700c wheels in a 27 inch wheel frame

[Landsurfer]

Sorry if this is the 1000th time this has been asked but …
I have 2 lovely Raleigh Clubman bikes from the 80’s .. I also have a number of top quality 700c wheel sets … the brakes will reach ..
Am I going to damage the frames pulling them apart to allow the 700c wheels to fit ??
or is there a cunning fix I haven’t thought of ?
👍🇬🇧

 

[biggs682]

Just remember that if you are out on a ride you might need to get the wheel in and out so I wouldn't try running 130 oln wheels, but you should get away with 128mm oln wheels.

Why swap?

 

[Ian H]

A 700C rim will fit any width hub.

 

[Chris S]

Just remember that if you are out on a ride you might need to get the wheel in and out so I wouldn't try running 130 oln wheels, but you should get away with 128mm oln wheels.

Why swap?

You get a better range of tyres. Also, most 27 inch wheels were chrome plated and won't stop in the rain.

 

[biggs682]

You get a better range of tyres. Also, most 27 inch wheels were chrome plated and won't stop in the rain.

Agreed re tyres but there's enough 27" alloy wheel and rims around

 

[Punkawallah]

You should have no issue with ‘springing’ a frame to slide a slightly too-wide hub between the drop outs. ‘Cold setting’ a frame to fit a hub can be an issue if done wrong, or if you over extend it. Remember the Clubman frame was not designed for seven speed+ blocks, and the chain might foul the frame.
Good luck!

 

[Landsurfer]

You should have no issue with ‘springing’ a frame to slide a slightly too-wide hub between the drop outs. ‘Cold setting’ a frame to fit a hub can be an issue if done wrong, or if you over extend it. Remember the Clubman frame was not designed for seven speed+ blocks, and the chain might foul the frame.
Good luck!

Thanks for that. I’m sticking with 6 speed block , just trying to get one with a larger than 28 tooth low gear in screw on freewheel format.

 

[C R]

Thanks for that. I’m sticking with 6 speed block , just trying to get one with a larger than 28 tooth low gear in screw on freewheel format.

Something like this?

https://ebay.us/m/RwRBeV

Has a 34T sprocket, with a massive jump to the next one which is 24T. I had one in my commuter for a while, and it wasn't as bad as you might think.

 

[Ajax Bay]

I’m sticking with 6 speed block , just trying to get one with a larger than 28 tooth low gear in screw on freewheel format.

Have a care that your RD (if similar vintage to frame) has capacity, in both respects, to manage an increased diameter largest sprocket and wrap.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

You get a better range of tyres. Also, most 27 inch wheels were chrome plated and won't stop in the rain.

A mate hasn’t been able to stop riding his bike since 4th November 1975

 

[Punkawallah]

Thanks for that. I’m sticking with 6 speed block , just trying to get one with a larger than 28 tooth low gear in screw on freewheel format.

You might strike lucky with a second hand/NOS Suntour block in 30+ teeth, but it won’t be cheap. More teeth on the block could solve your problem, or smaller chain rings. I went with both :-) Smaller chain rings from Spa Cycles can be no more expensive than a good 32 tooth Suntour block.
The block you have on the 700 wheels could be ‘thicker’ than the one on the 27” wheels (even though they are both six speed), and cause the ‘drop-out too narrow’ problem. Or the wheel might need dishing to suit the older frame.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I've done this, but I think anything I have to say has already been said above. But I won't let that stop me. Here's my experience.

Brakes - you will/may need long-drop calipers (I see you've already checked this). I did and it was a bit of a faff sourcing long drop nut fit brakes. They aren't all that common.

Springing a wide hub into a just too narrow frame - yes it's entirely doable. But it's not exactly easy. Especially not at the roadside, in the rain, with a group of other people staring at you willing you to get a move on.

Cold setting, or as I prefer to call it "bending" the frame. Not difficult with a piece of threaded bar and some nuts and washers but the result isn't entirely satisfactory (at least not when done by a cack handed bodger like me) because the dropouts are no longer parallel. Don't do it if you love the frame deeply.

Compatibility -- I put an 8 speed free hub wheel onto a bike that formerly had a 5 speed freewheel. The smallest sprocket can't be engaged without jamming, so I set the Hi screw on the rear mech to keep it out of bounds.

Rear mech - I installed a rear mech with sufficient capacity and large sprocket size. Alivio I think the name was

In retrospect I don't think I'd do it again. Just too much faff. It's forcing the bike to be something it isn't. If you want something else, then get a bike that's designed that way. (Just IMHO)