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Is there a category for a fat tired road bike?

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Is there a category for a fat tired road bike?

Old 07-17-19, 11:21 AM
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RockiesDad
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Is there a category for a fat tired road bike?

Thinking about a N+1 recently and was looking around for a used road bike since I find myself riding roads more often than not. I do however get off the pavement on to hard packed gravel about 10% of the time. Looking for a road bike with an endurance road geometry and was wondering if the industry is going in this direction since a lot of the newer bikes mention largest tire sizes that can fit. I like the quick accelerating and handling feeling of a road bike. Seen all the latest "gimmicks" being done to frames and stuff but not sure if they are just that, gimmicks that will disappear in the near future. I figure the tire size issue is the easiest way to get comfy off road.

Any thoughts and maybe suggestions for a used bike that can fit maybe up to 32mm tires? TIA..
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Old 07-17-19, 11:34 AM
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The short and dirty answer is you basically want a cyclocross bike. The geometry will be roughly that of a dedicated road bike, albeit with a slightly higher bottom bracket, but with fork and stays to clear (at least) a ~35mm tire.

The geometry difference between my CX framed bike and my full-on road bike comes in the form of half a degree more slack in the head and seattubes, a bottom bracket 1/4" higher, and chainstays 3/8" longer.
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Old 07-17-19, 12:35 PM
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That category is Endurance Road Bikes - most brands now have this segment broken off separately. Most of these bikes are designed around a 32-35mm max tire size and with lighter road-style frame/fork design than the current crop of gravel bikes.
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Old 07-17-19, 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by RockiesDad
Thinking about a N+1 recently and was looking around for a used road bike since I find myself riding roads more often than not. I do however get off the pavement on to hard packed gravel about 10% of the time. Looking for a road bike with an endurance road geometry and was wondering if the industry is going in this direction since a lot of the newer bikes mention largest tire sizes that can fit. I like the quick accelerating and handling feeling of a road bike. Seen all the latest "gimmicks" being done to frames and stuff but not sure if they are just that, gimmicks that will disappear in the near future. I figure the tire size issue is the easiest way to get comfy off road.

Any thoughts and maybe suggestions for a used bike that can fit maybe up to 32mm tires? TIA..
Loads of road bikes can fit 32mm tires. Before the narrow tire fad kicked in hard during the 1980s, it was typical for road bikes to clear 32s. And over the last few years, the road market has been trending back toward bigger clearances. Current "endurance" road bikes can nearly always fit at least that big, and some road bikes of other "styles" can as well.

Depending on the geometry particulars, tires sometimes won't get in the way until they're considerably larger than that, so there are some "allroad" or "gravel" bikes out there that can clear 40s or even bigger while maintaining road-like fit and a mostly-road-like lively handling and pedaling feel. Examples of this style would be bikes like the Open UP or Black Mountain Cycles Road+.
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Old 07-17-19, 01:06 PM
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Look for a GT Grade or a newer disc Cannondale Synapse.
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Old 07-17-19, 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by RockiesDad
Thinking about a N+1 recently and was looking around for a used road bike since I find myself riding roads more often than not. I do however get off the pavement on to hard packed gravel about 10% of the time. Looking for a road bike with an endurance road geometry and was wondering if the industry is going in this direction since a lot of the newer bikes mention largest tire sizes that can fit. I like the quick accelerating and handling feeling of a road bike. Seen all the latest "gimmicks" being done to frames and stuff but not sure if they are just that, gimmicks that will disappear in the near future. I figure the tire size issue is the easiest way to get comfy off road.

Any thoughts and maybe suggestions for a used bike that can fit maybe up to 32mm tires? TIA..
I was in the same predicament as you, about 10-15% of my ride if a packed gravel, if not a little more rough. Bought a used cyclocross bike. Threw on some 38mm tires on. Happy.
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Old 07-17-19, 03:33 PM
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Most of the big brand "endurance road bikes" will fit 700 x 32c tires with their disc brake versions.

For instance, the Cannondale Synapse fits 32c tires, and the Trek Domane disc fits 35c tires (it comes stock with 32's). I have even seen photos of a Domane with 38c Panaracer Gravel King slick tires, though I haven't seen it up close to see how bad the clearance was (I am skeptical).
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Old 07-17-19, 03:53 PM
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I have to confess that I do already have a CX bike. Its CF Redline Conquest that I like very much. Right now I am riding on 25mm tires and its not too bad. I was getting a little greedy wanting a more road geometry while still being somewhat comfortable. I need to take a test ride on some of these road bikes to see if I am missing something. Am I???


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Old 07-17-19, 04:03 PM
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The bike you have will work but also N+1. Both answers are correct.

I will never dissuade someone from N+1 and I only ask that you return the favor.
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Old 07-18-19, 09:54 AM
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I was tempted to buy that bike. A CX bike like that can handle a lot like a road bike with bigger tires - as opposed to a more conservative gravel bike which will be longer, lower, slacker and have you leaning over less (more stack).

Keep what ya got - just get an extra set of wheels!

N-1 bikes. N+2 wheels.
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Old 07-18-19, 09:55 AM
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Originally Posted by RockiesDad
I have to confess that I do already have a CX bike. Its CF Redline Conquest that I like very much. Right now I am riding on 25mm tires and its not too bad. I was getting a little greedy wanting a more road geometry while still being somewhat comfortable. I need to take a test ride on some of these road bikes to see if I am missing something. Am I???

I wouldn't say you're missing anything. Wider tires than 25mm would make a noticeable difference, depending on what you're trying to achieve. Some of the funnest rides I've had are mixed surface routes on my SuperX with 32mm Gatorskins.
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Old 07-21-19, 12:22 AM
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Fuji Sportif Disc. Mine will fit 35s no problem. I've run Knobbies on mine and taken it on singletrack with no issue. Mine wears 32c road tires most of the time and I swap on gravel tires for rough stuff. The second wheelset isn't a bad option either.
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Old 07-21-19, 03:16 AM
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Used road bike with endurance geo fitting a 35mm+:- Jamis Xenith Endura carbon.
Came out a few years back so used ones are around somewhere.
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