RE: [CR]Convert Raleigh International to 650B?

(Example: Framebuilders:Pino Morroni)

From: <Doland.Cheung@sce.com>
In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.0.20050201212947.03c40c30@pop.earthlink.net>
Subject: RE: [CR]Convert Raleigh International to 650B?
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 09:16:11 -0800


Thanks for all the comments!

Last night, I took some time to take some front brake reach measurements. I measured the distance (in as straight a line as I could get) from the center of the brake mount directly to the centerline of the quick release skewer (with wheel removed). The distance measured about 367-ish mm and multiple tries put me in approximately the same area. Since alot of this was with the eyeball, I'd guess that a measurement estimate of 370mm would be conservative. Do I need to measure the rear too?

Using the 370mm conservative estimate and Dia-Compe 750 centerpulls (75mm reach), the calculated smallest wheel size comes to 590mm. Just 3mm short radially. If I trust my eyeball and measuring skills, the 367mm measurement gives me a smallest wheel of 584mm. I trust the 370mm estimate more since I never measured anything less that 367mm and I figure it could compensate for manufacturing tolerances as well. UGH!!!!!! This still doesn't tell me for sure, if this will work or not.

To just "Do it!" would be a $400 experiment, so I'm not willing (yet) to go that route. So again, any info from people that actually have this set-up would be reassuring. Or if anybody is going on Chuck Schmidt's ride this weekend and has a Dia-Compe 750 and 650B that I can try on, that would be even better.

Doland