I wonder about our UK counterparts. If I believe what I have read, in the 50's and early 60's British amateur racers would ride their race bikes to events on 27" wheels, carrying their "sprint" wheels for the event itself. This was similar to the way in which US amateur sports car racers in that same era (often driving British Triumphs, MG's and Austin-Healy's) would drive their race cars to the event. I presume one had to adjust the brake blocks when installing the sprint wheels for the race.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
> Jerry wrote:
>
> > I think the very late adoption of 700C clinchers in the US was due in
> large
> > part to the dominance of the US market by Schwinn and Raleigh, both of
> whom
> > designed the low and mid priced models, and even the Paramount touring
> > version, specifically for 27" wheels.
>
> If you are a pessimist, you would more than likely say that Schwinn and
> Raleigh maintained the 27" standard as long as possible thereby making
> importers spend the extra money to prepare US-market-specific frames. It
> reminds me of the situation with car headlights. The headlights in Europe
> are far more effective at lighting up roads that those here in the US
> because of the parabola design, however, in many states you can't legally
> use them. The manufacturers are obliged to detune the headlights to meet
the
> market requirements. Strange!
>
> Steven Maasland
> Moorestown, NJ
>
>
>
>
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