Gazelle Mondial A Owners: Tyre Clearances

Hello,

I'm about to pull the trigger on a Gazelle Mondial A. Before I do, anyone have any idea what the tyre clearances are like on this thing? I know it has longer stays to accomodate mudguards, just wondered how fat I can go and what brake drop i'm likely to need.

Cheers,

Depends on the "date of birth". A picture of the frame would help.

Most A frames have the same chain stay length (and all other ddimensions) as AA, AB, etc.
Just longer dropouts, no difference in tube length.

First years (till early 1980's or so) these frames accomodated long reach brakes 47-57mm, 363mm from wheel axle to brake bolt, same as most other frames.
After that, more or less all frames were for "piccolo" brakes 39-49mm, 359mm/356mm.

Again, it all depends on the build and some pics may be helpful.

Don't remember exactly, but late 1980's, A-frame may have been modified.
A, Semi Race and Randonneur got all the same (randonneur) dimensions.
These had longer stays, indeed.

Awesome, thanks. I think it's an '81, so deeper drop brakes seem to be the answer, which should mean I can get 28mm tyres on with guards, which is the plan! Think I'm going to buy the frame no matter what, and go from there.

If it's from '81, it'll be 359mm or even 363mm.
28mm tyres fit, prolly with thin fenders.
If it's 363mm, there's no problem at all. Perhaps a bit close at the chain stays.

I'm running 23mm tyres on my '77 A-frame, loads of space left, 28mm seems plausible. It originally came with centrepull brakes so it's probably long reach, but then yours is 4 years younger so yours might be different.