Uh, We Don't have Clearance, Clarence.

[spacemen3]

Well, it looks like I won't be running 23's. :) I don't think I've ever seen such a tight fork clearance on a road bike, a track bike maybe. The tire is not even fully inflated and it still rubs in front! Somewhere Grant Peterson is rolling his eyes at this build. ;)

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . of bike?

BBD

[Mark McM]

Are you sure that's a 700c fork? The lack of tire clearance, and the way the brake pads are pushed all the way to the top of the mounting slots in the calipers, makes me wonder if it is a 650b fork.

[laupsi]

like the color though

[spacemen3]

It's a Pavarin made for an Italian pro, "A. Jacomino". I don't know all that much about the brand or the rider, but the tubing is Columbus Altec2, and there are some interesting touches like the telescoped head and seat-tubes, an extruded wishbone seat-stay, and a cut-out style bottom-bracket. It was obviously ridden hard, and now I'm in the process of giving it a second life.

[Joe Remi]

Nice cranks! Bullseye or Cook Bros., I presume?

[Jaq]

What kind of tires are those?

[spacemen3]

The tires are Challenge Elite Nerone clinchers (700x23). The crankset is an old Topline mountain crankset with TA compact chainrings. I was planning to take this bike up a few hills.

[Puget Pounder]

What's the rear looking like? Are you positive this is not for 650C?

[thwart]

Seems like with that style of fork crown you could do a teeny bit of metalwork with a curved file and create a bit more room, without adverse effect on the structure of it.

Framebuilder input would be useful here, probably.

[spacemen3]

There are a few millimeters of clearance in the rear. I'll swap on a 650 wheelset this evening to confirm. My guess is that it was intended for skinny tubulars.

[redir]

Are you sure that's a 700c fork? The lack of tire clearance, and the way the brake pads are pushed all the way to the top of the mounting slots in the calipers, makes me wonder if it is a 650b fork.

Wouldn't it be just the opposite?

[ultraman6970]

are u sure thats not a 650 fork?? Even if it was a track fork there should be clearance for 22 or 23 mm... if you have a friend with tubular wheels, just try tubulars. I had track bikes made for clearance only for tubulars but pretty much that doesnt look like one at all. Maybe a 650 or something similar??

The good news is that you can file that fork w/o any problem. Just need a round one and start filing. You will get that fixed in like 30 mins or less if you know what are u doing :D

[Mark McM]

Wouldn't it be just the opposite?

700c rims have a 622 mm bead seat diameter, wheareas 650b rims have a 584 mm bead seat diameter. The 650b rims are 38 mm smaller in diameter, or 19 mm smaller in radius. So for the same fork, the 650b rims would position the brake pads 19 mm lower, and give room for tires 19 mm larger.

[Earl Gray]

That is crazy. Even with a slightly smaller tire you will have issues with even the smallest debris. It may cause a Color match issue but a new fork is in order.

[keevon]

I have some super-short reach Aero Gran Compe calipers that would be perfect for this bike ;)

[DRietz]

700c rims have a 622 mm bead seat diameter, wheareas 650b rims have a 584 mm bead seat diameter. The 650b rims are 38 mm smaller in diameter, or 19 mm smaller in radius. So for the same fork, the 650b rims would position the brake pads 19 mm lower, and give room for tires 19 mm larger.

Yeah, but it's a road bike made for a racer. My guess is that it would be 650c, not 650b.

[mister]

i imagine that's the way its designed
the tire could also be a little larger than 23mm

try a different tire in there, either way it's gonna be tight...and that's how some race bikes are built

i've seen track bikes with very little clearance with 22mm tubs, some builders used to build for 19mm tires...just the way it is sometimes.

[Fixed]

i imagine that's the way its designed
the tire could also be a little larger than 23mm

try a different tire in there, either way it's gonna be tight...and that's how some race bikes are built

i've seen track bikes with very little clearance with 22mm tubs, some builders used to build for 19mm tires...just the way it is sometimes.
+1
A long times ago 23 's were thought to be big tires
Cheers :)

[Bob Loblaw]

You're showing your age, Fixed. :beer:

I rode a single track horse trail once with a 19 in front and a 20 in the rear. Both slicks (Micheline Hi-Lite Comps, IIRC), and at a mere 90 psi too. Somehow I survived.

Ah youth.

BL

+1
A long times ago 23 's were thought to be big tires
Cheers :)

[spacemen3]

Thanks everyone for your input. I swapped on a wheel shod with a Bontrager Race X-Lite Pro (700x21) tire, and the clearance was fine. Apparently, Challenge Elites are larger than advertised. I also threw on a 650 wheel for fun. Now to finish the build and get the decals on. Cheers. :beer: