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The Un-hybrid

Old 12-26-12, 09:07 PM
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The Un-hybrid

Anyone that's tripped across any of my previous posts covering tires knows I like fat tires. So the daunting challenge of stuffing 2 inch tires into a some of the current 700c oriented hybrid frames has led me to the conclusion that it might be better to drop some 26" rims in there instead. Of course, with any disc brake equipped hybrid, this isn't an issue - but I finally asked myself last night: Am I just reviving the fully rigid mtb???
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Old 12-26-12, 09:23 PM
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I'm pretty sure my Globe Vienna (nee Specialized Sirrus base model) will take 40c, I dunno 50c.



but... I have the solution for you!

https://surlybikes.com/bikes/karate_monkey

29er rigid. will take about as fat a tire as you want to run (they say 2.55" knobbies, thats a 700x65mm).
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Old 12-26-12, 10:19 PM
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Originally Posted by pierce
I'm pretty sure my Globe Vienna (nee Specialized Sirrus base model) will take 40c, I dunno 50c.



but... I have the solution for you!

https://surlybikes.com/bikes/karate_monkey

29er rigid. will take about as fat a tire as you want to run (they say 2.55" knobbies, thats a 700x65mm).
Hi pierce! Looked at that karate monkey a few times and kinda like it!

Currently am running Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 700x50c on what used to be a 1993 Giant Protigy. You're right - most more recent hybrids won't take a tire that big. But my favorites are Maxxis Hookworms in a 26x 2.5 size and Geax Tattoos in a 26 x 2.3 size and even going to a 26" rim - doubt I can stuff those in any hybrid. That karate monkey might well be the ticket!
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Old 12-26-12, 10:33 PM
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You might also like the Marin Muirwoods - there is a 29er as well as 26er.
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Old 12-26-12, 10:40 PM
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also don't forget, rim brakes on a 700c bike won't work with 26" rims, there's about a 32mm difference in radius.
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Old 12-27-12, 04:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Burton
... but I finally asked myself last night: Am I just reviving the fully rigid mtb???
If you can go 26" it's still possible to be hybrid. My good friend did this to his 26" and it's freekin' hot.

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Old 12-27-12, 06:41 AM
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those 16 spoke wheels skeeer me.


whiel you're doing the fat tire thing, why not go all the way and get a surly pugsley? they come with like 26x3.8" tires, heh.
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Old 12-27-12, 07:57 AM
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Who are you calling a fat bastard????

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Old 12-27-12, 10:08 AM
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Originally Posted by giantcfr1
If you can go 26" it's still possible to be hybrid. My good friend did this to his 26" and it's freekin' hot.

LOL Yeah - that IS kinda cool!
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Old 12-27-12, 10:19 AM
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Originally Posted by pierce
those 16 spoke wheels skeeer me.


whiel you're doing the fat tire thing, why not go all the way and get a surly pugsley? they come with like 26x3.8" tires, heh.
I'm really tempted! There are'n any dealers here carrying those yet so it would have to be a special order.
It's actually the road conditions here that kinda started my love relationship with fat tires. Montreal has the dubious honor of being the only city in North America that uses temporary grade asphalt for .... everything. Do you think its related to the rampant corruption currently being exposed in the construction industry here?

In construction zones - fat tires rule!
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Old 12-27-12, 10:21 AM
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Originally Posted by giantcfr1
Who are you calling a fat bastard????

That would've made an AMAZING stocking stuffer! OK - keep me on your list for next year!
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Old 12-27-12, 12:38 PM
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Stop thinking of retrofitting a bike that you have into a bike you don't have.

Go buy a 29er bike.. you can get them in 1 speed , or the same off road features as a Mountain Bike.
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Old 12-27-12, 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
Stop thinking of retrofitting a bike that you have into a bike you don't have.

...... .
Hey!!! Where's the fun in that!!!

Besides .... we're in a recession - I need to ... stimulate the economy!

