4 is a good size and widely available (but not as much as 700c). ChainReactionCycles has Gatorskins for around $35 in 27 x 1 1/4 right now if that fits your budget. Of the Strada Ks I mentioned earlier if you want to keep costs down.

Bigger does not neccessarily mean better. 25's will work just fine at the appropriate pressure. With your particular bike you will have a better quality ride with a wider tire. As far as quality goes there is a saying that I like about helmets works with tires too, "if you have a $10 head, buy a $10 helmet."

27 " wheel is not the same as a 700c wheel.

I believe that 1 1/4" is the same as a 32mm tire width. The 27" could be a problem though... IIRC 27" is actually larger (diameter) than 700c, so you may run into problems with the brakes not lining up if you try to put 700c wheels on there.

I would cross post to the Mechanics Forum or the Vintage & Classics Forum.

I'm looking at your signature, and notice that you also have a '91 Schwinn Crisscross. You might want to see if those tires will fit. If the Schwinn is stock, it will be rolling on 700 x 38 tires. I ran 700 x 35 Michelins on my old Raleigh R300 sport Tourer. Good luck!

The Scwalbe Marathon is available in a 27 X 1 1/4 for about $40 each. I run them in 700 X 32 and am happy after 1 1/2 years and a bunch of miles sans flat. I ride on mixed pavement and gravel from living in a rural area.

That is how little I know about these types of bikes! I had no clue there was different size wheels **shrug**

I see that there are 27 x 1 3/8 tires available and looking at the bike I would think there is plenty of room for them, is that size just over kill? I just can't get past feeling that having more rubber on the wheel = better with my weight...

those Forte Strada K's look good and are very much a good price!

thanks for the replies so far guys!

One other thing to consider. My younger son's '81 Moto Super Tour is really tight getting wheels off because of the chainstay bridge. Any thing over a 27" x 7/8" and he has to deflate the tire to get it out. Was about to file off a bit of the DOs to correct this but he decided to go with the smaller tires instead.

Seriously, your weight really doesn't have anything to do with needing a bigger tire.
Air pressure is what you need.

I am 265 and I run a 25 on the back and 23 on the front 700c
all my 27's are 27 1 1/4 or something that will get to at least 90psi
The bigger wheel(27) with high flanges makes a great wheel and so does the 700c
I mainly ride for fitness and fun...

It makes me want to punch a baby when someone tells me that 27>29. 27 is 630mm and 29 is only 622. Who thought this stuff up?

You can also get Panaracer Paselas in 27" sizes for $15 -- a lot of the C&V folks like them. Just a thought.

As long as you have 4-5mm of adjustment toward the hub left on your brakes, you can replace 27" wheels with 700c. There is nothing inherently wrong with 27" rims except that they are obsolete and getting harder to find tires for. Specialized makes a 27 x 1 1/4 road tire that comes in under $20 each but I don't have the exact model number handy. You can use 700c rimbands and inner tubes on 27" wheels, just make sure that the inner tube is the appropriate width as there are 700c/29r inner tubes that are too wide for 27" tires.

As far as quality goes there is a saying that I like about helmets works with tires too, "if you have a $10 head, buy a $10 helmet."

+1. Invest in quality tires. You will be happier. Crossed the country with a guy who was too "frugal" to spend more for quality. As a result, he ended up spending the money he "saved" on tires on tubes and patches instead thanks to the seemingly endless number of flats he got.

it makes me want to punch a baby when someone tells me that 27>29. 27 is 630mm and 29 is only 622. Who thought this stuff up?



lol

1" = 25.4 mm. 1.25 X 25.4mm = 31.75mm. Should be wide enough. Don't put 700c tires on a 27" rim.

27 X 1-1/4 are a great size for bigger guys, which is similar in width to 700X32, which is also an excellent size.

If you have 27" wheels and want to 'upgrade' the bike, you need to have 4mm of downward adjustment on the brake pads to fit 700s. It is likely you can fit slightly wider tires on the bike with 700s than you can with 27s. But if the wheels you have are good, just get soe 27X1-1/4 and pump them up to ~90 psi and ride the snot out of it. If you can find Panaracer Pasels in 27X1-1/4 size they kick arse.

Lots of great replies so far!

