substitute for 700 D GT tires or wheels?

I'm looking at this problem:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/587.html
"We carried tires in this size as long as we coud get them, but the supply
has been exhausted."
Do you think getting the "slightly too small" clinchers could work?
How about putting a standard set of wheels on the bike?
Thanks,
J
PS note that my email address is a spam trap.

ResearchGeek wrote:
I'm looking at this problem:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/587.html
"We carried tires in this size as long as we coud get them, but the supply
has been exhausted."
Do you think getting the "slightly too small" clinchers could work?
How about putting a standard set of wheels on the bike?

Yes a different wheel size and rebraze the brake mounts.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

A Muzi wrote:

ResearchGeek wrote:

I'm looking at this problem:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/587.html
"We carried tires in this size as long as we coud get them, but the
supply has been exhausted."
Do you think getting the "slightly too small" clinchers could work?
How about putting a standard set of wheels on the bike?


Yes a different wheel size and rebraze the brake mounts.

Would not ISO 584-mm (650 B) wheels work with only a minor brake pad
adjustment?

--
Tom Sherman – Earth

ResearchGeek wrote:

I'm looking at this problem:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/587.html
"We carried tires in this size as long as we coud get them, but the
supply has been exhausted."
Do you think getting the "slightly too small" clinchers could work?
How about putting a standard set of wheels on the bike?

A Muzi wrote:
Yes a different wheel size and rebraze the brake mounts.

Tom Sherman wrote:
Would not ISO 584-mm (650 B) wheels work with only a minor brake pad
adjustment?

Technically, yes, but then you're back to a poorly supported
size. Outside urban areas 650B is nonexistant. 26-decimals
(-559) at any XMart or hardware store, a compelling feature
for the sorts of bikes that were 700D.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

One person asked:

Would not ISO 584-mm (650 B) wheels work with only a minor brake pad
adjustment?

Andy Muzi responded:

Technically, yes, but then you're back to a poorly supported
size. Outside urban areas 650B is nonexistant. 26-decimals
(-559) at any XMart or hardware store, a compelling feature
for the sorts of bikes that were 700D.

Its true that 559 (26") tires are more prevalent and thus, more common.
But there is a "movement" taking place to revive the 584mm (650B) as a
viable option. Rivendell and Jan Heine of Vintage Bicycle Quarterly
are leading the charge. They believe this is an excellent size that has
been ignored too long by the bicycle establishment. Others have found
that by using 650B wheels, they can take "racing" bikes from the 70s
and 80s with no clearance for fenders and 700x28 tires and make these
bikes way more useful as this size allow fat 33-47mm wide tires and
fenders and allow the rider to ride offroad and in otherwise poor road
conditions. Several builders like Mike Berry at Mariposa and Steve and
Andy Hampsten (yes, THAT Andy Hampsten) of Hampsten cycles have jumped
on the bandwagon and offer bikes built around this size. Further,
there is a society in France with over a thousand members who also use
650B tires.

For shops, I believe there are wholesalers out there who sell 650B
tires. On the ibob list, J&B Importers supposedly carry a selection.
However, it maybe listed as 26x1 3/8 tires. According to Grant
Petersen at Rivendell there are at least 1/2 dozen tire manufacturers
who make 650B tires. Kenda, Michelin, Panaracer, Mitsuboshi and
Schwalbe offer tires in this size. Even Sheldon Brown appears to have
become a convert of 650B wheels:

http://sheldonbrown.org/iro/index.html

So, if you want to make that bike more useful, and you don't want or
need to "rebraze the brake mounts", get 584mm/650B wheels and enjoy!

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 11:21:54 -0600, A Muzi
wrote:

ResearchGeek wrote:

I'm looking at this problem:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/587.html
"We carried tires in this size as long as we coud get them, but the
supply has been exhausted."
Do you think getting the "slightly too small" clinchers could work?
How about putting a standard set of wheels on the bike?

A Muzi wrote:
Yes a different wheel size and rebraze the brake mounts.

Tom Sherman wrote:
Would not ISO 584-mm (650 B) wheels work with only a minor brake pad
adjustment?

Technically, yes, but then you're back to a poorly supported
size. Outside urban areas 650B is nonexistant. 26-decimals
(-559) at any XMart or hardware store, a compelling feature
for the sorts of bikes that were 700D.

Sheldon Brown has a rep for solving all sorts of complex mechanical
bicycle problems. If he is saying something is difficult, an easy
solution is doubtful.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
--
At the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Huh? Sheldon states on his website that 650B *IS* a viable option for
700D tires:

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/587.html

Thanks, everyone, for answering so rapidly. The 650B sounds viable.
Enjoy,
J
"ResearchGeek" wrote:
I'm looking at this problem:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/587.html
"We carried tires in this size as long as we coud get them, but the supply
has been exhausted."
Do you think getting the "slightly too small" clinchers could work?
How about putting a standard set of wheels on the bike?