Re: [CR]more on correct rims for 50s British bikes

(Example: Production Builders)

Date: Sun, 9 May 2004 05:40:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Fred Rafael Rednor" <fred_rednor@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]more on correct rims for 50s British bikes
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <opr7p5xbo0w5o8sp@smtp.tiscali.co.uk>


> I once heard from what I'd consider a reliable source, > that Raleigh (euphemistically) "invented" the 27" size > in conjunction with their once buddies Dunlop, as yet > another 24 / 26 tpi effort by Raleigh to non-standardise > everything - perhaps in competition with the > "continental" > 700 size, that was to ultimately fail as other > manufacturers in the UK, small and large took up and > ran with 27". I've never followed up just how true > or not that was - anyone else like to comment ?

Bob, I'm in no position to argue this story one way or the other but there is an aspect of it that strikes me as odd. If Raleigh invented this size in collusion with Dunlop, why was it universally accepted in the United States? Even Schwinn, who were not afraid to eschew other manufacturer's standards, accepted it. In fact, considering that so many of Schwinn's lightweight bicycle drive-train parts were made in France (and the brakes in Switzerland), it's almost hard to believe that they would prefer 27 inch rims to 700c. Best regards, Fred Rednor - about to go out riding in Arlington, Virginia (that bastion of American Anglophiles _and_ Francophiles)

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