My Fausto Coppi tyre clearance photos

[retro rider]

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=j62bgz&s=6
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=velwti&s=6

Hopefully you guys can access these photos and see the problem.

It may just be the frame was made to suit 700x20c tyres. These are what were on my Beretto when I found it lying out on the footpath at a roadside clean up.

Anyway the Veloflex Pave's are doing a pretty good job.
Competed in very wet conditions on Sunday at Caloundra Triathlon and managed a win in my category, so was pleased with their wet weather performance.

[spirito]

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=j62bgz&s=6
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=velwti&s=6

Hopefully you guys can access these photos and see the problem.

It may just be the frame was made to suit 700x20c tyres. These are what were on my Beretto when I found it lying out on the footpath at a roadside clean up.

Anyway the Veloflex Pave's are doing a pretty good job.
Competed in very wet conditions on Sunday at Caloundra Triathlon and managed a win in my category, so was pleased with their wet weather performance.

Seeming that you mention Triathlon could it possibly have been a Tri specific bike that was perhaps built for 650c wheels? It doesn't make sense to build a production bike with such tight clearance unless it was for the track.

[familyguy]

Seeming that you mention Triathlon could it possibly have been a Tri specific bike that was perhaps built for 650c wheels? It doesn't make sense to build a production bike with such tight clearance unless it was for the track.

Would brake reach be an issue on 650's?

700c - 622mm dia
650A - 590mm dia (-32mm, 16mm longer brake reach required)
650B - 584mm dia (-38mm, 19mm longer brake reach required) <-- accepted/general tri size? Correct me if I'm wrong.
650C - 571mm dia (-51mm, probably out of the question)

What would the bottom bracket clearance be on a 650B wheel? The seat tube doesnt look vertical enough for a tri-specific frame.

Maybe it is just meant to be a fish-bum tight geometry??

Jim

[rustychisel]

Maybe it is just meant to be a fish-bum tight geometry??

Jim

I think so too. I was looking at the brake clearance etc to support this idea until the photo site went weirdo and tried selling me S*** I didn't want. I think the frame is built for 19c or 20c tyres and that's it.

Back in the day I had a 27in wheel frame which was so tight I could only use Wolber W20s. Luckily they were my fave tyres back then.

[toff]

Yeah. That's a tight frame.

Proper racing frames were built to run singles, not clnchers, and singles sit lower, so they won't rub.

Wonder if the frame might have been a TT frame, with a 650C front wheel. Slight upward slope of the top tube implies the geometry may be for TTs. Back wheel looks 700C, anyway.

As previously discussed, nothing a file won't be able to fix.

[rustguard]

hard to say, but the brake bridge does look a little close considering a smaller tyre. I really wouldn't have a clue. If you demande I bet money on iy I would go with 650c or

650B - 584mm dia (-38mm, 19mm longer brake reach required) <-- accepted/general tri size? Correct me if I'm wrong.

I didnt know that, learnt something new

[spirito]

Seeming that you mention Triathlon could it possibly have been a Tri specific bike that was perhaps built for 650c wheels? It doesn't make sense to build a production bike with such tight clearance unless it was for the track.

Would brake reach be an issue on 650's?

700c - 622mm dia
650A - 590mm dia (-32mm, 16mm longer brake reach required)
650B - 584mm dia (-38mm, 19mm longer brake reach required) <-- accepted/general tri size? Correct me if I'm wrong.
650C - 571mm dia (-51mm, probably out of the question)

What would the bottom bracket clearance be on a 650B wheel? The seat tube doesnt look vertical enough for a tri-specific frame.

Maybe it is just meant to be a fish-bum tight geometry??

Jim

nah ... 650b is the old rando/touring size and recently some rims and tyres have been introduced. I don't think I've seen any tyres for 650b that haven't been fat. I have 32c and most are even wider


Tri, time trial, and ladies sized used 650c.

I think others are right, it might just be a very tight geo frame. Silly imo

[familyguy]

I sit corrected. I think people use 650B as a descriptor of tri-wheels without knowing there exists a 650A and 650C. I didnt, until recently.

Jim

[Cinder]

Forget the bike, what the hell is going on with the wheels/ride height on the car in the right of the pic???

[hartleymartin]

650B is a demi-balloon size, usually between 35 and 42mm wide, however, I believe that there are narrower tyres for this wheel size.

[retro rider]

If it helps, the frame was made in 1992. I bought it October 2008 still unassembled in its original box.

The brake caliper clearances are normal so my thinking is the wheel diameter is correct and was made for 700C but I think it was just meant to have the low profile tyres such as the 20C's.

Like I said, I picked up a locally made Beretto racer from a road side cleanup which appears to be a mid to late eighties build and it was running 20C clincher tyres. Not a huge market in this size and the tyres that do exist all seem to be 'race only' which I guess equates to a high puncture risk for general training use. But like I said, the Pave's have been doing a pretty good job to date and I like the gum wall look as they make it look period correct.

Without wanting blow my own trumpet, makes me feel good to get a win in a triathlon and do it on my steel framed Fausto. I am sure I would be the only place getter not riding a current type carbon fibre bike. In saying that my bike is the weak link, so I will likely invest at least in a set of tri bars to help get some more speed. Ultimately I have been looking for a steel around for a steel TT frame and building it all period correct for competition. If anyone knows of something available please let me know.

[rustychisel]

I have an early 90s period correct 'funny bike' for TT or tri full and complete including early (first??) Scott bendy bars, and it's for sale. Photos tomorrow...

lemme know.

EDIT: this one, clean, good condition, original, never dropped etc



the browser cropped those bars in all their rampant glory!!!

[retro rider]

That's an awsome tri bike!