Monkey Face

Can anyone tell me if there is enough clearance to fit 25c tyres and fenders on the Gazelle?

gomango

PM OldmuthaRiley. I think he has a nice one.

jan nikolajsen 

What model and year do you have?

The older the better for those prospects. My 81 A-Frame does it with minimal clearances, using 700c wheels. The tires are 25mm Panaracer TG and the fenders really narrow Esge brand. To make it work I mounted wide Mafac Racer calipers.

Monkey Face

I don't own one... yet; it's this one on eBay. I think it's 1981-85. I could ask the seller of course, but I'd rather have an opinion here.

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

jan nikolajsen 

You are right on the vintage. It looks like an AA-Frame, which could have shorter wheelbase than the A-Frame, making your idea more difficult. Also the AA lacks the fender eyelets of the A.

cuda2k

Appears to be more likely an AB-Frame. Fork crown and other details looks much more like the AB-Frame circa 84/85 than what I've seen from the AA's. I run 23c on my Gazelle AB-Frame, I'll look tonight and see what my best guess would be on fitting a 25c, but I don't recall the 23 being all that close. As Jan states the A-Frame would be better suited to slightly larger tire sizes. I'd bet my A-Frame would take a 28c without any effort. (Granted my A-Frame doesn't run fenders as Jan's does)

darkmagus

Here are a couple of shots of my AB frame bike. Not the perfect shots, but you can sort of see the clearance. I'm running 23s in the photos, but I think you could get 25s + fenders on there. The rear has as much room as the front.

Monkey Face

Thanks chaps.

If it's an AB frame, darkmagus's pics seem to show that mudguards... sorry, fenders... are possible. P-clips for the racks would be okay, especially as I'd be traveling light.

It seemed a reasonable buy-it-now listing, but didn't sell. We'll see what happens at auction.

oldmuthariley

they'll definately fit - check out this link

https://fivenineclimber.com/bikes/gaz...stin_riley.htm

- it has pics of my 79/80 champion mondial with mudgurds - the clearances are pretty big - these pics show mudguards, with 700 x 23 tyres and short reach brakes anfd it all fits - i reckon you could go up a couple of tyre sizes too!


cheers riley

gomango

All of these Gazelles are really catching my eye today. Super, all of them. Guys, I am seeking a light duty touring frame for this summer. Which of the Gazelle models would you recommend for light loads, and high daily miles? High, as in about 100 a day for six or seven days? Some of this trip will be off road on so-called all-weather highways. This of course equals gravel. I'll need some eyelets, and can mount cantilevers if needed. Have a set of Paul "Touring" just waiting if they would work. Any thoughts?

cuda2k

My AB-Frame is my "go to" bike.

jan nikolajsen 

I converted the silver A-Frame shown up higher to 650A, put on 38mm Marathons and easily cruised mountain dirt roads. Still fenders and all the rest as on the pic.

Gazelle made, very briefly and these are exceedingly rare, a randonneur frame and, more common but still scarce, a cyclo cross frame. See here and here. Good luck finding them.

Of the more ubiquitous ones, I'm fully convinced of the long distance merits of a seventies A-Frame. I have several 200k's on mine, and considered it seriously for the fall tour we did. The only reason I went with a Trek instead, is my Gazelle is so beat up with an unknown past history that I thought it could harbor unknown defects. Switching bikes in the middle of a tour is not something to aim for.

darkmagus

A matching Gazelle cross frame is on my 'holy grail' list.

Monkey Face

This is excellent feedback - thanks o.m.riley... that's a really good Gazelle link.

gomango will know that I'm building a Colnago Master at the moment and my original plan was that I'd use that for an 'End-to-End' (about 1,000 miles over 2 weeks), but it won't take fenders and I'm not sure I want to subject it to rack and P-clips, or the unpredictable British weather for a fortnight.

The Gazelle looks like a very nice alternative - something to look after, definitely, but for a modest outlay (necessitated by what I've spent on the Colnago!) I won't feel too precious about it.

cuda2k

I'm thinking of finding a red AA or AA-Special to go with my white AB and blue A-Frame.

... or a red cyclocross or pista would do just as nicely!

bmwstbill

AA super with Planet Bike fenders/rough paint/ 27" wheels.
P clamps and zip ties(a tight fit).
Panaracer 1" tires.
Fun daily rider.
Quick handling.
bill