HELP! Road (130mm) hub/ wheel in 120mm track frame?

ronancarter

Hi all - I have a new Eastway TR01 for commuting. It's a pretty sweet alu frame but the wheels suck so I want to change them...

I want to use an old pair of Mavic Ksyrium SLs (1500g :-). Rear has been converted using spacers (freewheel, not fixed), however it doesn't fit in the frame. The road wheels have a 130mm hub and the frame is the track standard 120mm. I can move the frame apart 5mm either side and squeeze the wheel in (using a surly chain tug with the QR).

Question is.... is this safe? Will the rear triangle be under too much stress, being aluminium...?

Sheldon Brown talks about increasing spacing on STEEL bikes, but I can't find anything on 'tinterweb about spacing alu frames...

Thoughts?

Cheers in advance

napoleond

Don't do it.

ugo.santalucia

It won't work.

ronancarter

thanks guys, the issue is that it does fit if I squeeze it in... I know I could ride it. BUT - whether it is safe or not is the question...

ugo.santalucia

By squeezing in, you bend the dropouts and effectively your wheel cannot be clamped correctly and safely. Then there is the issue of the rear triangle that might just fail altogether

cycleclinic

Don't do it. Plenty of decent wheels with 120mm rear spacing or talk to a tame wheel builder.

ronancarter

OK - thanks for the advice, all. It shall not be done!