I have a British purpose-built time trial frame with " fag paper clearance " in the rear and horizontal dropouts. A 23mm tubular will not clear when inflated. The short wheelbases that characterize this type of frame seem to be an acknowledged trade off rather than a design flaw (or serious gaffe). I can't see how it is much of a detriment (for this type of bike) unless you have a support vehicle behind you ready to toss you a fresh rear wheel in the event of a puncture.
While vertical dropouts would allow speedy replacement of a wheel with an inflated tire, they generally preclude the use of a fixed wheel.
Charlie Young
Honey Brook, PA
> Mark Bulgier wrote "I don't think I'd trust a frame builder who would make
a
> frame "so tight that the rear wheel cannot be removed without deflating
the
> tire. That is a serious gaffe IMO."
> Well, in the late '80s and early '90s when folks were running those
> ridiculous skinny tires for racing some of our very best frame builders
> built them that way when asked. I had one that drove me nuts (perhaps
this
> was more of a putt than a drive?).
> When I had Brian Baylis re-spray a Baylis I owned last year or the year
> before one of the first things I asked him was if that could be changed.
He
> modified the drop outs and for the first time I could get a tire out (or
> in...even more of a problem when on the road and possessed of only a
> mini-pump). This was accomplished without noticeable change to the bike
> much to my relief.
> I do agree with Mark on the silliness of this point...100%!
> Tom Sanders
> Lansing, Mi