26*1 1/4 or 1 3/8

belgiangoth · June 2007

I'm doing up a bike, the front rim is rusted to cracking but the back rim has a morkable if darkended rim under a fat layer of rust. I have strugled to source a front 32 hole 26*1 1/4, but I have been offered the option of some AL 26*1 3/8 rims which would brake better and be about the right period.
I'm not sure about the wheel size change though, I expect it would fit, but would it be a "downgrade" to go to 3/8 from 1/4?

Birmingham Pushbikes;West Midlands yahooGroup;Birmingham CTC;Tuppin' fool rides a pushbike ; baby elephant
Chris Juden or Sheldon Brown? - there's only one way to find out, FIGHT!

Unknown · June 2007

Personally I'd go with the ally one(s): a bit bigger so less "sporty" in their day I suppose, but lighter and they will help you stop!

Keep watching th'ebay for some x1 1/4s in the better material.

d.j.
"Not much to see,
Not much left to lose"

hubgearfreak · June 2007

if you look at http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html#fraction and sjsc you'll see that these aren't the same diameter, although you might expect them to be.

the 26x13/8 option will give you a better choice of tyres, certainly from sjsc.
the difference, probably, isn't enough to worry about aesthetically* but will the brake calipers accomadate? i.e. can the blocks move 4mm nearer the hub?

*only you can decide this

belgiangoth · June 2007

hgf, with a difference of 7mm in diameter I reckon 3.5mm would be possible. Sheldon rates the two as running with 37mm tyres/tires, which means that neither are significantly wider than the other. The real issue for me is whether 3/8s were considered an inferior size to a 1/4 race rim, or whether that's just not true.

In fact, shockingly, the forks could take up to a 27" diameter, though it would be a struggle to get the brakes to work.

Birmingham Pushbikes;West Midlands yahooGroup;Birmingham CTC;Tuppin' fool rides a pushbike ; baby elephant
Chris Juden or Sheldon Brown? - there's only one way to find out, FIGHT!

Gavin Gilbert · June 2007

26" * 1 1/4 rims are as rare as rocking horse poo, if you can find a pair Constrictor alloy examples go for around œ80, chrome Dunlops a bit less but are highly prone to rust. This sizing is not available new, whereas 1 3/8ths is.

The difference in section sizing of the tyre is noticable - 1 1/4 was a 'lightweight racer' tyre whereas 1 3/8 was/is a quite beefy Roadster beast.

<hr noshade size="1">
'Cause I'm a lover not a fighter
Yes, I'm a lover not a fighter
Yes, I'm a lover not a fighter
And I'm really built for speed
Built for speed

hubgearfreak · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gavin Gilbert

26" * 1 1/4 rims are as rare as rocking horse poo, if you can find a pair Constrictor alloy examples go for around œ80, chrome Dunlops a bit less but are highly prone to rust.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

indeed, are there any even half decent tyres available, if some rims were found?

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by hubgearfreak

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gavin Gilbert

26" * 1 1/4 rims are as rare as rocking horse poo, if you can find a pair Constrictor alloy examples go for around œ80, chrome Dunlops a bit less but are highly prone to rust.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

indeed, are there any even half decent tyres available, if some rims were found?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If you go for 26 x 1 3/8 then you can get some nice rims for a reasonable price thanks to them still being the preferred size for cycle speedway.

belgiangoth · June 2007

I've got a number for a place that does the 3/8s alloy new, and can source 1/4s, but only in rusty 36 holes. The rear rim I have is a rust (I mean chrome) dunlop, in fact if you look here you'll see the "mostly rust" and "less rust" before and after pics.

As the bike is really old, but has been changed from original spec throughout it's life, I'm half tempted to try modern brakes and see if I can run 650s, or something "crazy" like that. But then I prolly wouldn't use the 3-speed hub in favor of fixed/free at which point why use the dynohub instead of a shimano one, so why not just trash it completely ... ?

Birmingham Pushbikes;West Midlands yahooGroup;Birmingham CTC;Tuppin' fool rides a pushbike ; baby elephant
Chris Juden or Sheldon Brown? - there's only one way to find out, FIGHT!

belgiangoth · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gavin Gilbert
The difference in section sizing of the tyre is noticable - 1 1/4 was a 'lightweight racer' tyre whereas 1 3/8 was/is a quite beefy Roadster beast.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I assumed as mcuh, though I think that the width of tyre is about the same, it's more that 3/8s were standard on mass produced bikes, while 1/4s were the racer's choice.

Birmingham Pushbikes;West Midlands yahooGroup;Birmingham CTC;Tuppin' fool rides a pushbike ; baby elephant
Chris Juden or Sheldon Brown? - there's only one way to find out, FIGHT!

thomasb · June 2007

"indeed, are there any even half decent tyres available, if some rims were found?"

My everyday bike is 26 x 1 1/4. LBS stocks schwalbes in this size, as do SJS - good tyres and good value for a tenner. Front rim is not quite 100% so am considering a rebuild in 26 x 1 3/8.

26*1 1/4 or 1 3/8

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