Clearance Clarence

[LegendRider]

I was surprised at the tight clearance my new Time VXRS has with Conti GP4000s 23mm clinchers on Hed Belgium rims. I presume the short chainstays (402mm) are the primary cause, but the wheel/tire combination seems considerably “taller” than comparable tubulars also. Is it anything to worry about?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8260/8806914746_f0468c068f_c.jpg

[fatallightning]

plenty of room, I'd be more concerned with side to side clearance on the seat and chain stays. That's the plane wheels flex in. If that's ok, you're good to go.

[christian]

Thank God for braze-on derailleurs!

[LegendRider]

Thank God for braze-on derailleurs!

Funny you mention that - notice the spacers the mechanic had to use to move the bottle cages away from the front derailleur hanger.

[vqdriver]

Thank God for braze-on derailleurs!

yes, but it's a necessity on these time frames and their particular tube shaping. there's no way to get a round clamp on there. mine has a rivet-esque deal

fwiw, my vx edge has 40.3 chainstays and i can fit 25s on a23 rims in there just fine, even with wheel deflection at the stays. i hit the brake bridge with a 28 tho... not sure why the 23 looks so tight on yours. do contis run "tall"?

[christian]

2) It was a joke.
1) He'd have less clearance with a clamp.
7) I have no problem with braze-ons; all my bikes except my cx bike have braze-ons.

[rice rocket]

Get closer, better aero!

(not my photos, but I have the same frame):

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc233/dockhoa/IMG_1312.jpg

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc233/dockhoa/IMG_1316.jpg


It's never rubbed.

[henrypretz]

..... will I be the first to ask .... "what's your vector, Victor?"

[dnades]

I found the clearances tighter on the inside of the monostay as well as the upper part of the fork. I would cringe going over gravel on a hot summer day on my VXS. Awesome bike though.

[Lovetoclimb]

I would avoid gravel on that setup. A few small rocks wedged in there will put some choice marks in your nice carbon finish! Seen it happen on a Colnago and a Ritte with similar tight clearances.

[FlashUNC]

Interesting. My 58cm VXR has room for 27s on Hed Belgium rims.

Even fits 25mm Conti Comp tubulars with plenty o' room.

[JAGI410]

I would invest in a strip of helicopter tape or similar frame protection tape for the seat tube. A couple pieces of chip seal rock will shred that pretty finish.

[67-59]

Roger, Roger.

[Stan Lee]

What's your vector Victor?

[CNY rider]

Don't call me Shirley.

[cnighbor1]

has some small rocks could carry around to that tight clearance area I would apply some clear tape to protect seat tube just in case

[Ardan MacNessa]

I was surprised at the tight clearance my new Time VXRS has with Conti GP4000s 23mm clinchers on Hed Belgium rims. I presume the short chainstays (402mm) are the primary cause, but the wheel/tire combination seems considerably “taller” than comparable tubulars also. Is it anything to worry about?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8260/8806914746_f0468c068f_c.jpg
Here's some shots of 700 x 25mm tires that I mic'd up with digital calipers. Side note, I used a certified measuring block to calibrate the calipers prior to these photos.

I would presume your Continental GP4000s 700 x 23mm are actually 24.3mm in real world measurement. They run bigger than stamped on the sidewalls. My own 700 x 25mm Continentals were 26.11, where as the Bontrager Race Lites 700 x 25mm came up really short as 23.07.

All tire manufactures seem to have inconsistencies in sizing.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff207/Medcorp/RBR/4ef93a21-b350-476d-8d88-e7c9894b81eb_zps7e79139b.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff207/Medcorp/RBR/82987845-d86e-454f-afb0-e876edc77a4f_zps840f83d7.jpg

[tv_vt]

You wanna see some sick clearance issues - check out the Cervelo S5. Forget any dirt road rides on that sucker. ("... extended seat tube cutout" http://www.cervelo.com/en/bikes/s-series.html )

40.2cm is really short for chainstays, too. My Look 585 has 40.5 and that's plenty short for me. What that little bit of geo info doesn't tell you is the shape of the seat tube and how that can affect tire clearance up from the chainstay. See S5...