Can i but off road wheels and tyres on a road bike?

thefonz78

Hello I'm looking to buy my first road bike thinking of buying a Allez Sport. Is the frame of a road bike strong enough to put a pair of off road wheels and tyres on for country trail bike rides? I would like to have the two sets of wheels road and off road.

cooper.michael1

Its not about the wheels, moreover the clearance for the tyres. An Allez is designed to take 23mm tyres and will take a maximum tyre size of 25mm (road bike specific tyres). There is no chance in hell you'll fit a 32mm trail tyre in ANY modern road bike, as there will not be enough room in the frame or through the brakes.

If you want a 'road bike' which you can swap between road tyres and off road/trail tyres you'll need a cyclocross bike...they are very versatile, and prove to be good multi purpose bikes for road, off road, canal paths, touring etc etc.. The Specialized model is called the Tri-Cross and gets good reviews.

I own a Planet X Uncle John Cyclo Cross bike, which I love, but to spec a good one will be £1000+ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3311/322 ... 712fd9.jpg

Wiggle sell focus cross bikes from about £600+ which also get decent reviews.

thefonz78

Thank you something to consider.

Steve_b77

I'd be looking at a cross bike too if you intend to ride off the tarmac

rake

then theres the smaller diameter wheel where the brake pads will be on the tyre.

cooper.michael1

rake wrote:

then theres the smaller diameter wheel where the brake pads will be on the tyre.

..dont think he was meaning putting MTB wheels on it, but if so of course you are right.

Monty Dog

Cross bike

thefonz78

I wouldn't want to go proper off roading. Just down footpaths,trails, fields etc. Is there a wheel suitable for such riding that fit a road frame, and will the frame be strong enough for such bumping around?

cougie

Its not really the strength of the frame that's a worry - frames are plenty strong enough. You need decent clearances for the tyres - you need wider and bigger tyres for the rougher terrain.
If you can handle the bike well, aren't too heavy or aren't going to be too adventurous off road - then a road bike can cope with a lot off road.

A cross bike would probably be a safer bet or maybe check out some of the planet x bikes - they seem to have decent clearances I think ? Pompino, kaffenback, uncle john ? Versatile bikes.

ex-pat scot

Tricross. Mine with 23 tyres is pretty darn fast, and can take decent size (45mm) tyres too.