Classic & Vintage - Here'sa question for you.

Can you get alloy rims for old 26 inch Ralegh cruiser type wheels? I forget the exact size - 26 x 1 3/8 spring to mind from my dim and distant past. I idly thought that a standard MTB rim would work, but I see now it's too small.
I read that even at the turn of the century you could actually get alloy rims for some bikes.
I have an old raleigh 3 speed I'm perhaps going to use to tour the Black Forest, but I need to make it as light as possible for flying. I've swapped over a few parts for alloy (seat pin, stem), but my eyes keep turnint to the wheels - excuse the pun.

Anyone know if there;s a size that will work. I wondered about a 700?

650B, Maybe...

http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

Harris Cyclery http://sheldonbrown.com/hub.html has alloy rims in 26x1 3/8. ISO 590 is the modern designation for that size. I have seen articles where people have switched to 700c rims but since they are about an inch larger diameter, you may have to remove your fenders to fit the larger tires. It does give you a much larger selection of tires. http://beauty.nagog.smasher.net:81/bike/3speedupdate/index.shtml

I went in a different direction. Instead of trying to fit larger wheels to a three speed frame, I laced a three speed hub into a 27 inch wheel and put it back into the frame that the wheels came from. Due to our current weather, I haven't been able to thoroughly test it, but so far, it looks promising. If you are looking to save weight, that would be the way to go. I dropped a pound by removing the derailers, and when I get alloy rims, it should go down even more.

Thanks for that. What length spokes did you use?

Spoke length will need to be calculated for your particular build as there is just too many variables. There are many excelent spoke lengtth calculators available on-line.

I'd like to know too. I have or am caring for three old Schwinn cruisers with steel 26" x 1-3/8 S6 rims. Can I just drop-in a replacement alloy rim for not too much money?

I'd like to know too. I have or am caring for three old Schwinn cruisers with steel 26" x 1-3/8 S6 rims. Can I just drop-in a replacement alloy rim for not too much money?

Dunno if you will find s-6 rims in an alloy but the regular ISO 590 (http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/rims/590.html) rims are available for about $35 each...plus the cost of a wheel build up and spokes. I would guess around $100 a complete wheel build up with new rims old hubs. FWIW I build my own do the basic tensioning then take it to my LBS for final truing. (they have a better truing stand than I do)

Aaron:)

The Schwinn rims are a few mm larger than the 590 rims (597mm vs. 590mm) but you may be able to just swap the rims without unlacing the spokes. You fasten the new rim next to the old one and transfer one spoke at a time. Loosen all the spokes first. For initial truing, just make each nipple have the same number of turns, then keep snugging them down one turn at a time. Since the new rim is smaller, make sure the spokes don't poke out through the nipples, file the tips off if they do.

For the 27" rims, I have new alloy rims on order, but I think 294mm spokes will work for 3x lacing. I laced up some old steel rims with old spokes to test the concept, but the spokes were too short so I could only lace them 1x.