Can you put 700c wheels on a 27" old bike ??

"Joe Potter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello all,

I am looking to fix up an old road bike. As I got it, the bike has a 27" wheelset on the back of
the bike and a 700c on the front with brakes that "sorta match" the 700c front rim. (27" is what
came with it)

Is it even possible to convert to 700c wheels? If so, what all needs to

be

Quoted message said:

replaced or adjusted?

Yes, assuming that there is sufficient width between the rear fork blades for the width of 700 rim
and tyre you want to use - a couple of issues though :

1 Brakes may need replacing to get the reach for the blocks to line up with the rims

2 The rear stays may need opening out a little to handle the slightly wider axle normally found on
"modern" 700 wheels - assuming the frame is steel (probably is if the bike started out with 27
wheels) then Sheldon Brown has an intriguing method to open the stays, see his site. [The method
seems pretty frightening but if you take it slowly and gently it does work .... I've done a couple
of frames without any problem)

Quoted message said:

If not, what is the best bet to replace the 700c front wheelset?

Also, can you change a 5 speed cassette to a 6 or 7 on this bike? (it has 3 in the front)

Shouldn't be a problem - again I changed a 1970s 27 inch wheel bike with 2 on the front nnd 5 on the
back to 700 rims with 7 on the back using all the original componentry (I'm just about to chnage the
front to a triple and that will need a longer BB axle but the changer should still work OK)

Best of luck

Rob

Quoted message said:

Thanks.

--
Regards, Joe

Joe Potter said:

Hello all,

I am looking to fix up an old road bike. As I got it, the bike has a 27" wheelset on the back of
the bike and a 700c on the front with brakes that "sorta match" the 700c front rim. (27" is what
came with it)

Well, a lot of bikes back then could handle either size (tubulars are the same size as 700c, and 27"
were the only clinchers widely available in the US, which explains why). You will have to lower your
brake blocks 4mm. If there is that much room, you are good. If not, you may need to get new
long-reach brakes, or a "drop bolt", a special attaching bolt with a displacement.

For the rear wheel you may have to spread the dropouts to fit in a standard 130mm cassette hub. A
good bike shop can do this for you cheaply if you don't trust yourself to use Sheldon's method.

You can use your old hub, and just replace the rim, if you can handle building a wheel.

Quoted message said:

Also, can you change a 5 speed cassette to a 6 or 7 on this bike? (it has 3 in the front)

This would force you into the spreading of the rear. It is no big deal, since you only need eitehr 4
or 10mm extra, depending on what you have. Then you can go 9 in the rear, or even 10 if you want
Campy, but that is pretty pricey for an old bike.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a _`\(,_ | conclusion. --
George Bernard Shaw (_)/ (_) |

In article said:

Hello all,

I am looking to fix up an old road bike. As I got it, the bike has a 27" wheelset on the back of
the bike and a 700c on the front with brakes that "sorta match" the 700c front rim. (27" is what
came with it)

Is it even possible to convert to 700c wheels? If so, what all needs to be replaced or adjusted?

You just need to lower the brake pads so they are in the correct position for the new rim. Often
this is impossible and requires replacing the calipers or using a drop bolt. But sometimes it just
works, it depends mostly on the design of the frame and the brakes you have.

Quoted message said:

If not, what is the best bet to replace the 700c front wheelset?

Also, can you change a 5 speed cassette to a 6 or 7 on this bike? (it has 3 in the front)

If it's really a cassette then probably not. But if it's really a freewheel, and it's English thread
then it wouldn't be too hard. A 5-speed is usually narrower between the rear dropouts than a
6/7-speed hub, so you may end up respacing the rear triangle as well.

If you replace the rear wheel, I suggest you use a 130-135mm spaced modern road or mountain hub,
designed for 9-speed, cassette type. If you get some kind of Shimano or Shimano-compatible hub then
you can easily run an 8-speed cogset on it. You would definitely want to respace the frame in that
case but it would be a much better wheel that way.

--Paul

David L. Johnson said:

Joe Potter said:

Hello all,

I am looking to fix up an old road bike. As I got it, the bike has a 27" wheelset on the back of
the bike and a 700c on the front with brakes that "sorta match" the 700c front rim. (27" is what
came with it)

Well, a lot of bikes back then could handle either size (tubulars are the same size as 700c, and
27" were the only clinchers widely available in the US, which explains why). You will have to
lower your brake blocks 4mm. If there is that much room, you are good. If not, you may need to get
new long-reach brakes, or a "drop bolt", a special attaching bolt with a displacement.

I think the brakes are "long-reach", perhaps a simple adjustment will do the trick. If I can get
them freed up with WD-40 I'll give it a try.

Quoted message said:

For the rear wheel you may have to spread the dropouts to fit in a standard 130mm cassette hub. A
good bike shop can do this for you cheaply if you don't trust yourself to use Sheldon's method.

You can use your old hub, and just replace the rim, if you can handle building a wheel.

Quoted message said:

Also, can you change a 5 speed cassette to a 6 or 7 on this bike? (it has 3 in the front)

This would force you into the spreading of the rear. It is no big deal, since you only need eitehr
4 or 10mm extra, depending on what you have. Then you can go 9 in the rear, or even 10 if you want
Campy, but that is pretty pricey for an old bike.

I do not really need more gears. Here in Orlando we do darn few hard climbs!

Thanks much for your information.

--
Regards, Joe

Paul Southworth said:

In article said:

Hello all,

I am looking to fix up an old road bike. As I got it, the bike has a 27" wheelset on the back of
the bike and a 700c on the front with brakes that "sorta match" the 700c front rim. (27" is what
came with it)

Is it even possible to convert to 700c wheels? If so, what all needs to be replaced or adjusted?

