Vintage-ish Steel Bikes - Clearance for 700x28 Tires

[srenda]

Question for everybody,

I am looking for a used steel frame that has clearance for 700x28 tires. Thinking about trying to assemble a club racer on the cheap. I have most of the other parts. Fender mounts would be nice, but not really critical. I already own a Surly crosscheck which I race cross on and not really interested in going that route (surly pacer?). Would rather find an old Reynolds 531 or Columbus SL or TSX that fits the bill.

For example, a 1987 Trek 400 Elance seems to work, although I can rarely find one in my size. Anybody know of any other brands/models that might work. An old Colnago or De Rosa or Basso or Panasonic, etc.?

For what it's worth, I ride a 53.5 x 53.5, but willing to consider slightly bigger within reason.

Thanks,
Scott

[sean]

Why not do a 650b conversion.

You can get wide tires and the conversion will give you tons of clearance.

mid 80's Japanese bikes are perfect for this. Nishiki, Shogun, Miyata, etc. Treks are great too. I'm doing a trek 400 true temper as a 650b and using the long reach tektros, perfect fit.

Plus, you get a bit more speedy geometry than a traditional club racer.

[palincss]

As you can see on Peter Weigle's Flickr site, vintage Raleighs make splendid 650B conversions, too.

[weaponsgrade]

I have an 80s Trek 510 that was originally designed for 27" tires. I put some 700 wheels on, long reach brakes, and can fit a 28 w/ plenty of clearance.

[oliver1850]

I've run 32c knobbies on my Bob Jackson 531 frame, with NR calipers. It's a road racing frame, so no fender mounts, but there are plenty of Jacksons that had them.

[srenda]

Interesting, I hadn't thought of the older treks with the 27" wheels.

650B is a great idea, but my spare wheelset is 700...

[gregseto]

I've run 32's on my '85 Trek 660. I'd imagine the 400's fitment would be similar.

[dbh]

Raleigh Competition? Perhaps an International or Professional? They show up on ebay pretty regularly and should take 28mm tires. You may have to deal with converting from 27in wheels to 700c.

[Wilkinson4]

Most older steel bikes have clearance for 28. If you want more, look for old touring bikes like a Specialized Expedition, or maybe a Motobecane.

mIKE

[97CSI]

Mid-80's Paramount will handle 28s.

[Doug Fattic]

What you are looking for are frames made for 47 to 57mm brakes. Almost all the steel Treks (usually made before 1990) have more tire clearance as well as Japanese frames of the same vintage. Many of your older classic European racing frames were built for longer brake reach although they tended switch and use 39 to 49mm brakes about 10 years before Trek did.

[salem]

You might take a look over at Soma. I forget the model name (it may have changes recently as well), but they have a lugged Tange Prestige frame with what was once called "sport touring" geometry (medium length stays and slightly slacker angles) and is designed for long reach brakes.

As an old Trek 400 Elance owner, I can say it is a nice enough bike but I could run only 25c tires with fenders and also found the very small diameter rear stays quite laterally flexible, even under my 140 pounds. Also, that frame lost a lot of mystique for me one I learned the head tube and lugs are all one cast piece. Works fine and smart for production, just less craftsman like.

[zmudshark]

I'm running 35's on an 84 Schwinn Voyageur SP. One of the most under-rated bikes out there. I think I paid $35 for mine, before upgrades.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_yN4-Z85dhz0/TOVvBbQZ_SI/AAAAAAAAEoM/Xiw-e2qUYDE/s800/P1000481.JPG

[srenda]

Excellent, appreciate all the insight.

[thendenjeck]

i had a basso gap that fit 28's fine, but only raceblade fenders would fit. likewise with my casati victory.

[jvp]

If you can do without fenders, lots of nice older steel frames can run run 28s I think. My '80 Mclean will fit 32s w/o fenders and 28s with. My '78 Raleigh Pro will barely take 28s, but I have 23s on it now.

[Wilkinson4]

Please post a picture of your Mclean!!!

mIKE

[jvp]

here it is w/ 32s
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2116/151/1/1288713517/n1288713517_30039241_5178.jpg

Here it is w/ 28s and honjos
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs276.snc1/10332_1127609352285_1288713517_30307088_6188016_n. jpg

And here it is w/28s / no fenders / repainted (after I discovered rust bubbling under the top tube paint)
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs570.ash2/149225_1469176771257_1288713517_31027325_2279230_n .jpg

repaint by franklin Frames, highly recommended!

[Bob Ross]

mid 80's Japanese bikes are perfect for this. Nishiki, Shogun, Miyata, etc.

I've heard this repeated mantra-like so many times for so many years: the best value in a used road bike, especially for those who want fenders and/or wider tires, are Japanese steel bikes from the 1980s; specifically Nishiki, Shogun, Miyata, Bridgestone, Panasonic, & Fuji.

Those six brand names have come up so many times in so many threads on so many forums that I started to wonder if there was some hidden macro in Windows XP that would spew out that text stream with a simple alt-F command.

And as far as I can tell, it's true! I got a mint 1985 Bridgestone 600 for $279 on eBay 3 years ago, and I can't imagine ever getting rid of it. In addition to being the perfect foul weather/beater bike -- i.e., it easily takes full fenders, and I don't give a crap about pampering it -- it's actually a lot of fun to ride.

[Frankwurst]

What Bob just said. I have a Bridgestone RB-T with 32's and fenders and could probably go bigger. I also have a RB-1 that I think is heading to a 650b conversion. I'd be hard pressed to part with the RB-T. It's just to much fun. :beer:

[Bob Loblaw]

The RB-T is an excellent bike, very hard to find.

Way back a long time ago, I used to work at a shop that sold Bridgestone, and I was deeply smitten with the RB-T. A college student with no money or space, I had to stick to one bike, and I went with the RB-1 for racing. The RB-1 served me well for many seasons, but I still think about those sweet black RB-T's.

BL

[dd74]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_yN4-Z85dhz0/TOVvBbQZ_SI/AAAAAAAAEoM/Xiw-e2qUYDE/s800/P1000481.JPG

That's hot. Love the versatility. :beer:

How do those brakes work with a more race oriented wheel, like a Mavic Ksyrium SL, etc?

[fogrider]

I had a ritchey logic road frame that had lots of clearance...pretty sweet riding frame too.

[daylate$short]

My 1973 Nishiki International fits 32's just fine. I couldn't believe how much smoother the ride was either. Great commuter, and I will probably keep it forever.