Roadini Clearance

[Dave Grossman]

Just curious if anyone has snuck a 38, like a Gravel King, in their Roadini? I was debating setting up a second wheel set for mine and having a roadie/gravel setup.

[Eamon Nordquist]

If it does fit, it’s likely to have the best clearance with a centerpull brake like the Dia Compe 610 or one of the Pauls. I have seen someone fit Compass/Rene Herse 38’s, but it was very tight. I know they fit 35’s without fenders, as does my similar brake reach ‘83 Trek. I suspect to some degree, it may come down to how little clearance you’re willing to accept, and how accurately sized gravel king 38’s are on your rims. The fork crown and rear brake bridge are probably where it will be tightest.

Eamon
Seattle

[Ed Carolipio]

A set of 38mm Panaracer Paselas on Velocity A23 rims cleared the frame but I had issues with standard caliper brakes on the front. Due to the geometries involved and how the brake mounting bolt goes through both caliper arms, the tire has clearance at the fork but hits the brake on the front caliper. I switched out to a set of Dia Compe 610s (as Eamon suggests) and fixed the problem. The Dia Compes have a very short mounting bolt which only goes through the "C" mount for the calipers, so there's a higher opening on the front part of the brake at the point where the caliper arms cross. 

--Ed C.

[Matt D]

Remember that Roadinis have wonderfully comfortable, flexible forks that make them pretty exceptional gravel bikes for what they are... but that also means that you may want to stick closer to the advertised clearance (28 with/35 without fenders, remember) if you're heavy enough to really put that fork flex to use. I'd be a little nervous running 38s on my Roadini, personally, but I don't know how much all that movement I see at the fork tips translates to movement at the fork crown.

[Joe Bernard]

This is a perfect example of why this model didn't sell well. We're Riv Riders, we ALWAYS want more tire clearance!

[Jeff B]

That's pretty spot on Joe, we're always trying to go bigger. I was just talking to Will @ Riv the other day about that and if someone did want to go larger an A. Homer Hilsen would be the ticket. The Roadini has so many other good qualities though & I wish that more club rider people could accept it as a legitimate road bike (which could also handle some less than ideal roads so they do not need to own a cross/gravel bike). It would make their lives so much easier without creaking BB's and attempting to put steer tube extenders on carbon forks. I agree with the fork flex that Matt talks about. Mine (which I believe I bought from you Joe, thanks!) has taken me all over the southern Sacramento & Davis delta/ levee gravel roads & it performs beautifully with 32 GravelKings (tubeless). I previously used Specialized Triggers in a 33 (tubeless) and they were great too. I will be trying 35's when the currents wear out but it gets me through some awesome stuff as is. It is true too that a center pull does free up some space for larger tires. I used Mafac Racers for a while & they certainly had more room than the Shimano's meant to be on the bike. 

[Joe Bernard]

Oh right, there's my Roadini! Awesome bike, I'm glad you're getting so much use out of it.

[tc]

Hey Dave,

What rim will you be using?  And on that rim, at the pressure you expect to ride, any idea of the width/height of the Gravel King?

I have a 61 Roadini, running Bon Jon Pass EL tires with tubes at 42ish lbs on A23 rims (18mm internal), with Paul Racer Medium center pulls.  There is technically, barely, enough width left to run a true 38, but no safe room height-wise ... esp. if you will be running it where you'll encounter rocks sticks and mud.  Add frame flex to the equation and that seals the 'unsafe' deal in my mind.  Someone on the list ran the larger regular Paul Racers (not the Mediums like I have) on their Roadini, but not sure of their rim/tire combo, and what their experience was.

FWIW, the Bon Jon's are fantastic tires, and I believe a quick Google search will turn up some reviews, including CX usage.

Tom

[Austin B.]

Agree with the others--fitting a 38 will largely be dependent on 1) the brake clearance and 2) actual size of the mounted tire.

Realistically, there isn't THAT much difference between a 35 and a 38 and if you need more tire than that, you're probably at or exceeding the limits of what the frame should be doing.

My wife has 35 Compass Bon Jon's on her Roadini--they do it all, road & occasional gravel.

Austin

[tc]

It was Bill, in Westchester NY, who ran 38mm Barlow Pass tires on A23 rims:  https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/ok0QSEfKek4/1hMw_M5PCgAJ

You might wanna chat with him to see if he'd recommend 38's or not.  Very tight clearances, as you can see in his great pic's.

Tom

[Dave Grossman]

Thanks everyone.  I am running Tektro 539s and some Mavic CXP33 rims.  They are my bling wheels with CK hubs.  I'm currently running some Schwalbe Ones in a 28 for my roadie setup.

I'm fine without running a 38, and I agree, it makes little sense to put it to the limit especially with muck buildup.  I always like to test the tire limits of my bikes, as we tinkerers do.  I used to race Gravel on a 32 or a 35 with a Cross bike or my old Salsa Casseroll before all of the "gravel bikes', so a 35 would be fine for a bunch of stuff anyhow.

I also agree about the Roadini being a "real" road bike and club racers should embrace it.  My giant headtube accounts for me being comfortable and being able to mash with the best of them.  There is no reason to sacrifice your back, neck, and wrists unless you are a competitive rider and live in that paradigm.  And it isn't crabon light, but its light enough, and it rips.  Long live Riv!

[Eamon Nordquist]

My ‘83 Trek is theoretically the same brake reach as a Roadini, and I ran Tektro 539’s for a while. 35mm Paselas on CR18 rims were very tight for me without those brakes. Closer than I was comfortable with, while the original single pivot Dia Compes fit no problem, and probably could have taken a 37 or 38. I like the 539’s as brakes, but they do encroach on tire/fender clearance more than a lot of other brakes.

Eamon
Seattle

[Dylan C]

As a data point, I’m currently running H+Son TB14s, Compass Barlows (38s), and Paul Racers on my Roadini. My front caliper acts as a tire wiper when climbing out of the saddle on a wet, gritty road. The noise makes me wish I had bought “Bon Jons” instead...

The front wheel is also a squeeze to mount, but running tubeless makes this less of an issue.

[Dave Grossman]

I'm going to run my Schwalbe Ones in a 28 and a second set with a 32 file tread.  This way I can get some grip and clearance if I need it.  Thanks for all of your feedback and for saving me the tinkering time, which I have far too little of these days.