Road Cycling - What's the difference b/n a 700c and a 27" wheel?

I have 27" wheels/rims. Are these somehow better or worse than 700c?

:)

I think the main thing is they are less common, so it is harder to find tires for them.. THe size difference is pretty small, but does limit your choices their.

about 14.2mm

A 700c tyre sits on a 622mm rim, whereas a 27" tyre sits on a 630mm rim. 27" is an obsolete size, and has been for about 12 years or so...

If your brake calipers have enough adjustment you can switch to 700c. Of course, if you like your 27" wheels, then keep them. Tire selection is limited but otherwise there is nothing wrong with 27".

But you can always find 27" tires at Walmart, where all the DUI's go for tires to put on their "DUIbrids." (That's an old 10-speed with the handlebars flipped over.)

RichC

Actually....the last time I was in Wal-Mart, they had no 27" tyres at all! They had lots of 26", some 24" and smaller, and a couple 700c hybrid-type tyres. No 27".

As far as the humble end of the cycling populace goes, around here, not only do you have the "DUIBirds", but there is also another subclass-the "Aunt Sally Specials" These are the old 27" 'touring' bikes of the 70's, often with the bars flipped, and almost always a women's or mixte frame, piloted by a man. Often seen with large plastic bags tied on either side, filled with empty returnable cans and botles. Often seen congregating at supermarkets where bottle redemption centers are located. (This is probably why many supermarkets here don't allow ANY bikes to be parked out front...)

27" is an obsolete size, and has been for about 12 years or so...

In an attempt to clarify the previous post and answer your question let me add;

27 inch wheels were once the standard for high performance and other adult bikes. Somewhere around the mid to late 80's the transition to 700c took place. 700c is now the standard.
There are tons of 27" wheels out there and you can still get rims and spokes. Tire choice is probably the greatest limitation. 27" tires are still around but choices are limited, especially at the high end.

If your 27" wheels are in good shape, don't worry about it. If they aren't in good shape then you have a few decisions to make.
One option may be a new bike but it certainly isn't necessary. There are plenty of vintage high performance bikes still rolling on 27" wheels and tires.

I bought a pair of 27" specialized armidillos so I am not worried about tires for awhile. I was thinking that perhaps because 27" are slightly larger they would be slightly faster than 700c. But then again I guess they would be slightly heavier as well!

27 inch wheels were once the standard for high performance ........bikes

Sorry, Dud, but 700 has always been the standard for high-performance bikes.

27" used to be the standard for:

a) American and British 'touring' bikes (whether they were really made for true touring)

b) "Campus' and derailleur-geared 'Roadster' bikes from late 60's to the 80's, and

c) Cr@p department store bikes.

Not sure I agree with you D*Alex.

When did 700c first get used in major stage races.?