Last edited by Burton; 12-27-12 at 01:52 PM.
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Old 01-01-13, 09:10 PM
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Part of this build is going to result in putting the stock Deore RD in the parts bin.
Thing is - got hold of some now obsolete Shimano Hone hubs to do the wheel build and the rear is a solid axle. Not only can I use a Hone RD directly on that sans hanger - the lack of a QR will just be an added theft deterrent. In fact - I'll probably convert the front axle to a solid too.
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Old 01-01-13, 09:36 PM
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Funny - I just came in from the garage, having just mounted up my old MTB tires to my rigid mountain-bike-turned-into-a-hybrid-bike. Yes, fat tires on a hybrid just takes you back to the rigid MTB days, which is where I've arrived, too.

I'm coming off 26" x 1.25" slicks that allow 100 PSI and are really fast on a paved road or MUP. But I've crashed TWICE in the rain now. I need this bike to be my foul weather machine, so I'm back on the lower-pressure, 26" x 2" knobs. I know it will be slower, but maybe I won't fall down when it rains...
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Old 01-01-13, 10:06 PM
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Try 26x1.75 slicks or semi-slicks, and run the pressure towards the LOW side rather than the HIGH side. I ran tires like that for years for all weather commuting on my old stumpjumper.
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Old 01-01-13, 10:56 PM
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I'll be running either 26 x 2.3 Geax Tattoos or 26x2.0 Schwalbe Marathon Supremes - whichever fits. Both have excellent wet weather performance, are lightweight folding designs and are are easy to push because of the minimal tread design. Still looking for options to cap the front nuts though. Could just use plastic nut covers. Suggestions?
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Old 01-01-13, 11:23 PM
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axle nuts? how about chrome cap-nuts ?

then, there's stuff like...
https://www.chubbyscruisers.com/shop/...ve-cap-adapter


but, whats the purpose of these covers? purely cosmetic? I'm not remembering much exposed threads on the last bike I had with bolt-on wheels.


oddly, when I google 'bicycle axle nut covers', I find 100s and 100s of hits for Harley Davidson chrome bits, like skulls and such
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Old 01-02-13, 07:02 AM
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Originally Posted by pierce
Try 26x1.75 slicks or semi-slicks, and run the pressure towards the LOW side rather than the HIGH side. I ran tires like that for years for all weather commuting on my old stumpjumper.
Thanks. So you think it's the high pressure I'm running that's contributing to my falling off the thing in the wet?

[ASIDE: I'm confused by the whole thing. I have raced cars for years, and motorcycles before that, and have lots of track miles in wet and raining conditions. A racing slick grips great in the wet until you're going fast enough to aqua-plane. Tire tread's only function is water evacuation.

But my bicycle goes nowhere near fast enough to aqua-plane, so slicks should be the ticket on pavement, right? The rubber compound on my 1.25" slicks feels really grippy to the touch. However, with 95-100 PSI, the contact patch is so tiny, I'm wondering if I'm hitting a tiny spot of something on the pavement, something 1/4" wide, and that's enough to break traction and start the crash.]
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Old 01-02-13, 07:57 AM
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Originally Posted by BaseGuy
Thanks. So you think it's the high pressure I'm running that's contributing to my falling off the thing in the wet?

[ASIDE: I'm confused by the whole thing. I have raced cars for years, and motorcycles before that, and have lots of track miles in wet and raining conditions. A racing slick grips great in the wet until you're going fast enough to aqua-plane. Tire tread's only function is water evacuation.

But my bicycle goes nowhere near fast enough to aqua-plane, so slicks should be the ticket on pavement, right? The rubber compound on my 1.25" slicks feels really grippy to the touch. However, with 95-100 PSI, the contact patch is so tiny, I'm wondering if I'm hitting a tiny spot of something on the pavement, something 1/4" wide, and that's enough to break traction and start the crash.]
Best bet is a compound designed for maximum grip. Bicycles don't hydroplane, but still have to deal with other issues. (1) The initial period in a rainstorm is the most dangerous because all the oil and grease accumulated on cement or asphalt will float to the durface before being washed away. (2) Coeffecients of friction change when surfaces are wet - in particular metal objects like manhole covers, painted surfaces like traffic markings and organic objects like leaves and cardboard.

