I think there's a trend in the market that is driven by marketing, fashion, and the cycling industrial complex.

While I understand that all the magazines say you gotta have clearance for 50mm + tire cross section and fenders etc, ask yourselt - for riding that 'required" tires of that size, would you not want to use a mountain bike ? And the MTB world is going thru a similar evolution - huge 29" tires and full floater suspension with 8" or more of travel ?

Trying to backfit those new standards into old classic bike frames is challenging to say the least, and finding brakes that can fit around tires of that profile is hard, unless you want to get out the brazing torch and install canti bosses. And bikes with classic frame geometry may not be well suited to serious off road riding, altho the members of the "Rough stuff fellowship" did fine with classic bikes.

So I guess my point is, what? trying to backfit those new fat tires into classic touring bikes will be challenging and probably cost you more than 150 bucks :- ) That said, I found this real nice looking Miyata at Sellwood in Portland.

https://sellwoodcycle.com/collection...yata-three-ten

Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA