Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Working on my first fixie

Hey all.

Couple weeks ago I found a Univega Sportour that had been hiding in my girlfriend's basement. She said I could take it, and now I'm plotting it's transformation into a fixie.

Here's my question. It has a Uniglide freehub on it (DOH!) so I'm looking at buying a new rear wheel. The bike currently has 27" wheels on it that are in decent shape (a little out of true, but that's it). However, with those 27s, the standover height is a little too big (I'm touching the top tube). So, I'm thinking about swapping to 700s to at least get a few more mm to possibly prevent an incredibly painful mishap. Here's the advantages I can think of for going to 700s

Better standover height
More tire choices.
If I ever decide to upgrade/get a nicer frame, I would definitely be able to use the 700s on the new frame

Disadvantages:
Have to buy a wheelset instead of just a rear wheel ($80 more)
Might need new brake calipers (my current ones have a couple more mm of reach left in them, so it would be close).

I've been leaning toward the 700s (partially because I have a bday coming up so I might be able to convince my parents to help out). What do you guys think? Do I have enough reason to go with 700s? Or am I completely out of my mind for considering it.

Thanks all.
nick

how's the reach with the stem that's on there? theres a chance that the frame might be too big for you.

either way, going with 700's now is going to save you a pain in the ass later.

ya I have that setup on my bike and I am glad that I got 700s instead of trying ot stick with 27"....I use the nashbar brand (rebranded tektros) long reach brakes they are somewhere around 30$ for a set...work just fine for me

See, the reach is the weird thing. The top tube lenght is exactly the same as my 53cm roadie. So, it would seem that the frame is approximately the same size as my roadie (which fits me really well).

See, the reach is the weird thing. The top tube lenght is exactly the same as my 53cm roadie. So, it would seem that the frame is approximately the same size as my roadie (which fits me really well).
Definitely do it. Standover is totally overrated as a sizing method for road bikes... how often do you stand over your bike with both feet on the ground? Get the 700c's, and if the brake pads don't reach, dremel the notches down a little bit until they do. Done and done.

If you are mainly looking to save some coin you could always go with a 700c in the rear and keep the 27" up front. It will muck with the geometry a tiny bit, but it would hold you over until you had the cash for the 700c front. Doing it that way would also enable you to keep your front brake until you switched to the 700c. Dremeling the brake notches, as Aeroplane stated, is also a good way to save some money. Definitely go 700c at some point though, it will ultimately make life easier.

700c it is! Thanks guys!