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Old 03-10-12 | 04:46 AM
  #4  
MichaelW
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 12,948
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From: England
You need a bike with more tyre clearance than a typical road-race which uses 39mm drop, standard calipers.
You can pick a frame setup for long drop (57mm) calipers which has clearance for 28-32mm tyres + fenders. Soma ES is typical of this breed. They usually have fender eyelets front/rear and rack eyelets rear (sometimes sharing lower eyelet) but are not setup for front panniers.
Cyclo cross bikes use cantilever brakes for more generous clearance, usually up to 38mm. The entry level models have practical features such as fender and waterbottle eyelets. Some have rack eyelets. (race CX bikes lack any elelets). Some cx bikes have disc brakes.

I prefer caliper to cantilever brakes. They have better bite and control and are easier to setup. Disc brakes are good for all weather riding. Some bikes have mini V brakes ut they sometimes interfere with rack mounting or fenders.

My fav style for a practical roadbike is the Soma ES style.
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