Bigger meat on the street - looking for frames for 35c+ tires
 

These roads are harsh and I need some fatter tires.

I know about the All City Nature bOy. What other frames are available for wider 700c tires? I want to maintain traditional road geometry. Disc front is awesome. Horizontal drop-outs/track ends for sure. 56cm. Steel preferred but I’m not stuck on it. I don’t need braze ons as this will be the fair weather commuter - 20 miles each way.

id like to keep the frame/fork under $1000 which I know opens a lot of options.

Ive been building bikes out of dumpsters for a decade and it’s time to spend some money.

There are a lot of options out there for wide tires if you're not stuck on 700C. 650B frames are generally built for 38mm tires or wider.

My FG, of course, is built from an old MTB using 26" wheels. I've wished that it had 700C wheels exactly zero times. :thumb:

Sounds like a Steamroller might fit the bill.

Nice. Didn’t know this existed.

I’ve got a couple of 26er fixed gears. That option is not off the table. What 26er frames are out there that have track ends? I have one that I had modified and my other has an ENO hub.

Yeah that’s a good one. Lots on CL here too.

Pretty sure I had 700x35 Kenda Kwest's on my Steamroller before which I think run a little big, so there's a good bit of clearance. But the All City Nature Boy Disc is a sexy bike, and the Kilo WT is an amazing value.

That, I don't know. I've always been content with semi-horizontal dropouts.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the "track" frames that allow up to 700x32C would also accept 650x38B, but it's hard to know in advance without confirmation from the manufacturer or someone else who has tried it.

I would suggest something like this, in Reynolds 531. Spend the rest on wheels, tires, and modern components.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...rse-socal.html

Look at all that clearance!

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d3612b7591.jpg

I have about a dozen frames and complete bikes, and my '76 Raleigh Competition is my fave. Very versatile. Easily clears 35's. You simply can't improve on a classic frame, IMO. The Brits had all this stuff figured out decades ago.

I've got 700x45 on the Mash SSCX - super cushy

https://i.imgur.com/i0XBWaL.jpg

Wabi, too.

My current wide tire fixie is a Voodoo Agwe. I used to have Surly Cross Check, IRO Rob Roy, Voodoo Wazoo, and On One Il Pompino that fit your requirements. Other options include Spot Rallye, Handsome Fredward, Murphy Himself, Bianchi San Jose, Salsa Casseroll, or Surly Straggler. I'm sure this list just scratches the surface. Note that many of these frames have forward-facing dropouts rather than rear-facing track ends.

They are hard to find, but I had a Bianchi San Jose that had AMAZING geometry. My only complaint was that it was a bit sluggish and not as snappy as other bikes I've ridden (I'm comparing them to track bikes though, so that's probably not a fair comparison). That sluggish geo felt just perfect offroad though. The thing would rock back and forth on such a nice perfect balnce point.
Actually I have another complaint, canti brakes. I am never going to ride a bike with canti's on purpose again. (Although i've heard mini v brakes are actually pretty good and fit in the same slots).
It was very versatile. I would put drops on it for daily commuting, and I put flat bars on it and took it to the single track. It felt right on all terrains.
It has a crossbar welded across the chainstays. I know this seems small, but i've actually snapped a frame at that point, and having a strong chainstay for a daily commuter is crucial.

You can get a complete bike for under $1k. Wheels will be crap, but you'll have a sugino XD crankset (accepts two chainrings).

I had a 41 in the front and a 37 in the back, and I could have probably put a 41 in the back if I really wanted too. It's practically a monstercross/mtb bike at that point.
Again, the geo for daily commuting was amazing. If you want really tight geo, then the kilo WT is essentially a kilo TT with more clearance.
The nature boy is purposefully built for cyclocross, so I'm not sure how it woudl feel on the road. The san jose has a more cx/gravel/road geo.

My Cinelli Mash Work frame is running 700x36c tires which plump out around 37 and probably could go wider especially if not too knobby on the sides. It is a cantilever braked bike which some people hate but when you set them up right and have good quality pads, cables and housing you are just fine. I can stop no problems on the bike. Though I do like the idea of discs and the plan was to go Nature Boy 853 but sadly they sold out before I could get my order in and at the time. However it worked out, I got a dynamo and a front rack and lights and they bike is awesome. Commutes great and is fun to hit some trails with and just is all around a blast to ride.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1ae9053836.jpg
I love my San Jose.It was an 80 dollar pawn shop rescue and it is so fun to ride.They might be hard to find now but Gitane City Link is supposed to be the same frame.The forks are rigged for a front disc and theres clearance for 45+ tires.
65 Gear inches and a combination of tires for where I want to go and its all about fun.

Bianchi seems to accept that they are the same frame ;)

https://www.bianchiusa.com/store/git...eed-black.html

and they are like 1/2 the price...


But seriously folks - Bianchi and Gitane are actually owned by the same company

Sick San Jose. Does the rake of that straight blade fork match the rake of the original?
I didn't want to ride mine fixed because of the geometry. I wanted to keep it as an SS gravel grinder.
Do you think the geo is a little sluggish for fixed, or do you like the lax geo?

Alos, it doesn't surprise me that they have a cheaper version of it. They are a mass manufacturer that mostly produces completes after all.

Now I know where to get a cheap san jose if I ever want one again!
I would definitely get another one, but I would want a disc front.

Changing the stock fork to this lighter, taller fork didn't noticably change the handling but it is lighter. As far as it being sluggish I gotta say no. It's not a track bike so it is nowhere quick handling as say my Langster but the S. J. is stable and handles great.