On 8 Jun 2003 at 13:29, Edward Kleinbard wrote:
> Greg --
>
>
> I spoke to a serious framebuilder about doing something analogous
> (130mm wheel on rear dropouts with 126mm spacing) and he was adamant
> that it was a bad idea -- you risk cracking a chainstay after a few
> thousand miles. It costs very little for a framebuilder to 'spread' the
> existing rear dropouts to accommodate a larger size. 126 to 130 was
> said to be easy; I have no direct experience with 120 to 126.
I wonder what this "serious framebuilder" would have to say about my 1989 Trek 1400. It's a bonded aluminum frame spaced 126mm. I've been jamming a 130mm hub in there for several years now with no adverse consequences. I never "cold set" it; I just have to pry the stays apart a bit while inserting the wheel.
Some people will maintain I'm risking separating the seatstays from the brake bridge, but so far so good. ;-)
jeverett3@earthlink.net (John V. Everett)