Originally Posted by
pargeterw
Care to clarify what you mean by these? The plan on my 1970's Gitane rennovation project (
http://gitaingaves.blogspot.co.uk/ if you're interested) includes switching down to 700c wheels (and putting on a Cassette), on the premise that this would give more mechanical advantage to the Cantilevers, thus improving stopping power? (To clarify, there's NO desire to keep originality at all - we want reliability above all, and, to be 'future proof' would be an added benefit)
Some that come to mind as potential hits depending on what you might be changing from/to;
- Must buy the new wheels, tires, tubes, cassettes, spares, maybe need to replace your pump heads if changing from/to Presta, etc. Tandem bits are not cheap!
- Build lag time, shipping lag time, shipping damage, filing claims, etc.
- Having to move the brake studs up or down (not always, but often enough the case) or buy new brakes bits to make it all line up with the new location.
- Gear ratios that now feel just wrong enough to require buying parts, labor to get it all installed, tuned and working. And now chain probably too short or too long...
- New cassette need a different chain and thus might required new chainrings
- A beloved pair of Fenders now don't quite fit right or look just goofy enough to require replacement
- Racks have to be mod'd, replaced, bent, etc. and now your panniers aren't quite right either and the tail light mount on the new rear rack is not right for the old tail light you love.
- Change in BB height becomes an issue in several potential ways including frame fit to captains inseam and puts a marginal standover height into the red or results in toes now hitting front fender (if going up to larger wheel) or hitting pedal on ground in a turn (if going down to 26")
- Have to buy some new tools (such as cassette tool, drum brake tool)
- Realizing that your old brake cables were trimmed to be just right lenght for the old brake location and are now just a smidge too short to reach so a complete new set is needed and no one in town has a set in stock or even sells them, thus screwing up tomorrow's ride (see last item).
- Generator braze-on mount now won't quite let you reach the sidewall or changes the angle so it now cuts into the sidewall 20 miles later
- Old wheel had a drum and new one is disk and all the fun that can result from that
- All changes will likely annoy the stoker and thus it is your fault...
- Etc.