79 Raleigh Competition GS with 32 tires?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 124
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
79 Raleigh Competition GS with 32 tires?
Where I am located now, there are a lot of dirt and gravel roads, and I was thinking about trying some 700x32 tires on my competition GS. I think the front will be okay, but the back bottom frame is tight.
Anybody try this and if so which tire?
If it did not work, what did you have luck with?
I am looking for a tire with a decent road rolling resistance.
Like with a solid center tread.
Anybody try this and if so which tire?
If it did not work, what did you have luck with?
I am looking for a tire with a decent road rolling resistance.
Like with a solid center tread.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times
in
2,066 Posts
Have you taken out the adjustment screws and pushed the wheel all the way back? That should help. Also which year GS? Older road bikes tend to have better clearance than later ones. Assuming the bike has normal or standard reach (and not short reach) brakes, you can usually find a way to make a 32c tire work.
There are lots of good 32c tire choices out there. Panaracer gravel kings might be a good choice for you given your intended use.
There are lots of good 32c tire choices out there. Panaracer gravel kings might be a good choice for you given your intended use.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 2,742
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1136 Post(s)
Liked 649 Times
in
336 Posts
Regarding your desire for a gravel tire with a "solid" (smooth) center tread - I've tried a few if these types of tires, with small knobs on the side of the tread and a smooth center. I find that they are very buzzy on pavement, and more importantly are terrible at keeping traction while cornering, because the knobs don't support the tire well at an angle. Some examples are the WTB Byway and the Simworks Homage (based on an earlier Panaracer design). I would stick with a wide but smoother tread tire or one with small knobs all the way around.
The guys at Bicycle Quarterly mention this when talking about development of a knobby gravel tire: https://www.renehersecycles.com/the-...pose-knobbies/
The guys at Bicycle Quarterly mention this when talking about development of a knobby gravel tire: https://www.renehersecycles.com/the-...pose-knobbies/
#6
incazzare.
Yes, I had a '79 and was running 700x32 Panaracer Paselas on it. I had no issues. Mine had a sloping fork crown and many of them don't, so I don't know if that will affect you.
I miss that bike, it was a really excellent ride.
I miss that bike, it was a really excellent ride.
__________________
1964 JRJ (Bob Jackson), 1973 Wes Mason, 1974 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1986 Schwinn High Sierra, 2000ish Colian (Colin Laing), 2011 Dick Chafe, 2013 Velo Orange Pass Hunter
1964 JRJ (Bob Jackson), 1973 Wes Mason, 1974 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1986 Schwinn High Sierra, 2000ish Colian (Colin Laing), 2011 Dick Chafe, 2013 Velo Orange Pass Hunter
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,127
Mentioned: 480 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3788 Post(s)
Liked 6,573 Times
in
2,580 Posts
One of my first 650b conversions was a Competition GS. I was able to fit 38mm tires. It was an excellent rider.
#8
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,639
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4669 Post(s)
Liked 5,768 Times
in
2,272 Posts
70's Raleigh specs were notoriously loose, but tire clearance was "ample", but as you go from early to late 70's they tightened up. That said, 32's would almost certainly fit, especially if you're not running fenders.
Pictures of tire clearance around the bottom bracket and fork crown areas with current tires would be very helpful.
"One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions."
Admiral Grace Hopper
edit: "where I'm located now..." where are you located? Your gravel and dirt may be different than the gravel and dirt I ride on. Here in the PNW, forestry roads are ridden best without any real tread. Knobbies are only helpful when you're ridding in soft dirt.
Pictures of tire clearance around the bottom bracket and fork crown areas with current tires would be very helpful.
"One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions."
Admiral Grace Hopper
edit: "where I'm located now..." where are you located? Your gravel and dirt may be different than the gravel and dirt I ride on. Here in the PNW, forestry roads are ridden best without any real tread. Knobbies are only helpful when you're ridding in soft dirt.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,672
Bikes: 82 Medici, 2011 Richard Sachs, 2011 Milwaukee Road
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1924 Post(s)
Liked 1,954 Times
in
1,086 Posts
I have a 79 G.S. and had 28mm GP 400s mounted to Arayas and it was as tight as I would go on good roads. My rear wheel is forward in the drop outs. Now I have 25mm Gatorskins on H Plus Son TB14s and I think it is perfect. They measure 27 with my Crescent micrometer. Smooth set up and currently my planned EroicaCA ride.
A picture. But not the best.
A picture. But not the best.
__________________
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
#10
Iowa10Speed
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Iowa
Posts: 76
Bikes: 87 Schwinn Prologue, 85 Trek 720, 86 Panasonic Pro Touring, 75 Schwinn Voyageur II ("Voyareo"). projects: 98 Lemond Zurich, 81 Raleigh Competition GS, 50 Schwinn Superior
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Liked 34 Times
in
18 Posts
FWIW I just bought an '81. It has cheap 27" rims with 1-1/4 Pasela tires. They fit but probably couldn't go any wider.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,320
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3449 Post(s)
Liked 2,800 Times
in
1,974 Posts
test, don’t guess.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,404
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 863 Post(s)
Liked 2,225 Times
in
1,248 Posts
I have a 1977 Competition GS and was going to ride Eroica California this year on that bike . I have since changed my plans and will ride my Medici. I just got a set of 28’s for the Raleigh and am hoping they fit. I have 23’s on it now and it looks like the larger tires may be tight. I love the ride of my Raleigh and have put many happy miles on it even with skinny tires. I think the ride will be even better with 28’s. Joe. joesvintageroadbikes.wordpress
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,404
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 863 Post(s)
Liked 2,225 Times
in
1,248 Posts
I have seen some variations as well on the Competition GS. I think they may have changed the dropouts at some point which could affect what tire size you could run. Mine is a pretty tight frame and is the first year of the GS.
#15
Senior Member
My 1979 competition had 32s but they were tight with only a little bit of wiggle room. I ran it with 28s after that.
#16
Get off my lawn!
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: The Garden State
Posts: 6,253
Bikes: 1917 Loomis, 1923 Rudge, 1930 Hercules Renown, 1947 Mclean, 1948 JA Holland, 1955 Hetchins, 1957 Carlton Flyer, 1962 Raleigh Sport, 1978&81 Raleigh Gomp GS', 2010 Raliegh Clubman
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 93 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 98 Times
in
48 Posts
32's will fit, but you have to stay back in the dropouts. 28's fit much better and offer about the same ride. IMO I'd stay on pavement, the frame is too nice to trash