Converting vintage Bike to commuter bike

[JTM]

I'm considering turning a 30+ year old Bottecchia into a commuter by replacing
the tubular rims with something a little more tolerant of rough pavement. The
frame is fairly close built but I think with careful truing a 1.5-1.75 " tire
would clear the frame. I would like to use a standard wired tire but I'm
concerned that going to 26" x 1.75 might put the bottom bracket too close to the
ground and cause pedal/ground interference. Brakes are not an issue since I
think a multi-speed internal hub with roller brake would be the way to go.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Regards,

[David L. Johnson]

JTM wrote:
> I'm considering turning a 30+ year old Bottecchia into a commuter by replacing
> the tubular rims with something a little more tolerant of rough pavement. The
> frame is fairly close built but I think with careful truing a 1.5-1.75 " tire
> would clear the frame.

I did this with my Frejus, but maybe it has a bit more clearance. Heck,
once upon a time I put 27" wheels on it for my then girl-friend to ride;
since she would not ride tubulars. It now has 700c cross tires (avocet,
probably 28mm) and fenders.

I would like to use a standard wired tire but I'm
> concerned that going to 26" x 1.75 might put the bottom bracket too close to the
> ground and cause pedal/ground interference.

Standard wired tires? Why 26"? 700c are the same wheel diameter as
your tubulars. 26" would lower your bottom bracket significantly. Many
old Italian bikes had pretty low bottom brackets, anyway, so this would
be problematical.

Brakes are not an issue since I
> think a multi-speed internal hub with roller brake would be the way to go.
>
I don't. The internal hub, maybe, but if you do be sure that it is
secured. Mine kept counter-rotating, which messed up shifting, because
it had insufficient bracing.

It also had a roller brake. The only discernable bike-slowing braking
effect was due to its weight. Terrible brake.

My hub was a Shimano nexxus 7 speed, if that matters.

--

David L. Johnson

What is objectionable, and what is dangerous about extremists is not
that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant.
--Robert F. Kennedy

[JTM]

"David L. Johnson" <david.johnson@lehigh.edu> wrote in message
news:VLadnVV1jOYg1RfVnZ2dnUVZ_h3inZ2d@rcn.net...
> JTM wrote:
>> I'm considering turning a 30+ year old Bottecchia into a commuter by
>> replacing the tubular rims with something a little more tolerant of rough
>> pavement. The frame is fairly close built but I think with careful truing a
>> 1.5-1.75 " tire would clear the frame.
>
> I did this with my Frejus, but maybe it has a bit more clearance. Heck, once
> upon a time I put 27" wheels on it for my then girl-friend to ride; since she
> would not ride tubulars. It now has 700c cross tires (avocet, probably 28mm)
> and fenders.
>
> I would like to use a standard wired tire but I'm
>> concerned that going to 26" x 1.75 might put the bottom bracket too close to
>> the ground and cause pedal/ground interference.
>
> Standard wired tires? Why 26"? 700c are the same wheel diameter as your
> tubulars. 26" would lower your bottom bracket significantly. Many old
> Italian bikes had pretty low bottom brackets, anyway, so this would be
> problematical.
>
> Brakes are not an issue since I
>> think a multi-speed internal hub with roller brake would be the way to go.
>>
> I don't. The internal hub, maybe, but if you do be sure that it is secured.
> Mine kept counter-rotating, which messed up shifting, because it had
> insufficient bracing.
>
> It also had a roller brake. The only discernable bike-slowing braking effect
> was due to its weight. Terrible brake.
>
> My hub was a Shimano nexxus 7 speed, if that matters.
>
> --
>
> David L. Johnson
>
> What is objectionable, and what is dangerous about extremists is not
> that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant.
> --Robert F. Kennedy

Thanks for the response,

You're probably right about 700c being the best option, my only concern is ready
availability of the wider sizes in 700c (38mm or wider). I think there is
enough clearance for a 42 x 622, but I guess the real test is to build one up
and try it. I measure 1.9" width at ~14" from the axle.

Regards,

JTM

[Ryan Cousineau]

In article <ELKik.2$ZW1.0@en-nntp-01.dc1.easynews.com>, "JTM" <j@j.com>
wrote:

> "David L. Johnson" <david.johnson@lehigh.edu> wrote in message
> news:VLadnVV1jOYg1RfVnZ2dnUVZ_h3inZ2d@rcn.net...
> > JTM wrote:
> >> I'm considering turning a 30+ year old Bottecchia into a commuter by
> >> replacing the tubular rims with something a little more tolerant of rough
> >> pavement. The frame is fairly close built but I think with careful truing
> >> a
> >> 1.5-1.75 " tire would clear the frame.
> >
> > I did this with my Frejus, but maybe it has a bit more clearance. Heck,
> > once
> > upon a time I put 27" wheels on it for my then girl-friend to ride; since
> > she
> > would not ride tubulars. It now has 700c cross tires (avocet, probably
> > 28mm)
> > and fenders.
> >
> > I would like to use a standard wired tire but I'm
> >> concerned that going to 26" x 1.75 might put the bottom bracket too close
> >> to
> >> the ground and cause pedal/ground interference.
> >
> > Standard wired tires? Why 26"? 700c are the same wheel diameter as your
> > tubulars. 26" would lower your bottom bracket significantly. Many old
> > Italian bikes had pretty low bottom brackets, anyway, so this would be
> > problematical.
> >
> > Brakes are not an issue since I
> >> think a multi-speed internal hub with roller brake would be the way to go.
> >>
> > I don't. The internal hub, maybe, but if you do be sure that it is
> > secured.
> > Mine kept counter-rotating, which messed up shifting, because it had
> > insufficient bracing.
> >
> > It also had a roller brake. The only discernable bike-slowing braking
> > effect
> > was due to its weight. Terrible brake.
> >
> > My hub was a Shimano nexxus 7 speed, if that matters.

> Thanks for the response,
>
> You're probably right about 700c being the best option, my only concern is
> ready
> availability of the wider sizes in 700c (38mm or wider). I think there is
> enough clearance for a 42 x 622, but I guess the real test is to build one up
> and try it. I measure 1.9" width at ~14" from the axle.

Not sure what you're doing that your goal is a 42, but mail order does
tend to flatten the world:

http://www.schwalbetires.com/big_apple_338

A 60 mm 700c (ISO 60-622) semi-slick tire. Would actually be
considerably too big for your bike, and only fits easily on 29er rims.
Schwalbe is one of several makers that offer really oversize slick or
semi-slick tires, and 38-622 size tires are very common as fat touring
tires, with 42-622 not rare. Continental City Contact as one random
example.

--
Ryan Cousineau rcousine@gmail.com http://www.wiredcola.com/
"In other newsgroups, they killfile trolls."
"In rec.bicycles.racing, we coach them."