fuji86

Anyone consider converting their SS/FG to a SS/FG Gravel/Greenway trail bike ? Moved from Miami late March 2016. The 2010 Vilano SS/FG I have is ideal for that city/urban riding. New relocation is rural/beachy Fernandina Beach, FL. While the 700x25c tires work here with relative effectiveness, it's less than the ideal wheel setup even for rougher asphalt roads that more closely resemble a grinded up, repave construction project in a city. Facing the harsh reality that Egan's Creek greenway, amongst other sand & gravel roads in the area are too soft of a surface & trail for 25's. Not to mention the frame and fork too stiff to ride the bumpy paths that have tree roots as nature's speed bumps. The rear triangle is really the biggest issue, I think the rims & frame spacing would take 35-38C, 40c might be pushing the clearances of the rear triangle. The fork looks like it can take 42-50c ? But the Tech9 30mm deep V's rim walls are maybe 7/8" wide. Perhaps, different width tires front & rear would be an option. Knobbies are my thought on the ideal tread pattern. If you've done it, post a photo.

I was able to go thru the 1st half of the greenway with only a few times and stretches the tires started to cut into the soft trail.

IAmSam

Of course bigger tires at lower pressure will be your easiest solution...but be careful of putting too wide tires onto skinny rims. You will get a "light-bulb effect" that makes for tire roll-over and possibly pinch-flats too.

I don't figure that for a Vilano you are too worried about weight or want to spend very much - so Velomine's somewhat wider CR-18 wheelset along with biggest CX tires you can cram into your frame may be about the most cost-effective way you could turn your bike into a "SS/FG Gravel Racer."

Awhile back I had a Surly Steamroller that I used those wheels with cheap 40mm Kenda tires and rode fixed at our local MTB parks, even on singletrack - but not very fast

50voltphantom

My rig:


33mm tires on 23mm rims. Even going from 25 to 33 will make world of difference. The CR-18's that IAmSam linked to would be great for your purposes.

ThermionicScott 

I like going off-road with mine. ~40mm tires help.

fuji86

Nice bikes guys. I spec'ed out the Fuji Tread 1.0 LE, Rim width is 22 mm for Oval 327's and I figure if they went with the 35 mm tires that might be all it can handle ? But is it the rim width or the rear triangle that limits it to 35 mm, if that is the max size a 22 mm wide rim can take ? The Tec 9's I have are 22 mm wide rims & should work as well to 35 mm tires. Other gravel bikes I like are the Salsa Warbird 700x35c (Schwalbe Sammy Slick/smooth tire) and Salsa Vaya 700x41c (Surly Knard knobby). But no rim width dimensions for the Salsa's just that they are 700c WTB SX17's. But now that I look at the pics, they are using 19 mm wide CX rims on the front. I think I can use the 35-41 mm Schwalbe or Surly Knards on those Tec 9 rims.

Fuji Tread:
tires: Clement X'Plor 700 x 35c, 60tpi wheelset: Oval 327 rims, alloy disc hubs

https://salsacycles.com/bikes/warbird...arbird_tiagra1
https://www.wtb.com/products/frequency-cx

IAmSam

You need to be considering the inside dimensions of rims you are considering for big tires - not outside width.

Don't you see how wide ThermionicScott's rims are?

fuji86

My rim brakes might be a limiting factor too on tire size. I have to research those. A rule of thumb that I read on line, 1.4-2.0 times what the rim width is. 7/8 inch and the tire could be as wide as 1 3/4 inches 35 mm is 1 3/8 inch, 38 mm is 1 1/2 inch, 40 is just under 1 5/8 inch & 42 is just over 1 5/8 inch. My 25 mm is right at an inch width.

fuji86

And the rim brake kills the idea of 700x35c or larger with the Vilano frame. Disc brakes and then it's the rest of the frame that limits the possibilities. Better to just buy a gravel bike.

A simple guide on the essentials of wheels, rims and tyres ~ Better By Bicycle

Measured there is 27" diameter to the limitations of the rim brake caliper, 700x25c is 26.5 inch diameter. I have 1/2 inch to fit a larger/wider tire in there. 700x28 or 30 is possible, anything over that and it's going to rub, if it doesn't roll any at all. Oh well.