dooodstevenn

wondering if a 48 frame can still use 700c wheels and X23c tires and still clear the frame, or would i have to go for 650c?

thegunner

caad9. i have one.

dooodstevenn

thats nice.

AnthonyG

Manufacturers make 48cm bikes with 700c wheels all the time. This is the most common combination available.

BUT,

the geometry of such a small frame would be better with 650c wheels. The 700c wheels DO get in the way of building the frame properly so they bodge it.

BUT, you want 700c wheels don't you? So, they make them with 700c wheels and you buy them. Thats how it works.

Anthony

Kai Winters

All my 48cm frames have used 700c wheels.

Soma Roark

I would say most 48cm frames will take 700 wheels (my trek is fitted with 28 tires) ... but I would say 650b setup can be pretty sweet too, stronger wheels, wider tires, etc.

thegunner

i was answering your question. the caad9 uses 700cc wheels.

halfspeed

It depends upon the frame.

midgetmaestro 

^ this.

Retro Grouch 

That's what I think too.

The issue is "toe clip overlap". If, when designing a small bike frame, you simply shrink the dimensions of a larger frame your toe will strike the front wheel on tight turns. Bike designers have a variety of solutions to this issue:

1. Use a longer than ideal top tube.
2. Steepen the seat tube angle.
3. Slacken the head tube angle.
4. Use smaller wheels.
5. Live with a little toe clip overlap.

If I owned a 48 cm frame and I didn't know the designer's plan, I would borrow a set of 700c wheels and test fit them onto the bike. If they fit and the bike rode OK, you're good-to-go.

midgetmaestro 

I own a 48cm frame and have a little bit of toe overlap, but it's not really that noticeable--

mike868y

My 49cm Tarmac uses 700c wheels. As midget said, a little overlap, but not bad.

If you want to race, 700c wheels are a must. If you flat, the chances of the wheel truck have a 650c wheel is practically zero.

Bluechip

Unless you put some in yourself! Then you would be pretty much assured of getting your own wheels.

dooodstevenn

i get some toe overlap on my fixed gear. pretty bad too since it's also pretty small. and i can say im pretty used to it, only worried about some of the hills i encounter, especially the down hills. dont want any toe overlap on that now

ptle

My girlfriend's got and old Centurion that's a 48cm. It's got 700cc wheels, and the toelap isn't bad.

desconhecido 

I have a 54cm Falcon from 1975 -- toe clip overlap.

a 2003 Bob Jackson touring 21" -- toe clip overlap.

a 52cm 1997 Cannondale -- toe clip overlap.

a 1987 Bianchi 52cm -- toe clip overlap.

I wear size 9 shoes and use toe clips, so you can be sure that I'm not riding on my heels.

It's interesting to show somebody, but unless you're doing track stands or something, it's just about impossible to turn the front wheel far enough to have the tire hit your foot while riding. Probably there are millions of bicycles on American roads every day that have toe clip overlap but I've never actually heard, except about 10 times removed, of anybody actually having a problem with it.

halfspeed

Whether or not the toe overlap is bad on a small frame with 700C wheels depends upon how they deal with the front end geometry problem. Cervelo, for example, considers toe overlap an acceptable compromise for a small 700C frame and thereby make their small frames with the same geometry as their large. Other manufacturers get around the problem by changing the angles and top tube length, which creates other problems. So, whether or not you have toe overlap is only half the question. The rest is how the bike handles and fits.