DCBO, wheels are in great condition, the front is really close to true and the rear is only slightly out of true (could probably ride it as is)

I took a quick look at the Panaracer Pasela tires, would the tour guard version be worth the extra coin? or are the standard tires decent enough?

again Thanks for all of the replies so far guys, very helpful.

Lots of great replies so far!

DCBO, wheels are in great condition, the front is really close to true and the rear is only slightly out of true (could probably ride it as is)

I took a quick look at the Panaracer Pasela tires, would the tour guard version be worth the extra coin? or are the standard tires decent enough?

again Thanks for all of the replies so far guys, very helpful.

I have never used the tourguard version, but have certainly heard great reports on the increased durability. If you ride in hazard-filled urban areas (or the local brewery sponsors the annual 'Festival of Broken Glass') then the Tourguard is likely a better idea. The non-tourguard is slightly lighter and should have marginally less rolling resistance, although it will slow you down less than stopping to fix a flat.

Do you have an LBS near you that might have a selection of tires for you to choose from? 27 X 1-1/4 is not a very common size any more (tire selection is probably the most important reason for switching o 700c), but most bike shops still have a couple examples. The only ones to avoid are the $12 cheapies from hardwear stores and X-Mart... they will work in a pinch but don't last as long and are much more likely to flat than a higher quality model.
What are the roads like where you ride?

I have never used the tourguard version, but have certainly heard great reports on the increased durability. If you ride in hazard-filled urban areas (or the local brewery sponsors the annual 'Festival of Broken Glass') then the Tourguard is likely a better idea. The non-tourguard is slightly lighter and should have marginally less rolling resistance, although it will slow you down less than stopping to fix a flat.

Do you have an LBS near you that might have a selection of tires for you to choose from? 27 X 1-1/4 is not a very common size any more (tire selection is probably the most important reason for switching o 700c), but most bike shops still have a couple examples. The only ones to avoid are the $12 cheapies from hardwear stores and X-Mart... they will work in a pinch but don't last as long and are much more likely to flat than a higher quality model.
What are the roads like where you ride?

Indeed there are several bike shops in the area, stopping in to take a peek at what they have in stock might be a good idea. As far as the roads where I live go, I am in a pretty rural area where the roads range from perfectly paved with brandy new black top to bumps and cracks that I avoid on my mountain bike, I have no real reason for a bicycle like this Motobecane, I like the style of it and since I already have it I figure its better off road worthy :) I will probably use it to ride my daughter to school on (her in a trailer) or the occasional cruise around the lake, it will be a low use bike..... at least to start :)

again, thanks for all of the replies they have really helped.

I'm a clyde and I roll on 700c x 23 Gatorskins.

Just thought of something. If this bike has been sitting for some time, the grease in the wheel bearings has probably gone bad. Removing the freewheel is a real pain on an old bike especially if it's a 2 prong suntour.

Just thought of something. If this bike has been sitting for some time, the grease in the wheel bearings has probably gone bad. Removing the freewheel is a real pain on an old bike especially if it's a 2 prong suntour.

I am taking the whole bike apart and going over it a piece at a time, the wheel seems to spin freely and very smooth but I suppose that doesn't mean much :) I have no idea how long its been since the bike has been ridden regularly, at least a year since that is when I bought it. I got it at a thrift shop and other than the dust, dirt and old cables etc its it pretty good shape and does shift/brake properly and everything seems adjusted so I do think that someone was riding it before it hit the thrift shop last year.

Future plans are hammered fenders, Pletscher rack on the back (found the rack when I was dropping off junk at the dump!) and possibly a leather saddle and shellacked bars, the other way I was thinking of going was the fenders and rack but black tape and saddle, I haven't gotten that far into it yet though so its a toss up at this point.

I'm between 240 and 245 and ride on 700x25's.

I weigh in at 230 lbs and am happy with my 700x28 Conti Top Contacts. If I may offer one piece of advice I'd suggest avoiding Conti's Ultra Sports - I call 'em Ultra Flats. I chalked up 7 flats in 750 miles, half of which were with tire liners, on my Ultra Flats. Never again.

You can also get Panaracer Paselas in 27" sizes for $15 -- a lot of the C&V folks like them. Just a thought.

+1

I have Pasela TGs on two of my bikes, I love them. Plus, you can get them with tan sidewalls which will look great on a 70s Motobecane