I had an eventful ride today, my gravel bike´s back wheel ate a fallen branch and was instantly goosed.
On the (long) walk home I was mulling my options for replacing/rebuilding the rear wheel, it´s currently got a 700x40 tyre and I was planning to up that to 45mm, the front has a 29x2.1" XC tyre which I´m very happy with and has sort of convinced me that more girth is needed in the rear.
The Frame just isn´t going to clear anything more than 700x45 which would be fine and I already have a spare Rim I can just rebuild the existing hub with that so it would be my cheapest option. But a 27.5" wheel might allow me to go up about 2" wide and the difference in OD Vs the old 40mm tyre wouldn´t be hugely different.
Anyone else done similar? Worth the cost and faff for an extra 5mm rear tyre width?
Well in the Absence of any feedback I've found a "third way" a bit of a gamble really.
I'm rebuilding with the 700 x 20mm internal rim (the dead one was 25mm) but I've just ordered a cheap 700 x 47mm tyre, which may or may not clear the frame (blurb says 45mm).
5mm Narrower rim, 7mm wider carcass Meh, if it doesn't work I'm not hugely upset but it's the absolute maximum volume I can feasibly squeeze in there I reckon.