obrentharris 

Great news! I'll look at those.
Thanks,
Brent

obrentharris 

I've heard of those brakes but can't find the maximum opening width with pads for them. Everyone talks about reach. Nobody talks about tire width. If you get a chance to measure yours I would certainly appreciate it.

Brent

CO_Hoya 

As they sit in the box, at least 45mm. R556s by the way, not R559s.

Roger M

I'm facing the same dilemma. I bought a pair of Rocknroads recently, hoping to squeeze them into a Peugeot.



The only way I can see them working is without brakes, or going with no front and a rear kick brake hub.. The clearance is real tight all around.



I tried to fit them on a Miyata 1000 and that was a no go.

WNG

I would suggest an early to mid 90s hybrid. I know the 94 Schwinn Crosscut I had, came with 38mm and could take a 45mm tire.
A Trek 700 series I had flipped also had ample clearance. Plus, it is claimed the geometry was patterned after Trek's 80s touring bike.
Not all hybrids have a too long top tube.
The Trek 700 had an entry level quality frame with only the seat tube being Cro-Moly, and the rest hi-ten. The higher models up to 790 used Tru-Temper DB Cr-Mb.

I know where you're coming from, since I've got similar trails out here that wouldn't work with a 35mm tire. Rocky, unforgiving terrain. I'm doing another drop-bar hybrid to replace my Crosscut, and will be cramming a pair of Vee Rubber Flying Vees in 29x1.75". That's 45-47mm. They just clear on my Ross Signature Minotaur XC hybrid.

acoffin 

That clearance is less than I would feel comfortable with. If you really want to do it though, you could run Sturmey Archer drum brakes. they are a little pricey but pretty awesome.

acoffin 

Brent,

I just measured the chain stays on my three early 70's bikes and they all come around 44-45mm clearance. If you get one that has Weinmann 750's in the rear (or the equivalent Dia Compe) you most likely will not run into the brake bridge problem Roger has above. The three bikes I measured were a 73 Lygie (44mm), 72 Moto Grand Record (45), and a 74 Nishiki International (44). If by chance you want to run an IGH one could slide the axle all the way back in any of those drop outs and probably get to 47-48mm. I bet an early 70's Motobecane Grand Touring would fit the bill for you. Unfortunately I do not have one to measure.

AZORCH

My 1971 Raleigh International handled fenders and 700 x 38 tires. Without fenders, I have little doubt the 43's would fit.

oddjob2

My XO-5 with 38s. Just added fenders. I think the photo shows you can go wider. For a bike that would be ridden less than an hour at a time as a grocery getter, drop bars seem like a moot point.

sykerocker 

I'll suggest a Schwinn CrissCross. I'm running 700x35 street tyres on mine, with Planet Bike fenders, and I'm still looking at the width of my index finger at the first knuckle (13/16" or approximately 20mm) clearance on top and each side of the tyre. Rear clearance appears to be a bit more.

Glennfordx4

I have a early 80's Japanese built Bianchi Touring bike that I am building into a townie of sorts, I have had 700 x 38's on it which it looked like I could just fit a set of 40's in there, but of course there wouldn't be enough room for fenders & I am not sure about what if any brakes would work. I settled on 32's which I can fit fenders on and use a set of 600 dual pivot brakes with no problems. I have also toyed with the idea of adding canti/V brake braze on's so I can run a 40 or bigger tire on it, without fenders of course.

Only Pic right now with 32's,

bikemig 

Pretty bike. I was always impressed with how fat a tire a UO-8 (or 9 or 10) could take. It looks like this would be a good candidate for a 650b conversion though.

clubman 

I find old roadsters make great town bikes. Slow but they'll haul anything with a huge Wald basket up front. This puppy has 700 x 45 Conti top touring rubber with lots of room to spare. Although I don't think I've seen many bigger tires.

RaleighSport

Most Low-Mid end 70's road bike should fit the bill for what you're looking for. I run 38's on a 72 Centurion with tons of clearance left.

clasher

So I checked my miyata and it's running 700x38 with fenders and there seems to be enough room. I measured to the CS bridge and it's ~375mm. I think 43mm tires would fit on my miyata especially without fenders. I took a few pictures to show how much room there is with 38s and fenders. I also threw the front wheel in a miyata triple cross fork to show you what I've seen clearance-wise from most early hybrids. I think the rear might be a bit tight on this particular model but I forgot to get a picture. My miyata 1000 is a 1987 model and I think the clearance on earlier models will be a lot narrower. The triple cross is a 92 I think. The hybrids and touring bikes have all the braze-ons one could want too. I've also found the ride with my 38mm panaracers to be fantastic esp. on gravel.

BluesDaddy

Kenda K161

https://www.cyclocross.com/product/ke...FYNxOgodKisACg

My Peugeot UO-14 handles these tires in 37-630 (27X1-3/8) plus Velo Orange fluted aluminum fenders; the brakes are MAFAC Racers. With some long-reach Tektros and 700C wheels, you could probably go a little bigger. The horizontal spacing in the stays and fork crown is quite roomy.

likebike23

Not all 90's hybrids will take 43's. I have a univega activa and it maxes out at 38's. My Nashbar aluminum touring frame has tons of room, I'm running WTB pathways that measure 41mm with room to spare, I've even heard of people running 29er 2.0 tires on those frames. There is not room for fenders with tires that large though. My Miyata built 1983 Univega Gran Turismo would not be able to run those, and setting it up for 700c was problematic with the canti stud location. If you have to have lugged steel, what about the Singular Peregrine (disk only) frame? For a cheaper option, you could go for the Pake C'mute, it seems to have plenty of clearance from what I've read.

gomango

I was a complete idiot.

I sold my RnR for peanuts.

Here's another thought.

Try an older Stumpjumper. I have a BoB trailer that we use with my wife's for Farmers Market and grocery runs.

Works great.

Fat Franks fit, so the Bruce Gordons should as well.

It's worth a though I think.

acoffin 

I think some of us are ignoring the OP's specifics, myself included. He wants a vintage non mtb frame that will accommodate 700c and has canti brakes. I think an early 90's hybrid is the right track. If he is willing to run center pull brakes (and if they will work with tires that wide) then an early/mid 70's frame (possibly 60's as well) of some sort might work too.

gomango

Not ignoring, just giving options.

Roger M

Yep, drum brakes would be neat, but the clearance is tight enough that I would probably have rubbing issues.

I have a 73ish Grand Touring, and It never crossed my mind to try them on it. I'll give it a shot, but I doubt the Mafac Racers will reach a 700c wheel..

acoffin 

FWIW those old Stumpy's are extremely versatile and fun town bikes. I have a blue Sport just like yours that I purchased for my wife. It's the only bike that fits each of us comfortably.

obrentharris 

Thank you all! You've given me a lot of options and a lot of good useful information. I'm overwhelmed with your willingness to help me out!
Special thanks to Clasher, a coffin, and CO_Hoya for taking measurements for me.

I realize I'm probably being a little too insistent on drop bars. I know it seems a little strange that I want drop bars for a grocery getter but my nearest grocery store is 9 miles away, as is the nearest hardware store. The other grocery store I use is 12 miles away. The flattest route entails about 1,200 feet of climbing in a round trip. I have made the trip into town many times on my hardtail mountain bike and the flat bars weren't a big deterrent. if an old Stumpjumper comes my way before the right touring bike or hybrid I'll probably give the flat bars a try.

Brent

brockd15 

Just sent a PM. I have a frame that might fit the bill.

blackmarks

I have Dia Compe 750's on my conversion and they open enough for 650x38b Mitsuboshi Trimlines to fit through fully inflated. The Tektro 559's will as well. I think that Col de la Vie's are actually only about 36mm wide.