I have a ladies touring frame (Not too fancy, 1970s ish, badged British Eagle) which I want to rebuild for a family member. On examination it has clearly been made for 26" wheels (26 x 1 1/4?). I am confused as to whether or not modern cheap 650c wheels will fit in place of the originals, which were missing when I got the bike. Most of what I can find are MTB wheels and weigh a ton! . All advice gratefully received!
Replacing 26 x 1 1/4 wheels on a touring bike
- Thread starter porteous
- Start date
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RecordAceFromNew
Swinging Member
- Location
- West London
Imho there are two issues. First is distances between dropouts (i.e. over locknut distance), second is rim diameter. Given the nature and vintage of the bike I would not like to guess what the o.l.d's are front and back, but if you measure them perhaps we can figure out whether they match any modern hub axle width and if not what can be done. Fyi modern o.l.d's are 100mm front and 120mm (track), 130mm (road) or 135mm (mtb) back. You might end up having to build new wheels using old hubs, or possibly cold setting the frame.
Rim diameters are in the late great Sheldon's database. I suspect subject rim is that of ISO 597mm. If so from the tables you can see that it is 25mm smaller than a modern 700c, 26mm larger than a 650c and 38mm larger than a modern 26" mtb rim. However it is only 7mm larger than a 590 rim which though hard to find is still available. If I were you what I would do is to examine the brakes' range, and see e.g. whether the pads can be adjusted up by 1.25cm from the current centreline, if so 700c will work if there is enough frame clearance for a corresponding larger tyre e.g.
If the brakes don't have enough range for the desired rims, options exist to explore replacing them with shallower or deeper drop brakes, the options available are dependent on what is current there and what the frame can accommodate, and more details are required.
Hope it helps.
Rim diameters are in the late great Sheldon's database. I suspect subject rim is that of ISO 597mm. If so from the tables you can see that it is 25mm smaller than a modern 700c, 26mm larger than a 650c and 38mm larger than a modern 26" mtb rim. However it is only 7mm larger than a 590 rim which though hard to find is still available. If I were you what I would do is to examine the brakes' range, and see e.g. whether the pads can be adjusted up by 1.25cm from the current centreline, if so 700c will work if there is enough frame clearance for a corresponding larger tyre e.g.
If the brakes don't have enough range for the desired rims, options exist to explore replacing them with shallower or deeper drop brakes, the options available are dependent on what is current there and what the frame can accommodate, and more details are required.
Hope it helps.
RecordAceFromNew
Swinging Member
- Location
- West London
If you don't actually have the wheels then the original design rim size could be guesstimated from the precise distance between the centre of the axle and the centre of the brake pad, and if no brakes either then from the brake's mounting point (and brake type, because the distance between mounting point and pad can be found if the type is known).
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
I've a feeling 26" x 1-1/4" (ISO 597mm) are unlikely in a bike from the 1970s. 26" x 1-3/8" (ISO 590mm) are more likely IMO.
I did manage to buy some steel rim 26" x 1-1/4" a couple of years ago from Freemans, for a rebuild on a 1940s BSA,
but Freemans no longer list either rim or complete wheel. I don't know anywhere else for the wheels, but you can still get the tyres from SJS.
26 x 1-3/8" - although very much an obsolete size (and - if you'd not twigged this already - a different diameter from MTB wheels) are still available, even with aluminium rims - which are much better for weight and braking performance.
I think (just a hunch) 650C and 650B are likely to be too small.... but as RAFN says, you are going to need to do some careful measuring to be sure.
I did manage to buy some steel rim 26" x 1-1/4" a couple of years ago from Freemans, for a rebuild on a 1940s BSA,
but Freemans no longer list either rim or complete wheel. I don't know anywhere else for the wheels, but you can still get the tyres from SJS.
26 x 1-3/8" - although very much an obsolete size (and - if you'd not twigged this already - a different diameter from MTB wheels) are still available, even with aluminium rims - which are much better for weight and braking performance.
I think (just a hunch) 650C and 650B are likely to be too small.... but as RAFN says, you are going to need to do some careful measuring to be sure.
I would go with 26 x 1 3/8" in alloy (assuming you have space for the slightly wider tyres. I'd be surprised if you didn't). There are some reasonable tyres available in this size, nothing high performance but some decent commuter type tyres like Marathons and Michelin World Tour. Look at SJS for tyres. There is someone on Amazon selling these wheels in alloy for around £22 front and back (thread-on freewheel hub). If you want a Sturmey, you may have to build it yourself.
Edit: I've fitted one of the cheap wheels from Amazon on the front of one of my 3-Speeds and it's transformed the bike. Braking much better, it feels lighter and more nimble. The wheel is 1lb lighter than the original steel wheel.
Edit: I've fitted one of the cheap wheels from Amazon on the front of one of my 3-Speeds and it's transformed the bike. Braking much better, it feels lighter and more nimble. The wheel is 1lb lighter than the original steel wheel.
