Varonha Frameworks winter bike / FW Evans 650b conversion rat bike fun

Just to let you know it is currently available again. Pm for details if you’re still looking..

Thanks @cornelius_blackfoot, I'm all sorted now : )

Next question:

In order to free-up the brake bridge for the mudguard and rear rack to screw into, I was looking into direct-mount brakes.

On my 105 calipers (with the pads all the way down the slots to 49mm) I can squeeze in a 25mm Marathon Plus and a 30mm Full Metal Fender... it's tight but I've done worse.

Does anyone know if the clearances on direct-mount brakes are different enough to prevent that?

Obviously, I could just use the over-the-bridge attachment thing that the guards came with but seeing as I have the opportunity to design the frame, I'd like to find a more elegant solution.

I might as well find a better solution.

Disc brakes

1" steerer though: either very heavy 853 blades, or something lighter that might fail.

The question here is about clearance for direct-mount brakes with 25mm tyres and guards.

Direct mount are better, but not by a lot. You get a bit more clearance for the height of the tire, but the width tends to be limited by the direct mount bolts. I feel like this width limitation would not make them much of an improvement for use with guards.

In short, go direct mount for the improvement in braking rather than extra clearance, IMO.

out of interest, if you're moving the stuff over from the dawes how come you're not going cantilever? seems to solve the problems you're trying to solve with direct mount.

This maybe not the answer you are looking for but would it not be wiser to allow for bigger clearances so you could upgrade to fatter tyres in the future.

Open pros will take 28mm tyres easily so you could plan a good deep drop caliper into the design like the TRP 957.

Clearance issues for mudguards sorted.

Cheers : )

As long as the direct mount option doesn't make the clearances any smaller than it might be goer. I certainly like the idea of better braking as an added bonus to neater mudguards.

That is actually a very good question - I hadn't even thought of it.

I suspect it's as simple as just needing to overcome some obscure psychological barrier that is currently preventing me from loving the idea of cantis on a road bike.... but it certainly makes sense.

Another good shout... I was looking into deep drop calipers and the decent options seem to be TRP and VO.

I've done a fair bit touring on 25mm Marathons and never had any issues, so I'm not convinced I'd ever really want to go bigger.

I prefer the idea of maxing-out a regular pair of calipers because it gives me more choice and better braking.... says me, who originally asked about direct mount, which is the cycling equivalent of laserdiscs.

I think I just persuaded myself to find a different solution to neater rack and mudguard mounts!

Next question:

What's the correct tyre choice for this?

Priorities in order are:

• 25mm
  
• Much faster than the Marathon Plus they're replacing (that won't be hard)
  
• Grippy in the wet; solid cornering in the wet is extremely important to me since I bust my leg.
  
• Able to deal with panniers and London (but not necessarily touring as I'll use the old touring bike's wheels and tyres for that)
  
• good puncture protection
  
  

So far I think I've narrowed it down to Conti 4 Season vs Michelin Power All Season
Would be interested to hear anything about wet weather grip and puncture protection under a bit of a load for either of those... but obvs also if you have any suggestions I'm all ears.

Cheers : )

Conti because: https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/road-bike-reviews/michelin-power-all-season-2016

Crikey, those people are really into choosing tyres!
Thanks @amey, I'll go for Contis.

Michelins were on the shortlist because the promotional blurb goes on and on about the amazing grip in the wet.... I'd still be interested to hear if anyone has tried them and can tell me if all this grippy hype is true.

I've done a fair bit touring on 25mm Marathons and never had any issues, so I'm not convinced I'd ever really want to go bigger.

Wider tyres are more comfortable, have less chance of (pinch) flats, and are probably faster (citation needed). Touring on 25mm just sounds like insanity to me!

Naaaaaah, it's fine : )
Marathons are not your usual 25mm tyre though I guess.

This does make me wonder what I might have been missing out on all these years though.

If it works for you, go for it of course! But I personally wouldn't even put anything below 28mm on a Sunday best road bike.

Going from 25mm to 28mm already was a big eye opener for me. Wouldn't hurt to try!

I've actually just spent the last hour or so looking at longer-reach caliper options.
It suddenly dawned on me that the only reason I'd decided to go with 49mm reach was that I almost went for the Bob Jackson Audax Club, which is designed to max-out regular calipers. But of course their design hasn't been updated to accommodate modern tyre choices.

That and the fact I've never ridden anything bigger than 25mm anyway.

The TRP RG957 seems to be the best option (it comes with stainless hardware and is lighter than Grand Cru), although kind of expensive for a 'beater'... But if I'm getting a frame made for this then I might as well get everything right first time, so I am certainly tempted to go for 28mm tyres and mudguards, just in case.... That way I could even put 30mm tyres on there without the guards and get involved with this 'gravel' they have nowadays.

One potential problem is preventing toe-overlap in the frame design; I take quite a small frame but would like a 74 degree ST angle to get my ass in the right place with a normal seatpost.

I have the Tektro R539 calipers, which are basically budget TRPs, got 32mm pirelli cinturatos on with mudguards, go as big as you can, comfort is key.

30mm Schwalbe pro ones . fast and great grip in the wet.

Cheers both.
I think I'm gonna go with a design that allows tight-ish clearance for 28mm with these slim PDW guards and the TRPs. Apparently they should just about fit which is good enough for the meantime.

that should allow me to go for 30s / 32s without guards, which will be fun for a bit light off-roading as and when the inclination grabs me, and the 28s will be better in the wet and for carrying bags.

Problem solved, as long as toe overlap isn't a problem : )

for such tight clearance stuff defo get the brakes, mudguards and wheel with tyres on to winston so he can tack and check

Subscribed. I'm keen to order something from Winston later this year.

FWIW comparison of 35c with various mid-long reach brakes: https://blackmtncycles.com/clearance-pt-ii-road-frames/