You just need to lower the brake pads so they are in the correct position for the new rim. Often
this is impossible and requires replacing the calipers or using a drop bolt. But sometimes it just
works, it depends mostly on the design of the frame and the brakes you have.

Well, for now I'll try to work on the front brakes and get them correct for the 700c wheelset. I'll
leave the 27" in the bake alone untill I see what it takes to get the brakes correct.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If not, what is the best bet to replace the 700c front wheelset?

Also, can you change a 5 speed cassette to a 6 or 7 on this bike? (it has 3 in the front)

If it's really a cassette then probably not. But if it's really a freewheel, and it's
English thread then it wouldn't be too hard. A 5-speed is usually narrower between the rear
dropouts than a
6/7-speed hub, so you may end up respacing the rear triangle as well.

If you replace the rear wheel, I suggest you use a 130-135mm spaced modern road or mountain hub,
designed for 9-speed, cassette type. If you get some kind of Shimano or Shimano-compatible hub
then you can easily run an 8-speed cogset on it. You would definitely want to respace the frame in
that case but it would be a much better wheel that way.

--Paul

Thanks for the info, Paul.

--
Regards, Joe

RG said:

"Joe Potter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello all,

I am looking to fix up an old road bike. As I got it, the bike has a 27" wheelset on the back of
the bike and a 700c on the front with brakes that "sorta match" the 700c front rim. (27" is what
came with it)

Is it even possible to convert to 700c wheels? If so, what all needs to

be

Quoted message said:

replaced or adjusted?

Yes, assuming that there is sufficient width between the rear fork blades for the width of 700 rim
and tyre you want to use - a couple of issues though :

1 Brakes may need replacing to get the reach for the blocks to line up with the rims

A fellow at the LBS seemed to think that old 80's road bikes would not accept new brakes becuase of
where the mounting holes are. Anything to that?

Quoted message said:

2 The rear stays may need opening out a little to handle the slightly wider axle normally found on
"modern" 700 wheels - assuming the frame is steel (probably is if the bike started out with 27
wheels) then Sheldon Brown has an intriguing method to open the stays, see his site. [The method
seems pretty frightening but if you take it slowly and gently it does work .... I've done a couple
of frames without any problem)

I'll give it a look.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If not, what is the best bet to replace the 700c front wheelset?

Also, can you change a 5 speed cassette to a 6 or 7 on this bike? (it has 3 in the front)

Shouldn't be a problem - again I changed a 1970s 27 inch wheel bike with 2 on the front nnd 5 on
the back to 700 rims with 7 on the back using all the original componentry (I'm just about to
chnage the front to a triple and that will need a longer BB axle but the changer should still
work OK)

Best of luck

Rob

Hmmm. You seem to be proof it can be done. I guess I'll look to go to 700c and 7 on the back. I
already have the 3 on the front. And, I just love the feel of this little ol' bike.

Thanks for your help.

--
Regards, Joe

Joe Potter said:

Quoted message said:

1 Brakes may need replacing to get the reach for the blocks to line up with the rims

Quoted message said:

A fellow at the LBS seemed to think that old 80's road bikes would not accept new brakes becuase
of where the mounting holes are. Anything to that?

Not really. There are modern brakes available to fit. Fenders or extra long reach can complicate
matters but these problems can be overcome. Also, allen key type brakes can be used by enlargening
the holes to accept the recessed nuts - this will increase your choice of calipers although may
not be necessary as some old-style "nutted" brakes are still available. The drilling is an easy
job though.

Note. The brake pads will only need lowering by 4mm. This may already be possible as is, or if
caliper slots are filed.

I've done all this (700c wheel with old brakes, and new brakes, and respread frame to 130mm) myself
with a 1985 bike that took 27" wheels.

~PB

Joe Potter said:

A fellow at the LBS seemed to think that old 80's road bikes would not accept new brakes becuase
of where the mounting holes are. Anything to that?

Well, sort of. Modern brakes -- most of them, are very short-reach, and older frames expect a longer
reach in order to accomodate old-fashioned ideas like fenders, fat tires, and even 27" wheels. No
longer do we worry about any of that. But it has brakes already, right?

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Let's not escape into mathematics. Let's stay with reality. -- _`\(,_ | Michael Crichton
(_)/ (_) |

Pete Biggs said:

Quoted message said:

A fellow at the LBS seemed to think that old 80's road bikes would not accept new brakes becuase
of where the mounting holes are. Anything to that?

Not really. There are modern brakes available to fit.

True

Quoted message said:

Also, allen key type brakes can be used by enlargening the holes to accept the recessed nuts -
this will increase your choice of calipers although may not be necessary as some old-style
"nutted" brakes are still available. The drilling is an easy job though.

Well, most 1980s bikes did use allen-key brake bolts, at least the high-end ones did. It was the
1960s and early 70s when you often had to drill out the brake bolt hole. I did this on a couple of
bikes. The front is no problem. The rear is.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster. --Greg LeMond _`\(,_ | (_)/ (_) |

David L. Johnson said:

Joe Potter said:

A fellow at the LBS seemed to think that old 80's road bikes would not accept new brakes becuase
of where the mounting holes are. Anything to that?

Well, sort of. Modern brakes -- most of them, are very short-reach, and older frames expect a
longer reach in order to accomodate old-fashioned ideas like fenders, fat tires, and even 27"
wheels. No longer do we worry about any of that. But it has brakes already, right?

Yes, it has brakes. The ones on the front do work and I have ridden the bike. The brakes have a
real long arm compared to my 1999 cannondale. But they do touch the tire a bit and do not look
"straight" to me.

I am afraid the brakes will need to be soaked in WD-40 before any more adjustments are made.

--
Regards, Joe