Mudguard help

[tyred]

I have an old Carlton lightweight frame (I believe it was made around 1970) which I intend to refurbish. I bought it without wheels. I aquired a nice set of alloy rimmed 27 x 1 1/4" wheels with tyres from a friend. I tried to fit these last night. The wheels fit nicely but I have only about 1/4" clearance above the front tyre and I had hoped to fit mudguards but now realise this isn't going to be possible with these wheels. What would be the options? Could I gain enough room for a mudguard by fitting a lower profile tyre (probably compromise ride quality) or should I change to a smaller size rim? I've also seen mudguards on the internet that claim to fit on bikes with poor clearance. Anyone have any experience of these and do they work?

 

[mickle]

If your brakes have enough adjustment it's perfectly feasible to fit 700c which have a slightly smaller diameter than 27s. Running a 700 x 23 or 25 will give you enough clearance for mudgourds. The last bike fitted with 27s rolled off the production line twenty years ago so it's a pain in the behind to find decent 27 x 1 1/4 tyres these days let alone 27 x 1 1/8 or 27 x 1.

 

[Dave5N]

Bonj?

Whaddya reckon?

 

[e-rider]

Unless you have a special reason to refurb such an old bike, I would forget about it and get a new one. These projects are a nightmare for compatibility issues and sourcing new parts - it will soon become a money pit and you'll end up with a very average bike (at best) IMO!

 

[tyred]

I could buy a new bike but that's not the point. I like old bikes and I enjoy a challenge.

 

[PatrickPending]

Hi,

My commuter is a 1974 carlton - 27" wheels and all. I refurbished mine last april (powdercoated nice blue colour) - put sks (i think) mudguards on it - more than enough clearance and fitted ok though I did have to improvise an attachement with a piece of thick wire and a cable tie on the bottom of the rear mudguard (where ia attaches to the frame - I guess more modern frames have a hole in the horizontal rod thingie - hope that makes sense. At the same time I put on Alongha long drop brakes so it can take 700c wheels if necessary, but I'm still running 27" wheels.

Looks nice methinks, mudguards have helped increase component life considerably plus I don't get anywhere near as wet. Great for commuting, and the steel frame is quite comfy.

If you find theres not enough clearance, then the long drop brakes and 700c wheels is an option.......

 

[jimboalee]

There is a certain 'kudos' about sucessfully restoring an old bike (or two).

My LBS man knows very well I am able to fix a bike (or two).
One Saturday afternoon about 7 years ago, I was in the LBS chatting about sometingorother while the LBS man was busy. A couple of young lads came in. One had a broken gear cable on a road bike with down tube levers.
The LBS man said "Jim, can you take care of that for me?"

LBS man got nowt. I got small gratuity and young lad went away happy.



Now LBS man didn't charge. I didn't request payment, but young lad offered half a quid on top of the price of the new cable. Just to make sure, I got the young lad to pull the cable through ( and watch ), so he effectively did the repair with my help, and learned something at the same time.

I wonder if that young lad (+7 years) fixes his own bikes now?

 

[tyred]

That's what it's all about really. There's a lot to be learned by taking an old bicycle or indeed anything else apart and rebuilting it. You may make a few mistakes but you learn from them. Growing up, all the bikes I had were assembled from anything I could find. In the throwaway society we live in, there are many kids growing up without learning basic skills.

 

[Young Un]

I would love an old bike that I could just tear down adn rebuild, but unfortunately I reckon i dont have enough tools or the space for another bike - there are now 6 bikes in the shed, a lawnmower, shredder, car engine, and loads of other junk.