Pitch Chromed Steel 27s and install modern Aluminum 700c. How hard?
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10-16-23, 06:26 PM
#27
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I don't know why you want to go 700c, it is a lot of work for no real benefit on your type of bicycle. From the 1970s through this year, I have put many, many thousands of miles and hours into riding 27:" steel rimmed road bikes. I also have more than one with 700c rims. My main concern about riding the 27" bikes is having tires that do not get flatted easily by debris on the road, and both Kenda and Pasela Protite tires have worked great over the past several thousand miles on these bikes. I have one aluminum rimmed bike with 700c size wheels that brakes much worse than my 27" bikes, it is because of the design of the brake calipers, so I will replace those with a different brand. I have ridden four bikes with steel rims and center-pull brakes over the last few years and they all braked great with new pads and everything set up and maintained properly.
Usually switching a 27" bike to 700c means a compromise on your braking because the calipers are mounted an inch further from the axle centerline than on a 700c bike, so you either have your pads moved way down to the end of their arm and that makes poor leverage, or you have some hokey special bolt to drop the caliper lower and that makes the mounting less stiff.
If you want to ride and have casual fun or tour, then stick with 27" especially on a heavy bike. If you want to race and use the special 700c racing tires, then just buy a cheap used bike from the late 80s or 90s that already has the 700c rims. You will be able to buy that whole bike cheaper than you can buy all the parts to swap over an older bike to the later rim size.
I mostly use my 700c bike for racing and speed attempts, and when I want to do training, casual riding, running errands or touring I like the 27" bike with some nice fat 30mm to 34mm wide tires on it.
Usually switching a 27" bike to 700c means a compromise on your braking because the calipers are mounted an inch further from the axle centerline than on a 700c bike, so you either have your pads moved way down to the end of their arm and that makes poor leverage, or you have some hokey special bolt to drop the caliper lower and that makes the mounting less stiff.
If you want to ride and have casual fun or tour, then stick with 27" especially on a heavy bike. If you want to race and use the special 700c racing tires, then just buy a cheap used bike from the late 80s or 90s that already has the 700c rims. You will be able to buy that whole bike cheaper than you can buy all the parts to swap over an older bike to the later rim size.
I mostly use my 700c bike for racing and speed attempts, and when I want to do training, casual riding, running errands or touring I like the 27" bike with some nice fat 30mm to 34mm wide tires on it.
I rhink i's not an inch difference in brake reach, more like 4 mm: (630 -622)/2 = 4 mm difference in rim radius.
10-16-23, 06:43 PM
#28
Junior Member
