Roadini Tire & Fender Clearance

[Joe Stallano]

Hey all, first post for me! I'm the proud owner of both a Joe Appaloosa and a newly acquired Roadini. The Roadini is from 2022 or 2023 - it's the same year/color as this one: https://www.rivbike.com/blogs/customer-bikes/joeys-57cm-roadini?srsltid=AfmBOooQ9sMeIcdJzUu8sh_uO-tpY6uRrvHxuMlPMai5w_hxhyVL0v1X

I bought the Roadini used with a nice build kit, but I would like to make a few tweaks. The previous owner had a set of 38mm (measure closer to 35mm when mounted on Velocity A23 rims) Soma Shikoro tires on the bike, but I'd like to see if I can go a tad wider while also squeezing in some fenders. I know Rivendell is a bit conservative with it's tire clearance recommendations, so I am hoping to hear some real world examples of what y'all have done with a Roadini in terms of going "beyond" the prescribed 38mm tires with fenders recommendation.

Am I crazy to think I could fit a 40-42mm slick tire with Honjo 51mm fenders? 

Thanks,

Joe

[Dorothy C]

You don't say what size you have or what brakes, but I have a 50cm from that run and the tightest point for fender clearance on mine is at the chainstays. I have a button head hex bolt to secure the lower part of the rear fender and just clear Schwalbe little big ben tires (38mm) with SKS P45 fenders. I have Paul Racer brakes which clear the top of the fender better than the Tektro R559 and my fenders are fastened on with some Sheldon's fender nuts which allow for more adjustability vs affixing the front fender in front of the fork crown.

[Dan]

I agree with what Dorothy has said. 

I also have an Appaloosa-Roadini pair (great combo!) and run my Roadini with SKS P45 fenders. A pair of 38mm Barlow Pass Extralights on Velocity Quill rims measure out to about 41mm when setup tubeless. These juuuuuuust fit, with the tightest spot being the mounting hardware inside the fender at the seatstay bridge, which had to be filed down to fit. 

I second the recommendation of Paul Racers (or other centrepulls) to maximise fender clearance. 

[joest...@gmail.com]

Thanks for the input! These are all good considerations.

I did forget to mention that I currently have Tektro R559s on the Roadini and that it's a size 54.

[Piaw Na]

I have a 54 with the 559s and 38mm tires mounted. I don't typically use fenders (they're a bother off pavement) but with the Ass Savers WinWing they work great.