Fitting 700c to 27" Frame

[Hanlon]

I'm sure this is a hardy annual - what side pull brakes will reach 700c rims on a frame made for 27" wheels ? I'm re-commissioning my late father's early 1970s Holdsworth Mistral and (purists please look away now) ..... fitting modern 700c wheels so that I can easily get inner tubes and tyres and actually use the bike. I wanted to retain the original Weinmann 605 brakes - but whereas the rear caliper just about reaches the smaller 700c rim, the front is way too short. I had the same problem with my 1980 Pat Hanlon because dear old Tom Board who built it ignored my instruction to build the frame to take the then fairly new 700c wheels and made it for 27" ! I can't remember what brakes I fitted to that bike...... so I would be grateful for suggestions of some suitably retro looking side pull brakes with a suitably longer reach. Thank you chaps.

 

[Spiderweb]

Shimano R451 Long Drop should work.
https://www.tweekscycles.com/shiman...utm_medium=Direct+Linking&utm_campaign=518873

 

[Soltydog]

The bolts might not be long enough on those shimano ones without drilling the frame & /or forks 🤔 I used some Tektro Quartz calipers on my single speed conversion, but that was about 5 years ago, so not sure if they are still available

 

[midlife]

I guess you need nutted brakes

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brakes/tektro-r359-caliper-brake-set-4757-mm-drop-nut-fitting-silver/

 

[rrarider]

I'm surprised that your Weinmann 605 brakes don't fit, as these came fitted to my Record Ace and I swapped the 27" wheels for 700c ones, without any problems.

 

[biggs682]

A steel bike and 27" is my idea of a great bike
And good tyres are available .

 

[Paulus]

I'm sure this is a hardy annual - what side pull brakes will reach 700c rims on a frame made for 27" wheels ? I'm re-commissioning my late father's early 1970s Holdsworth Mistral and (purists please look away now) ..... fitting modern 700c wheels so that I can easily get inner tubes and tyres and actually use the bike. I wanted to retain the original Weinmann 605 brakes - but whereas the rear caliper just about reaches the smaller 700c rim, the front is way too short. I had the same problem with my 1980 Pat Hanlon because dear old Tom Board who built it ignored my instruction to build the frame to take the then fairly new 700c wheels and made it for 27" ! I can't remember what brakes I fitted to that bike...... so I would be grateful for suggestions of some suitably retro looking side pull brakes with a suitably longer reach. Thank you chaps.

You can quite easily get 27 inch tyres and tubes should you wish to keep it original.

 

[Hanlon]

Thank you for all the advice chaps - have already bought the 700c wheels so I'll have a look at the brake options. It's quite right that I'll need nutted fitting as the Allen key type do require drilling.

 

[slow scot]

Modern Tektro callipers will solve your problem. I put them on my 1970s Claud Butler which is identical to your Mistral. Get the long drop ones.

 

[rogerzilla]

Centre-pulls look nicer than long dual-pivots, and work just about as well when the reach starts to get extreme. You do need to fit brake hangers. Gran Compe ones are really nice but the cheap Dia-Compe 750s work well enough.

 

[avecReynolds531]

+1 for centre pulls. I had planned to replace a set of Weinmann 610 & 750: but, even with the (30 year + old) original Kool stop brake blocks, they stopped the bike decently well (or really well on a good day). So they were kept.

Plus they do have a lot of character and they can look as good as this:

View: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bishopbikes/6810012850/in/album-72157628089348263/

 

[carpenter]

wow - cool bikes, that orange one

 

[Gunk]

Modern Tektro callipers will solve your problem. I put them on my 1970s Claud Butler which is identical to your Mistral. Get the long drop ones.

Tektro do an inexpensive long drop caliper which is perfect for this conversion.

 

[Gunk]

Thank you for all the advice chaps - have already bought the 700c wheels so I'll have a look at the brake options. It's quite right that I'll need nutted fitting as the Allen key type do require drilling.

If you don’t fancy drilling the forks, try a set of Shimano RX100, modern brakes, but old fashioned fitting.

 

[carpenter]

I have used similar to this to convert brakes:

https://www.hubjub.co.uk/allen-key-to-nut-fit-converter-bolt-3648-p.asp