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Vintage Frames that fit MASSIVE tires

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Old 12-13-10, 04:05 PM
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Vintage Frames that fit MASSIVE tires

I'm kicking around an idea in my head....as If I don't have enough irons in the fire already...so we'll just call it a though experiment for now

Can you give me some examples of a Vintage Frame that can fit HUGE 700c slick (not knobbies) tires? I'm talking like 55, 60mm width....like Schwalbe Fat Franks or even bigger like Big Apples.


I'm not concerned with any of the other bits....All I'm considering here is Massive tire clearance.

Any ideas?
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Old 12-13-10, 04:08 PM
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Uo-8.
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Old 12-13-10, 04:09 PM
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with 700x50's

i call shenanigans.
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Old 12-13-10, 04:19 PM
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I have 26x2.25s on my Schwinn Varsity. I doubt 700c tires that big would fit though. Unless you specifically need 700c, going down to 26" could open up more options.
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Old 12-13-10, 04:22 PM
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Even the brake calipers on my Trek 400T could accommodate 700x38 Continental CX tires. I don't think the chainstays could take 55s, but seatstays and fork likely could if you didn't mind going brakeless, or drum or coaster brake.

Maybe get a frame builder to hammer some dimples in the stays?

Edit: Thinking back on the Trek, you'd probably have to cut out the brake bridge and get a different fork to run 55s too.

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Old 12-13-10, 04:23 PM
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Yea I think most people that desire really fat tires go 650b.
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Old 12-13-10, 04:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Arrowana
I have 26x2.25s on my Schwinn Varsity. I doubt 700c tires that big would fit though. Unless you specifically need 700c, going down to 26" could open up more options.
This might be the way to go for really big tires. Here's a Varsity with 26x2.125 tires from JJPistols, and according to Arrowana you can go even bigger.

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Old 12-13-10, 04:36 PM
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I'm serious about the UO-8. I stuck a set of 630X35's on them (measured width), and had probably another 10mm to go before I'd get nervous. With 700's, you'd have more, but probably wouldn't be able to run fenders with 50's. 650's would work, but you'd have to go with drum brakes, as there isn't a brake long enough in the world to fit in the back.
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Old 12-13-10, 04:48 PM
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This question (well, the 26" version of it) is what led me to buy a Retrovelo. My friend has an old Shogun that can take 2.25s (I think).
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Old 12-13-10, 05:14 PM
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My Trek 510 has a ton of clearance, it had hybrid tires on it when I got it.
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Old 12-13-10, 05:16 PM
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How about a hybrid made for 700c wheels? I flipped a Raleigh C-30 or some such that had gobs of clearance.

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Old 12-13-10, 05:18 PM
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My Univega Activa Trail came with 38's, could probably run 42's with fenders if you wanted, and came with a 3X7 and cantis. That said, the Suntour cantis suck. Hard.
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Old 12-13-10, 05:54 PM
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Old Stumpjumper or Rockhopper...I have Fat Franks on mine...find an early one with a bi-plane fork (or buy a bi-plane fork)...

...just realized you said 700c...sorry...no idea. Something with cantis for sure...
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Old 12-13-10, 07:19 PM
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Early Schwinn Crosscuts have lugged frames, canti bosses, and lots of wheel clearance.
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Old 12-13-10, 08:28 PM
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Originally Posted by big chainring
Early Schwinn Crosscuts have lugged frames, canti bosses, and lots of wheel clearance.
38c is about the best you'll get on the front wheel on the Crosscut. Some areas have lots of clearance, others not nearly as much unfortunately. Learned this the hard way the first time I went through a sticky muddy patch. Tire-fork crown and the tire-chainstay clearances were the limiting factors.
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Old 12-13-10, 08:35 PM
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I've got GT hybrid frame (that I stripped the parts off for another project) sitting here that would take some pretty fat tires.
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Old 12-13-10, 09:19 PM
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I think you and Neal might be on to something with a hybrid.

I've got a Varsity with 26" x 2.35"s on there right now. Its fat, don't get me wrong, but I specifically want 700c because i'm picturing like a big fat road going 29er

someone posted this in another thread and it sorta got in my head ...now don't get me wrong... I don't expect to fit any 3.5" tires



Here's my Varsity with fat 26" , inspired by JJPistols' Varsity

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Old 12-13-10, 09:31 PM
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What are you thinking for brakes? The Pugs has disc, which you could put on the front of your build if you got a fork with disc tabs and big tire clearance. Front brake only? Drum in back perhaps?
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Old 12-13-10, 09:41 PM
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both Front and Rear Drum. It works flawlessly on my Varsity, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
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Old 12-13-10, 09:44 PM
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130mm rear width?
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Old 12-13-10, 09:55 PM
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doesn't matter, I'll make whatever fit. On that Varsity its a 130mm 7s Freehub with a drum brake. Its steel. I'll cram it
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Old 12-13-10, 10:00 PM
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Just thought I'd ask, as a hub that you can't build up any narrower than 135 would not be a good idea for 126 or narrower frames. 130's a good number, though.
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Old 12-13-10, 10:02 PM
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quite obviously this is what I really need
https://cgi.ebay.com/MINT-NEW-NOS-VIN...item255f5355a3
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Old 12-13-10, 10:03 PM
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Did some measurements and my Fuji Touring IV could probably take a 60+ rear, 55 front. Have to inflate tires after putting wheels in. Could switch fork with cross bike one for more clearance there. I've thought about turning it into a cross country bike (or just a spare set of knobby wheels)
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Old 12-13-10, 10:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Zaphod Beeblebrox
quite obviously this is what I really need
https://cgi.ebay.com/MINT-NEW-NOS-VIN...item255f5355a3
I used to salivate over those PDG bikes back in the day.
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