You must have better roads than we do north of you. I have fenders on mine, just to protect my face from all the gravel and broken glass. :eek:

The roads here aren't the best. Too many potholes and cracks. Let's not forget about those Google buses blocking the bike lanes and part of the street during commute time. :cry: The Google bus drivers just parked on 1 lane street for hours right next to "no parking anytime" sign.

updated
 

Updated my Soma ES Smoothie with front and rear racks, Arkel tailrider trunk bag, and MKS Lambda pedals.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4373/...73fced0c_k.jpgSoma smoothie es by Bryan Bracy, on Flickr

Where is the gas tank for the rocket fuel? :eek:

That bike looks fast!

Seriously it looks like it was hard to keep it still for the photo.

The North Korean is making the carbon fiber rocket for it. Can't wait for delivery.

Well obviously they're special. :mad:

Shoulder season (no headlight)

I have an old Taiwanese Schwinn Collegiate that I've been thinking about giving a similar wheel treatment - how wide a tire were you able to fit? I guess technically it would be limited by height, not width, due to the fenders. I think I figured I'd be able to use a 28mm max - I am guessing your Herc was originally outfitted with 590mm wheels/tires (650a), like my Schwinn.


Love all your bikes.

That's cold.

This bike makes me smile.

I have two sets of wheels for my FG commuter, and one of them is this pair you have. They're pretty narrow though - I put some 37mm Randonneurs on them and they felt way too squirmy. Weinmann recommends 23mm max. Anyway, I put some 28s on and they're fine, and my 37s on my wider rims.

https://i.imgur.com/euwA5J8.png

It's where I chill :)

Thanks! Right now the Hercules uses 25 mm tires, but there's room for 28's max. I was determined to keep the original fenders on the Hercules because I love the appearance but I've heard of people being able to run 32's under modern plastic fenders on a Sports frame like mine.
And to be honest, I'm not completely sure about your bike but I think 700x28c should be safe, while 32c "might" fit. You are correct that it height would be more of an issue than width. Just basing this off photos I have of an '83 giant-made Collegiate that I did a few years ago (it kept is original wheels).

I do have a couple samples that might help ...?

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5zAFkr2l0...0/DSC_4706.JPG

My '72 Speedster, chicago-made, that originally came with the 597 mm rims. I was able to stuff 700x35 tires under the original fenders (ok, the front is a ridged one from a '63 but that furthers my point) with minimal massaging.

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQvshUr8U...0/DSC_6521.JPG

And then here's an '81 World Tourist, Taiwan made, that I built for a friend 700x37 tires with room to spare but it actually came with 27" wheels originally so that might not be a good thing to judge against.

Anyway, hope this helps, and good luck!

Thanks!! And you have the same idea that I have. I was considering building up another beater road bike as a fixed gear with this wheelset, with thoughts of being able to swap wheels between the two bikes at my leisure. Right now I'm running 25 mm tires but once these wear out I will be using 28's. That's the absolute tallest that the stock Raleigh fenders will accommodate.

Nice rides!

This is great - thank you! You know, for whatever reason(s), it just never occurred to me that I could put 700c on my Collegiate until I took some measurements and got out my calculator the other day. The factory steelies and Shimano 3cc hub are detestable, but I like the frame, the fenders, and the chainguard. I use it for my not-so-fair weather bike, and my commute is 12 mi each way. The drivetrain makes it a real burden, so it's pretty encouraging to think that a single speed setup with skinnier tires is possible. I found some $69 SS/FG wheelsets online, I may give it a shot.

Thanks again, hope you have a pleasant day.

Right, I got the second set after I had broken my third spoke on the first set. Decided to rebuild both wheels rather than just replace a spoke, but the LBS didn't have the right size spokes in stock, and I started looking at all the wheels hanging from the ceiling and those Weinmanns were perfect. The 37s don't fit under my fenders either though, so in the winter, both sets of wheels have 28s on them. Anyway, always a backup set so I never have an excuse to miss a bike commute.

Obligatory photo:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ub...N=w713-h950-no

I usually use my 1975 Dawes for commuting, it's comfy and easy to ride, also seems to get me to work faster than everyone else!

Waiting for somebody with a gate key to arrive...
https://s5.postimg.org/m83g1otdj/DSC_3173.jpg

Nice! The Soma ES is my all time favorite frame.

[MENTION=10510]chuckfox[/MENTION] - The front fender extension on your blue commuter is the perfect answer to the question that begins "Mmm, what can I do about...?"

I would love to ride my bike to work, but it wouldn't be wise. My commute is 16 miles one way at 5 am on busy suburban roads.

suburban roads are probably better than urban roads. I commute on suburban arteries (2+ lanes in each direction, 45mph speed limit, but practically speeds of up to 60), but they are straight, wide, well-maintained and with clearly marked bike lanes.

I ride my bike 15 miles one-way to work, between 5 and 6 AM, on a mix of suburban arterials and 2-lane rural roads. Have done it 3 consecutive days so far this week, and I may just do it 4 days this week if I ride tomorrow.

I much prefer the arterials with multiple lanes so that motorists can pass easily. And at 5 AM there's almost NO ONE out on the roads, much less than even at 6 AM. Are your roads really that busy at 5 AM?

5AM traffic
 

I live near Atlanta. Traffic is non-stop. At 5 AM, the challenges for cyclists on main roads are semi(s), work trucks, and landscaping trailers. I have been thinking that just biking the last 5 -6 miles to work might be an option. There is a grocery store at a good spot where I could park my car. Now I need to solve the problem of arriving at work sweating like a pig.

My new commuter. It is probably a bit much for the 8 mile each way commute in Phoenix, do I really need fenders and a pizza delivery rack up front?
I've always been interested in bikepacking so maybe this will inspire me to take a multi-day ride somewhere.

Nice... and I always say as a motorcyclist myself too... I'd rather have more storage than I need on a bike instead of not enough.

Gotta ask.. as a former desert rat myself from the Phoenix area, I give props to anyone committed to commuting on a push bike in the summertime in middle to southern AZ :)

My hottest commute home from work was 117 degrees, that was a bit much. Now I'm a bit more fair weather rider and limit myself to around 113 for the high.

I remember those days... when it's triple digits for the overnight low in mid/late summer before the monsoons. lol.

love that.. fair weather rider dropped it 4 degrees.... that's livin' on the edge. lol

Wow - I have spent some time working in Southern CA and would not have been able to ride in that midday heat! I used to take a long midday break and go for a swim in the hotel pool .. then work back to 7pm and then go out for dinner.

In the UK we are now in the fall / Autumn and that means low 50s or lower now. This week I rode to work on my Mezzo D9 and used a high visibility warm coat just like this ...great for visibility and kept the chill off! (No SALE sticker on mine! :lol:)

https://www.hivis.co.uk/images/thumb.../gerrainty.jpg

here my bikes
the green gazelle i use to commute and an old cervinia

Updated... Always love how my commuting machine looks with fresh tires