I'm running wide 700x50c Schwalbe Marathon Supremes and the compound they use is the same as in their racing tires - and its crazy sticky, even in the wet. The extra width of a wider footprint does help.
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Old 01-02-13, 08:02 AM
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Originally Posted by pierce
axle nuts? how about chrome cap-nuts ?

then, there's stuff like...
https://www.chubbyscruisers.com/shop/...ve-cap-adapter


but, whats the purpose of these covers? purely cosmetic? I'm not remembering much exposed threads on the last bike I had with bolt-on wheels.


oddly, when I google 'bicycle axle nut covers', I find 100s and 100s of hits for Harley Davidson chrome bits, like skulls and such
Thanks pierce! Those look really cool! Have to see if they have something in a 10mmx1 size!
Yeah - just cosmetic and mostly cause they'll be black like most of the rest of the bike. I have some from ebikes but thought there might be something more interesting. Most of the BMX stuff is anodized aluminum which is kinda soft. Origin 8 makes some black track nuts that might be OK.
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Old 01-07-13, 05:06 PM
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OK so settled on some front axle nuts. Since this whole hybrid exercise is largely going to be intended to get people to look at things a little differently, and just use conventional parts unconventionally - that about describes it.

So you'll need a 6mm hex key to remove the front wheel, which is going to have a solid axle. And just for fun - I'll buy lunch for anyone that can guess what I ended up ordering and why. Seriously!

Last edited by Burton; 01-07-13 at 05:11 PM.
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Old 01-08-13, 03:41 PM
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And just for fun - I'll buy lunch for anyone that can guess what I ended up ordering

talking tires?
I spent awhile researching wide tires for my hybrid. Ordered 2nd set of wheels. One for road and one for trail.
Road settle on 28mm slicks. Off road was hard not much selection for 29 X 2.0 or less size.
Finally decided to pull the trigger on 2.1 for the fronts.
Here is what's on order should be here on Friday.
Front / IRD Fire XC Pro (29 Inch) Black 2.1
Rear / Panaracer Fire Cross Tire 700 X 45

If the 2.1 doesn't fit right either trim the knobs or go with another fire Cross
new term for this: MonsterCross

Let's see what happens in another week
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Old 01-08-13, 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by njsteve
And just for fun - I'll buy lunch for anyone that can guess what I ended up ordering

talking tires?
I spent awhile researching wide tires for my hybrid. Ordered 2nd set of wheels. One for road and one for trail.
Road settle on 28mm slicks. Off road was hard not much selection for 29 X 2.0 or less size.
Finally decided to pull the trigger on 2.1 for the fronts.
Here is what's on order should be here on Friday.
Front / IRD Fire XC Pro (29 Inch) Black 2.1
Rear / Panaracer Fire Cross Tire 700 X 45

If the 2.1 doesn't fit right either trim the knobs or go with another fire Cross
new term for this: MonsterCross

Let's see what happens in another week
I was talking axle nuts, not tires, myself - but you've got my curiosity up. What kind of hybrid do you have that'll let you run tires that large? Most modern hybrids won't take much more than a 700 x 40 tire. I can squeeze a 700 x 50 into my 18 year old Giant - but they don't make 'em like that any more! What you have sounds more like a 29'er to me. So surprise me! Whacha got?
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Old 01-09-13, 06:44 AM
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Raleigh Misceo 2.0

https://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/life...misceo-2-0-13/

Called the Raleigh tech line was told I can get a 45mm in the rear. Measure the frame a few times and figure I could get a 2.0 in the front with no issue but not sure on 2.1. Researching MTB forums a lot of the bikes use larger in front than rear. Wanted something in the same brand but not a lot of options. Came close to ordering Vee Rubber in 1.95 and 1.75 for $28 each on E Bay but they sold out on 1.75s.
Read on one of the forums that a OP saw a bike at a local LBS withthe IRD and panaracer install and look sweet.
Ended up with a price match and free shipping from https://www.westernbikeworks.com/ for $ 85.00 for both. To good of a deal to pass up.
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