Original Message: ----------------- From: Huemax@aol.com Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 10:11:45 EST To: teaat4p@yahoo.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Query to Hetchins Owners/British wheel questions
"I have my question for British bike experts;
A) When are the peak time line for 26-1/4" wheels?
B) Are they ever used for racing?"
Thanks,
KEN TODA,
Ken... 26" x 1/4" wheels were very common for club bikes c. 1930-1950. But from about then on, 27" x 1/4" became pretty much the standard for lightweights, certainly racing machines, especially running on sprints or tubulars. Most frame sets could take both. And models like the Raleigh RRA of the period offered the choice of 26" or 27" with the top British makes (Constrictor etc).
I have two machines riding on the famous Dunlop EA alloy 26" x 1/4" rims (the slightly wider Westrick pattern ones) and one on the equally classic Dunlop lightweight steel "HP" styles. Frankly, the bikes ride much nicer on the 26".
But if you're putting together a "racing" rather than "club" machine and it's post say 1950, you'd be more typically period correct by going for 27" methinks. If your frame's pre-1960, English make would be more common, too, I think... the British still made superb rims, hubs, handlebars, stems and brakes at this time with no need at all to "go foreign".
Peter Kohler Washington DC USA
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