Touring - Panasonic Touring Deluxe wheels- good or got to go?

I just bought my first touring bike, a Panasonic Touring Deluxe. I haven't figured out how old it is, but it's from the 80's.

From the little I have learned about the brand, it looks like I have a decent bike on my hands, but I'm not sure what to do about the wheels. I am planning my first loaded tour from Vancouver to LA (or so) starting in September. The bike was in storage for the last 15+ years and is in fairly mint shape overall. It has all original parts I believe, including the 27 inch 1 1/8 tires!

I'm wondering if I should buy a set of hybrid wheels to accomodate 700c touring tires or use the wheels I have. I'm nervous about the quality of the 27 inch tires my LBS has plus it seems like an awfully skinny wheel/tire for 2000 miles, though I think the wheel is quite strong.

I'm not sure if I should pay for a new set to have more selection of tires down the line or keep a good thing together.

Or, chuck the whole thing on eBay and pick out something newer!

Any advice or opinions would be very much appreciated!

Not cheap, but a bargain compared to new wheel and brakes and... (we know where this is going)

Schwable Marathon
http://www.everybicycletire.com/Shopping/pc-187-22-27-x-1-14-schwalbe-marathon-hs-368-630.aspx

Continental Ultra Gator Skin
http://www.lickbike.com/productpage.aspx?PART_NUM_SUB=%271789-32%27

and PaselaTourGuards (thinner sidewalls )
http://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?id=1734

Doug

Thanks Doug, I think I'll find a pair of tires and see how I go!

Much appreciated.

Not cheap, but a bargain compared to new wheel and brakes and... (we know where this is going)

Schwable Marathon
http://www.everybicycletire.com/Shopping/pc-187-22-27-x-1-14-schwalbe-marathon-hs-368-630.aspx

Continental Ultra Gator Skin
http://www.lickbike.com/productpage.aspx?PART_NUM_SUB=%271789-32%27

and PaselaTourGuards (thinner sidewalls )
http://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?id=1734

Doug
+1
I especially like the Continental Ultra Gator Skin.

I would leave the bike as stock as possible with the exception of maybe lower gearing if needed, and it likely is.

The Pacific Coast is great riding. Have a great trip.

Can I put 27 1 1/4 tires on my 27 1 1/8 wheels safely?

Thanks for the support, I'm much happier not thinking about re-doing a great bike.

m

Can I put 27 1 1/4 tires on my 27 1 1/8 wheels safely?

Thanks for the support, I'm much happier not thinking about re-doing a great bike.

m

Given the age of the bike, the brakes probably have much more adjustability than the cantilevers currently available. The brakes from long ago were sold in two markets that used different sized wheels so, rather than make two different brakes they made one that had enough adjustment to cover the wheel sizes (it's not a huge difference).

If you are going to use this bike for what it is intended, i.e. touring, don't worry about keeping it in mint condition. Mint condition usually means that it's sat in a shed someplace because so one was too worried about it to use it. There have been a lot of improvements and changes made over the last 15 to 20 years to components. Swap out what you can to modern stuff (it works better and is stronger). Cassettes hubs, touring rims and butted spokes are much better than what the bike has now. Same with sealed bottom brackets and modern mountain bike or trekking cranks. Change the fork to a threadless is probably impossible (not many 1" forks out there) but change the stem to a threadless type. With this bike you could even change the shifters to STI (8 speed) with a 130mm road hub or indexed barends.

Don't do it all at once but don't be afraid to make the switch as things wear out.