My all around road bike is a circa 2000 Airborne Zeppelin (Titanium), and I love it. Since the frame is older, there's plenty of clearance to run a wide range of tire widths. I had used up to 28mm without issue, and figured there was more space (width wise) to slap on some 35's. Nope. The width was okay but the tires bulged out too far when mounted on the wheels I had available (17mm internal rim width).
So, I figured I'd see if I could pick up some lower cost wide rims which might allow the tires to bulge less, and then they'd fit. I located a an affordable set ($200), mounted the 35's, and......they still couldn't fit.
For no good reason, I fell in love with the cheap new wheels (now fitted with the 35's), and I hatched a plan to build a bike around them. I figured I might be able to find something cheap (frame-wise) since this would be a rim brake bike. The search began, and I started building my list of parts/pieces to acquire to build around the wheels that I bought to try and make 35mm tires work on my Airborne.
Hours into this madness, it occurred to me that I can keep the new wheels and just mount the 28's on there (which would still be an improvement over the older wheelset), and then I can use these wheels on the bike I have. I will just have to set the 35mm tires aside for now. I need to let it go.
I know the true answer is n+1, but I'm putting two kids through college right now, and a new bike isn't in the cards.
The story above illustrates a certain type of cycling equipment vortex in which I found myself trapped, and I feel lucky to have recognized the situation before I ordered up all the parts.
So, I figured I'd see if I could pick up some lower cost wide rims which might allow the tires to bulge less, and then they'd fit. I located a an affordable set ($200), mounted the 35's, and......they still couldn't fit.
For no good reason, I fell in love with the cheap new wheels (now fitted with the 35's), and I hatched a plan to build a bike around them. I figured I might be able to find something cheap (frame-wise) since this would be a rim brake bike. The search began, and I started building my list of parts/pieces to acquire to build around the wheels that I bought to try and make 35mm tires work on my Airborne.
Hours into this madness, it occurred to me that I can keep the new wheels and just mount the 28's on there (which would still be an improvement over the older wheelset), and then I can use these wheels on the bike I have. I will just have to set the 35mm tires aside for now. I need to let it go.
I know the true answer is n+1, but I'm putting two kids through college right now, and a new bike isn't in the cards.
The story above illustrates a certain type of cycling equipment vortex in which I found myself trapped, and I feel lucky to have recognized the situation before I ordered up all the parts.