Re: [CR]History of the movement from 27" wheels to 700C...many questions

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Ideale)

Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 09:01:42 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]History of the movement from 27" wheels to 700C...many questions
To: Tom Sanders <tsan7759142@sbcglobal.net>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <001401c693b5$b0691c40$873fff44@ts>


I think there was a gradual shift from 27" to 700C clinchers between the mid-70's and the early 80's, at least in the USA. I remember replacing the original sewups on my 1973 LeJeune F-70 with 27" clinchers about 1982. I think I was a little "behind the curve" on that one, as good 700C clinchers were already available. In fact, I switched to 700C on the LeJeune a few years later.

What I'm not clear on is when 700C clinchers came into widespread use in France. Did the French in fact, ever make widespread use of 27" clinchers, or was it 650B clinchers or 700C tubulars, with 700C clinchers eventually displacing 650B? Probably Jan can answer that question.

Regards,

Jerry Moos Big Spring, TX

Tom Sanders <tsan7759142@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    I'm sure Chuck will point out that this is all in the Archives somewhere, but I couldn't figure out just how to phrase my questions for them. Many of my early '70s bikes have 27" wheels...many of the later ones have 700C wheels. I recently built up a really great '76 frame and it seemed to prefer 27" wheels over the set of 700C wheels that I wanted to go into it...it took three drop bolts, much confusion and more than a few choice deleted expletives before they went into the bike to my satisfaction. Speaking to the builder later at Cirque I mentioned the 27" wheels the bike was built for and he told me it was built for 700C wheels...but for long reach brakes! Now few are as mechanically inept as myself, but my feeling is that there must be others out there who run into similar problems (hopefully I am not all that uniquely non-gifted!). I am wondering if those who know can shed some light on when the change from 27" wheels to 700C wheels came about, was it gradual or abrupt, what triggered the change, how to tell on a frame just what wheels are needed and if what you are seeing is instead a calling for a different reach brake than the ones one has on hand, etc.? I know that I have changed them on bikes for reasons of tire availability, what wheels I had on hand, etc. Other than the greater tire availability of 700C wheels, I sure can't see any advantage to them and wonder how we ever got started in adding one more complication to the bicycling mix. Once again I come, hat in hand, seeking clarification... Thanks all Tom Sanders Lansing, Mi USA