700C tires on my 27' Frame? Fixie newbie in need of help!

doctorkoh · November 2010

Hi, like many people, I'm currently in the middle of converting my old road bike into a fixed gear. I was told by my friends at the bike shop that my frame is built for 27'' 1/4 wheels. However, I was also told that I could fit on 700Cs BUT, in that case, I wouldn't be able to put on back brakes. I know that lot of people will say to go with the 700C route, but I actually want to keep my back brakes.

Does anyone have experience with putting 700Cs on a 27 1/4 frame? And if so, were you able to put brakes on?

-Thanks, Andy

stickman · November 2010

just get longer reach calipers - but why not keep the same wheels? nothing wrong with 27.

doctorkoh · November 2010

Well, I the rear wheels I currently have are free wheels and I wanted to get fixed ones. And considering that I'm really inexperienced in this kind of work, I wanted to stay away from screwing on a fixed hub with the locktite etc. I thought it would be best to just get new wheels.

That said, where could I find said longer reach calipers? and are 700Cs normally not compatible with 27' brakes?

stickman · November 2010

I assumed you be having a fixed hub put into the rim that you chose. longer reach calipers are available at any good bike shop. your pedal clearance will be 4mm lower with 700c.
if your original brakes have plenty of adjustability you might be ok, but your shop said not?

doctorkoh · November 2010

in your opinion, do you think that its better to go with the 700C with the new brakes?
or just look for 27' fixed wheels?

stickman · November 2010

my personal choice would be to keep that size and buy a fixed hub to have fitted into the rim.

doctorkoh · November 2010

I was told that that was also know as the "suicide hub"? Are there ready-made 27' fitted wheels? and if you know of any, could I send me some recommendations?

edhornby · November 2010

it can be done, you need a 73mm reach calliper

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=54548

check the brakes on the bike at the moment they may just get down to a 700c rim

I wouldn't bother trying to have the rim rebuilt, the old size doesn't give you much in the way of choice of tyres and rims are probably old and shot (rubbish as well)

otherwise you swap in new (s/h?) 700c forks but then it all starts getting pricy...

stickman · November 2010

27 fixed, maybe ebay? but there will be the postage cost to add on.

stickman · November 2010

Ed,
there won't be the dozens and dozens of tyres of 700c but who actually needs that many?
If I was buying a 2nd hand road bike i'd get 700c but if I already had a 27 I wouldn't change it.

Strith · November 2010

FWIW I'm in the process of looking for some new wheels for my fixed project. My current frame was designed for 27"s but i'm going to swap to 700c. I have mafac brakes which have plenty of reach, but my main reason for changing is because my rims are steel, heavy and dont stop very well in the rain. If i already had some alu rims I would stick with them though.

stickman · November 2010

My fixed has an alloy on the front and a steel on the back, I originally wanted alloy on the back but already had a steel rim lying around so used that. With all the amount of braking done on the rear regulating downhill speed i'm very glad I fitted hardwearing steel. The bike has no mudguards so I use a different bike in the rain.

700C tires on my 27' Frame? Fixie newbie in need of help!

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