Based on the geometry info here: http://vintage-trek.com/TrekBrochure1984Touring.htm - that Trek model has a bottom bracket drop of 72mm, making it an okay candidate for a 650b(584mm) conversion, if you plan on riding just roads, or are very careful with pedal strikes on trails. While you technically can fit 26"(559mm) wheels and tires and found brakes that reach, you're going to be striking pedals on corners. David Chicago
On Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 8:14:53 AM UTC-6, cbone97 wrote: > > After selling my Sam (loved it but always wanted fatter tires), I'm > rebuilding a 1984 Trek 420 I picked up in a thrift store in a Rivesque > fashion: dirt drop stem, B17, saddlesack, fancy Tektro drillium levers, > SunRace thumbie, etc etc. > > The bike's original wheels are 27". As I'm a husky lad, I decided to > attempt a conversion to 26" wheels so as to accommodate the fattest tires > possible. I had a rear wheel built to fit the original spacing of 126mm > (Velocity NoBS rim on a VO hi-flange 126mm freewheel hub), and I can fit a > Michelin Country Rock 1.75" in the back - so far so good. At this point > you're wondering what brakes make this possible; unfortunately not my > Silvers, but Tektro makes these huge beach cruiser calipers which make this > possible. Not sure of the model number - I've seen them on other posts on > here re: GP having tinkered with them at some point or the like. > > Anyway, here's where I'd appreciate your advice: I put a Shimano 7 sp > Megarange freewheel on the hub the other day and the smallest cog rubs the > derailer mounting bolt. I haven't put a chain on yet but can clearly see > that a chain on the smallest cog would smash against the chainstay. > Everything I read before ordering the fw said a 126mm hub could do a 7 sp > fw no problem, so where did I go wrong? Am I mistaken, any chance I just > don't have the freewheel screwed down tight enough, should I just replace > it with a 6 sp freewheel, have a bike shop remove the smallest cog > (assuming it's not what holds the others on...), or what? I understand the > wheel could be re-dished, but shouldn't it have been built with dish (or > lack of) that assumes it would be used with a 7 sp fw? > > fwiw, this bike is being built to ride rails to trails - single ring up > front, probably wouldn't miss the little cog...simplicity is the goal. > > Once it's built I'll post pics and give a report on whether 27" to 26" > conversion is a good idea. If not, I'll have a pretty unique wheel for > sale... > > Thanks! > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
