DannO said:
Cheers, back tyre says continental podium 26" x19mm aswell
How can difference between 26" and 27" exceed 2-1/2"?! Answer: a ridiculous tradition dictates that sizes of bicycle wheels --- unlike car and motorcycle wheels --- indicate the nominal outside diameter of the TIRE, and not the actual diameter of the rim. While the out side diameter of a traditional 26-inch "balloon" tire is about an inch smaller than the original 27-inch "racing" tire, the rim is nearly 3 inches smaller. The same tradition exists in Europe where there are no fewer than 4 diameters of rims that accept "650" tires (labeled 650-A through 650-D). To compare the "real" size of a rim or tire you must know the "bead seat diameter." Fortunately, this number is found molded into the sidewall of most tires. The real size of a 27" rim is 630mm (about 24.8"), a 700c rim has a bead seat diameter of 622mm, and the "26-inch" rim found on tandems a nd mountain bikes is only 559mm (a mere 22"). If matching width tires are installed, the outside diameter of a 622 (700c) tire is 63mm (2.5") larger than the outside diameter of a 559 (26") tire.
In other words, you want a 650, rather than 700, wheel!
cheers