Raleigh 27" to - wheel conversion

[s.e.charles]

Raleigh 1983 Record Special mixte. starting down the rabbit hole. existing factory steel rims have no hooks for tire wire.

if i am changing rims, i want to go aluminum and a size smaller for the addition of fenders. i will need long reach brakes.

back wheel is now solid axle; want to change to skewer.

i would really like to keep the factory freewheel.

i bought the bike a year ago, unassembled in it's factory carton.

where do i begin?

thanks,

sid

 

[bikeworkshop]

You can fit 700s if the brake shoes can drop 4mm.
Then a 28 tyre should give you another 4mm clearance for Guards.

If you want to fit a smaller wheel size than that, you'd need different calipers and might bring the pedals too close to the ground, so not generally advisable.

 

[s.e.charles]

if you only knew what i went through sizing tires . . .

how big is a 700s wheel/ tire (inch measurements) and 28 would correspond to an 1 1/8" width?

the front (existing brake arms) have a bit more down travel available, but the the rears are maxed out now.

i would not mind an unmatched set of brakes. actually i think it would add to the funk-factor.

sorry; but i've gone through this exercise with tires/ tubes/ stems/ handlebars & shims.

thank you for bringing up ground clearance. i would not have given that a thought until i heard a grinding noise . . . .

appreciate the help.

this may not be my sport, but i do enjoy it so once things get sorted!

we can work on chainrings, cogs, & chains next.

anyone up for it?

 

[bikeworkshop]

It's not a grinding noise, it's a lot worse than that!
Pedal his the ground at an angle of lean on the downstroke, levers the bike off the ground for a moment, then the wheel slips out and you're face-planting fast.
You might not even remember the most!

Most brake calipers come in different drops.
35-45 is shallow,
45-55 is deep
55-75 is available.

You can't really work out exact details of tyre clearance on paper - you fit the parts best approximation and see.