Thanks Hilary.
So what size wheelsets did most Brits race on in the 30s-50s when they switched out their daily ridden wheelsets for sprint or race-sets? Were they following more Continental norms?
Paul
Paul Williams, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Hilary Stone wrote:
> Tubular tyres as far as I am aware were never made in a 26 x 1 1/4in
> size. But they do seem to be made to two different standards one
> equivalent to the 650C clincher size (bsd of 571mm) and some
> equivalent to the 650B clincher size (bsd of 584mm) - in practice most
> 26in tubulars will fit on most rims but they are often horribly
> tight... And almost no tyre seller will know which size of 26in
> tubular they manufacture... 650 tubulars are available but in limited
> sizes - most are narrow for lo-pro frames.
>
> Hilary Stone, Bristol, British Isles
>
> Dr. Paul B. Williams wrote:
>> Okay, while the clincher vs. tubular stand-off goes on, it is all
>> very well to berate those who have switched out tubulars/ sew-ups for
>> clincher/ wired-on rims, but what do you do if sew-ups are no longer
>> available for certain rim-sizes? I am thinking specifically about the
>> 26 X 1 1/4" on a large majority of pre-1950ish British bikes or the
>> 650B French sizes. I haven't seen many sprint rims for bikes fitted
>> for the former size wheelsets being offered and if they are where on
>> earth would one find the tyres - unless, as I asked a while ago,
>> sprint rims on said bikes were a different size!
>>
>> I would love to ride the Carpenter with sew-ups - in fact I would
>> love to ride the Carpenter with something other than the Schwalbe
>> knobbies I have right now!!
>>
>> Paul Williams,
>> Ottawa, ON, Canada