Here's my problem. This super-wide HED Belgium Plus rim is 25mm wide and when paired with a Fortezza Tricomp 25c tire is measures 28.2mm wide. I am guessing the Tricomp is a wide tire in general. Feels great to ride but just does not fit the Cannondale EVO frame. It rubs on both sides when it flexes under climbing or on the trainer.
This is actually wider than my old commuter 28c Ruffy-Tuffys on old rims.
This is actually wider than my old commuter 28c Ruffy-Tuffys on old rims.
This is my front wheel setup - it came with the bike. Schwalbe Ultremo tubeless on Ultegra WH-6700 wheel. I think the rim is 20.8mm wide - not the modern wide (23mm) but not super narrow (19.8mm) either. The tire is spot on it's size at 23mm. It actually lines up well with the rim too. Prolly pretty good aero properties.
So in order to get narrower in the back to fit the frame without rubbing I took the other Schwalbe 23c tire and put in on the wide 25mm rim. It measures like a fat 25c! Perfect! And its nicely lined up with the braking surface for good aero.
Clearance is perfect to the frame. I guess When they say a frame can take 25c tires it means that it can take them on regular or regular-wide rims. The combination of the wide Tricomp and the super wide rim was too much.
Clearance is perfect to the frame. I guess When they say a frame can take 25c tires it means that it can take them on regular or regular-wide rims. The combination of the wide Tricomp and the super wide rim was too much.
Anyways, I am pretty happy with this new setup. I won't have to keep checking the piece of tape I put on the frame for wear. I've got the max tire width. It's a good profile and I can run front and back tubeless (although I have a tube in the back for now). Also there are many more options in 23c - important for tubeless. I also run asymmetric tire pressures (since there's more weight on the back so having a narrower tire on the front is fine - it's at lower pressure anyways - plus it's tubeless so less likely to pinch-flat.
I also found this page which a strangely familiar set of calipers. Basically coming to the same conclusion:
http://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/gear/category/components/wheel-sets/product/review-hed-ardennes-plus-sl-47670/
I also was watching a video on Sagans bike for the classics. He switches to the Carbon Synapse as it will easily accommodate 25 and 28 tires on 25mm Vision tubular wheels (and it more comfy they say). So I guess the EVO is limited to 23 or 25.
I also found this page which a strangely familiar set of calipers. Basically coming to the same conclusion:
http://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/gear/category/components/wheel-sets/product/review-hed-ardennes-plus-sl-47670/
I also was watching a video on Sagans bike for the classics. He switches to the Carbon Synapse as it will easily accommodate 25 and 28 tires on 25mm Vision tubular wheels (and it more comfy they say). So I guess the EVO is limited to 23 or 25.
Here's another. Got a new Bontrager R3 25c TLR tire. This will be my new front tire but thought I'd try it on the rear first for a measurement. It is a much more reasonable 25c measurement at 26.8mm. That is 1.4mm narrower than the TriComp. I fitted 25mm Stans Rim Tape to convert this wheel to tubeless. That was pretty easy. This tire is tight to fit but inflated easily. See pic below for frame clearance.
Well slightly better clearance to the frame with the Bonty R3 25c. I don't think it's enough though since the wheel will flex and rub I suspect. I might leave it like this for a ride to see how much rubbing. With the TriComp 1hr on the trainer was enough to wear through the PVC electrical tape.
Although I think on the trainer it imparts more force on the skewer allowing it to move inside the (now bigger) dropouts. I should think about how to fill those gaps to make the wheel lock in place. Some epoxy metal or something?
Although I think on the trainer it imparts more force on the skewer allowing it to move inside the (now bigger) dropouts. I should think about how to fill those gaps to make the wheel lock in place. Some epoxy metal or something?
I applied the beer-can shim on the side I filed to make it tight again and the wheel is now firmer and centered. But you can see that there has been rubbing. Even the Schwalbe 23c rubbed a bit and the Bonty a bit more but just leaving marks on the tape. The big Tricomp actually rubbed through the tape in an hour.
Being on the trainer definitely is worse though which I don't fully understand since the load is on the axle not the wheels edge.
Being on the trainer definitely is worse though which I don't fully understand since the load is on the axle not the wheels edge.
Conclusion
I will get another Bonty 25c for the front for the next Grasshopper. I might consider after putting a Schwalbe on the back (since I have two basically new tires that came with the bike). That would give me two 25c widths and a great tubeless ride with a spare of each tire as well.
It would be nice to be able to find 25c tires with a bit of tread for these mixed gravel type races. I reckon though if there was any more gravel involved it would be better to get some nice file-tread cross tires on the cross bike. So sticking with 25c slicks on the road bike is prolly good!
I will get another Bonty 25c for the front for the next Grasshopper. I might consider after putting a Schwalbe on the back (since I have two basically new tires that came with the bike). That would give me two 25c widths and a great tubeless ride with a spare of each tire as well.
It would be nice to be able to find 25c tires with a bit of tread for these mixed gravel type races. I reckon though if there was any more gravel involved it would be better to get some nice file-tread cross tires on the cross bike. So sticking with 25c slicks on the road bike is prolly good!
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