The Dilemma

What should I do with the Gravel Bus?

 Back in 2020 when I purchased the Standard Rando v2 frame set, running 40mm - 45mm tires was considered to be "on the big side" of the gravel tire spectrum. In 2025, this is now considered to be on the narrow side of the spectrum!

The 'goal posts' have moved. There is no doubt about it - Bigger, wider gravel tires are where it is at now. But why should I care? Run what you want to run, right?

And I would definitely do just that, however, also at about the same time as I purchased the Standard Rando v2, I started trying out 45mm - 47mm tires. And you know what?

I ended up really liking them.

So, what has all of this got to do with the bike I call the Gravel Buss? Well, those larger sized tires do not clear the frame of the Standard Rando. I can run 43mm -44mm tires, maybe, and have a tiny bit of clearance on the rear. So, I'm not inclined to ride this bike when my other bikes do clear larger tires. Now I will also say that I don't have a 'gravel bike' I'm comfortable with sticking 50mm tires on a wheel either. (The BMC MCD barely clears 50's) So, I would like to have the capability to do this and then move on from the Standard Rando.

My "skinny" tire gravel bike would then be my Honeman Flyer by King Cycles which has 40mm Ritchey tires on it that measure out to 44mm currently. I have a single speed gravel bike which handles 29"er tires already, so I'm covered there.

Anyway, just a thought exercise. I wish Twin Six would come out with a 'v3' of the Standard Rando which would clear big tires, but who knows if that will ever happen. Also - I have enough bicycles, so this is not a pressing issue.