700c forks

suburbanreuben

Old School Grand Master
Would it be possible to run a 26" wheel on 700c forks? Is the axle spacing the same? Would the canti bosses be in the right place? Any good reasons why these wouldn't work as a touring fork on a mountain bike?
Ta, Nick
 
could sorta work. The canti bosses are set up for bigger (700c) wheels, so would be redundant with 26" wheels.
My single speeder has a 700c fork on an MTB frame with 26" wheel and uses an old weinmann centrepull caliper. The forks need to be 700c racing forks, otherwise the clearance will be too big to fit a caliper. I cant use anything bigger than a 28mm tyre, cos the width clearance between the fork blades isnt big enough for a balloon tyre.

you are also altering the geometry of the frame. By lowering the front, you are steepening the head angle. fortunately most MTB frames have around a 70 degree head. Fitting racing forks will alter this to around 73/74 degrees, but mated to the short rake on a race fork, the trail and everything works ok.
But you are also altering the seat angle from around 74 to 76ish, which is time trial steepness, and not suited to touring, unless youre fortunate to get a mega layback seatpost.

lots to think about - the best bet would be to use the 700c fork you have and get the canti bosses moved down.
 
If the reach of a caliper is sufficient you could use a BMX type caliper or a V or U brake via a fork crown bolted adaptor plate also from BMX land. Alternatively build your wheel onto a drum brake or roller brake hub which have clamp on mounts for the fork legs. There are loads of solutions but best bet is to use the correct fork for the wheel :wink:
 
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