http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...us_al_xiii.htm

Note the specs on this bike as an example . . they have put a wider fork on the front for tire clearance and wa la you have a bike made for chip seal and rough city streets

As for me i went to 28's on the same bike (Corvus) but a different model year and different fork

On long rides of over 60 miles i use the touring bike with 35mm tires