[CR]26 Inch Tires , 1 3/8 Inch Wide , On High Performance Bicycles

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

From: "Raoul Delmare" <Raoul.L.Delmare@worldnet.att.net>
To: "C.R. List" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <7728374.1054664029146.JavaMail.monkeylad@mac.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 14:24:19 -0500
Subject: [CR]26 Inch Tires , 1 3/8 Inch Wide , On High Performance Bicycles

****And , when tires with the Schwinn label , got stamped with the 26 x 1 3/8 size , they were NOT the same size at all !

****Information from :

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/index.html

26 x 1 3/8 = 597 mm bead diameter = 26 x 1 1/4 - 26 x 1 3/8 = Schwinn S-6 Tire

26 x 1 3/8 = 590 mm bead diameter = Raleigh Sports ( and plenty of others )

****And , when Schwinn first re-organized their whole adult line-up , for the 1960 model year , both the 10-speed Continental , and the 8-speed Varsity , were supposed to be sold with 26-inch rims and tires . There is still debate about how many were really sold with 26-inch , and not 27-inch , tires . Continental 10-speeds were probably all made with 27-inch tires . The Varsity was 27-inch , for 1963 .

http://www.geocities.com/sldatabook/detail6064.html

****My reproduction 1938 Schwinn Paramount Catalog shows :

The Paramount Racer with either ; "Hutchinson road tubulars on Schwinn Paramount laminated wood rims" or "Dunlop special high pressure road racing tire on Dunlop Endrick type high pressure rim ( Tire 27 x 1 1/4" - actual cross section 1 1/16" .)"

( also mentioned , "Weight: As illustrated with Hutchinson tires and wood rims, 20 lbs." & "Wheelbase: 40 1/4" " )

( the parts pages show the rear hubs available , fixed or freewheeling , large aluminum flanges on steel centers , or , Schwinn Expander Brake Hub optional ! )

( same tires and rims for both the Paramount Racer & Superior Racer )

The Paramount Sports-Tourist & Paramount Sports-Tourist Ladies' , along with the Superior Sports-Tourist , and the Superior Sports-Tourist Ladies , ALL received 26 x 1 1/4 inch tires .

But , there were two widths of 26 x 1 1/4 inch tire offered !

Dunlop special high pressure , "actual cross section 1 1/16" "

Schwinn Zephyr , "actual cross section 1 9/32" "

****By the way , my cheap photocopy of a 1954 Schwinn Catalog lists the options on Paramount rear hubs as , "stiff hub" ( fixed-gear ) , freewheeling , or Sturmey Archer 3-Speed .

My 1965 consumer catalog shows the Paramount 3-Speed still being offered .

My 1968 consumer catalog no longer lists a Paramount 3-Speed .

****My fairly high performance , 1948 Carlton Cycles Python , with dropped handlebar by GB , and Sturmey Archer AM ( thanks Peter Paine ! ) came with 26 x 1 3/8 = 590 mm bead diameter = Raleigh Sports .

Cheers ,
Raoul Delmare
Marysville Kansas
U.S.A.


----- Original Message -----
From: Brandon Ives
To: Peter Jon White
Cc: Derek Willburn


<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 1:13 PM Subject: Re: [CR]English Tire Size Question


> On Tuesday, June 03, 2003, at 10:47AM, Peter Jon White <PeterJonWhite@PeterWhiteCycles.com> wrote:
> >That's the standard 26" size for Raleigh three speed bikes like the Sport.
> >It was one of the most common tire sizes in the sixties.
>
> Just to add to what Peter said there were a few nicer touring/rough-stuff style bikes made with the EA-3 sized tires and someone made some nice alloy rims in this size at one time too. A new question, did anyone except the British use this size very much? I know lots of folks used it for their "town" bikes, but did any makers outside of England use it for their "performance" bikes?
> thanks,
> Brandon"monkeyman"Ives
> In misty foggy
> Santa Barbara, Calif.
> ++++++++++++++++++++
> Nobody can do everything,
> but if everybody did something
> everything would get done.
> --Gil Scott-Heron--
> ++++++++++++++++++++