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Most of my experience is with road bikes, and there's no retro/vintage mtb thread, so I might as well ask here--
I recently bought an early 90s mtb frame and, separately, a set of 26" wheels.
The frame is a Univega Alpina Pro (not sure on specific year), the wheels are 'Ritchey Vantage Expert' rims w/ HB-RM50 & FH-HG50 hubs (decals say 'Exage Sealed Mech'). I would say the internal rim width is 19mm, but the old catalog scans I found say 18mm.
Seems good enough for what I want to use it for. Imagine: Midwest US, riding to a local park, where there is a crushed stone jogging trail, and then little offshoots/unofficial trails that people have made. No elevation changes >20ft at a time, easy riding.
What tires do I put on this, wrt width?
When I look at tire/rim charts, even old ones, the upper end seems like nonsense. 2.3"/55mm tire on a 19mm internal rim? That seems bulbous.
The frame & fork will accept it, but won't it look goofy? Wouldn't I have to pump the tires extra, to keep them from feeling dodgy while on paved surfaces?
