Dear Listmembers,
I've searched the archives and have found nothing to help me with the following issues. Most all of my bikes are spaced 126mm for 6-speed freewheels. However, they are all early to mid 1970's models when 120 mm rear hubs were the norm. It's not easy finding pre-1978 straight QR lever hubs or wheelsets in 126mm widths. So here are my options:
1) Buy 120mm rear wheels, change the axles and QR to 126mm and screw on a 6-speed freewheel. (there is a 5-speed wheelset I am lusting after on E-Bay presently) But are not these wheels dished for 5-speed/120mm hubs? Would this cause problems? What if one were to change the axles and QR to 126mm but use a 5 speed freewheel? Would this mitigate any problems with dish?
2) Buy 126mm rear hubs or wheels and change the QR levers to the flat variety. And if one were really anal, switch out the washers to the appropriate date coded ones. As far as I can tell, there is no difference between straight and curved QR lever Record hubs outside out the levers and the date code on the washers. Is this correct? I would hope purists wouldn't cringe at this option. Also, I would be sure to note this detail to any potential buyer were I ever to sell these items.
3) Buy 120mm hubs, change the axles to 126mm and then have the wheels built up. But then I'll need longer a QR. I assume you can switch out to a straight lever from a curved lever QR.
4) Find 126mm hubs and/or wheelsets with straight QR levers. Any listmembers have any for sale?
Any other options? Any opinions are most welcome. I've always wrenched my own bikes but have never, ever, built wheels. To me, it's a black art best left in the hands of those who have built thousands of wheels. Ironically enough, I'm a wheel junkie. I probably have 4 times the rims, hubs and wheelsets as I do bikes.
George Allen
Lexington, KY