I am hoping to convert my Fuji Touring Edition 3 (Unknown Vintage) from its current 27" wheelset to 700c.
I would like to be able to use the brouder selection of tires available in 700c (including studded for winter riding).
I am having a hard time figuring out If I will be able to find a 700c Wheelset that can be dropped in without alteration.
The bike has a 6-speed rear cog.
Sunshine 5345 Hubs
The spacing of the rear dropouts appears to measure 130mm (from my own measurement).
Does the above seem right?
(锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why not just reuse the old hubs? Your main issue, if any, is going to be brake reach. Your pads will have to be moved about 4mm lower than they are with the 27'' rims.
If they don't move that far, you'll have to either use different brakes or another solution, of which there are several options.
(锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
In terms of reusing the existing hubs I don't have much of a bicycle toolchest and I'm not sure how cost prohibitive it would be to have wheels built using these hubs.
If there are older off the shelf wheels available (perhaps off ebay) I thought it might be cheaper.
(锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
Try to borrow an set of 700c wheels from a friend and try-fit them. If the brakes can be made to line up you are set.
Given the 6-speed freewheel (it is a freewheel, not a cassette isn't it?) and 27" wheels I'd be really surprised if the frame is spaced 130 mm. Did you measure between the inside faces of the rear dropouts? You may have to "cold set" the frame to fit a current hub.
(锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
What you need to find is a 700C wheelset that works with a freewheel. They are very to find but I think Wienmann makes them. If you have an early cassette instead of a freewheel, your chances of finding a compatible rear wheel are pretty close to zero. I restored an older 27" bike recently and had switch from cassette to freewheel because I couldn't find a direct replacement. The feewheel added $30 to the restoration.
The brakes are another issue but you can buy used brakes fairly cheaply on Ebay if your current brakes aren't long enough for the smaller 700C wheels.
I think you have two sensible approaches. The second most sensible would be to rebuild build your existing hubs with 622 rims into new wheels and buy new brake calipers. The most sensible would be to leave things alone and special order tires when you need them.
(锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm starting to believe that this project may be a no go...
One factor that adds additional complexity is that this bike has cantilever breaks (remember ts a touring model).
(锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
The frame is very worthwhile...a new frame of comparable quality would cost well over $1000.
The parts, however, are somewhat obsolete, particularly the rear drive train and the brakes. It's a good enough frame that it is well worth upgrading, if it's in good shape and fits you well.
The only potential issue with switching from 630 to 622 (27 inch to 700c) wheels is the brakes. With cantilevers such as you have, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't...cantilever placement is not as well standardized as you might expect.
Best would be to borrow a pair of 700c wheels from another bike and try them out, see if you can adjust the brakes to work. Unfortunately, the old DiaCompe cantilevers on these bikes are poorly designed (though very well made) and don't provide as much adjustabilty as some other cantilevers.
If the brakes don't reach, stick with 630 wheels. They're not that difficult to find and support.
Another poster as advised re-using the existing hubs. I don't concur with that advice. The bike came with a thread-on freewheel system, but modern Shimano cassette hubs are not expensive and are superior in every respect...even the very cheapest Shimanos are way better.
You could upgrade this to 9-speed while you're at it, you'd wind up with something comparable to a Rivendell Atlantis for a fraction of the price.
Sheldon "A Good Find!" Brown
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