Chainstay clearance ... how much do I need?

[henrypretz]

I am the fresh prince of simpleton questions here on the Paceline. It's just that I'm a somewhat new cyclist who appreciates the knowledge and the willingness to share it in a civil manner that I have found here. That said ....

I mounted a new tire on the rear of my CIII. Had been running a 700x25 and replaced with 700x27. I can fit a 2mm hex wrench, but not a 2.5mm, in between the chainstay and the widest part of sidewall. Running 32 spoke DT 1.1 rims, if it makes a difference to know.
Is this enough clearance? I rode this morning flat and easy with no issues. Am I going to run into enough flex when climbing (or "cough" sprinting:rolleyes:) to cause problems?

Thanks
Henry

[Peter B]

It'll be fine unless you break a spoke or wheel goes much out of true.

[carpediemracing]

That sounds a bit tight. My frame has some paint rubbed off due to slightly out of true wheels. Personally if a wheel is out of true by 2 mm I'm not touching it - 4 or 5 mm is about my threshold.

To check you can push down on the pedal with the front brake on. You may see the wheel flex a bit relative to the frame. Stiff rims flex up at the brakes, flexible rims don't flex much at all up top (they flex below the hub).

[false_Aest]

sounds like this is a perfect time to cough sprint and see.

[ultraman6970]

If you want to put tires that wide isn't better just get a frame that was built for that???

You don't want to have problems with lose spokes in the middle of nowhere, even a flat would make the tire to scratch the stays big time.

Good luck.