Road Cycling - Only one wheel size?

Browsing through the website of an internet retailer, I noticed that wheels aren't differentiated by size. Part of me suspects I'm about to ask a stupid question, but do all bikes use standard-sized wheels?

G'day,

depends what type of bike you're talking about!...i'll assume we're talking 'roadies'. Generally only 2 sizes 650 or 700c. 700c being the standard 'full size'. Many retailers probably wouldn't stock any other sizes for 'roadies' (& even 650's are sometimes scarce)

cheers,

Hitchy

G'day,

depends what type of bike you're talking about!...i'll assume we're talking 'roadies'. Generally only 2 sizes 650 or 700c. 700c being the standard 'full size'. Many retailers probably wouldn't stock any other sizes for 'roadies' (& even 650's are sometimes scarce)

cheers,

Hitchy

For those of us that still think in Standard, that'd be 24" youth/small adult and 26" adult. There's also the odd 27" out there. All of the BMX's I've seen seem to be 20".

There's also the odd 27" out there.
hmmm thought 27" was the standard for US Road bikes

g'day,

sorry, forgot I need to speak in 'seppo'. 700c = 27" 650c = 26"

cheers,

Hitchy

In road bikes, 27" does not equal 700c. 27" used to be the standard for road bikes, most newer road bikes use 700c. In fact, the 26" Mountain Bike standard is not compatible with the 650c wheels that are typcial of Time Trial and Triathlon bikes. 20" and 24" wheels are still pretty common in BMX, smaller MTBs, and kids bikes.

In road bikes, 27" does not equal 700c. 27" used to be the standard for road bikes, most newer road bikes use 700c. In fact, the 26" Mountain Bike standard is not compatible with the 650c wheels that are typcial of Time Trial and Triathlon bikes. 20" and 24" wheels are still pretty common in BMX, smaller MTBs, and kids bikes.


g'day,

from my 1st post you'll see I'm only talking about full size 'roadies'....obviously there are a million different size wheels to fit particular niche bikes. The size you seppos refer to as 27" is referred to as 700c in the rest of the world....1 cm = 0.3937 inches.....therefore 70 cm x 0.3937 = 27.56"..... I very much doubt that wheel manufacturers like , say, mavic, make wheels for the rest of the world at 700mm & make a different size for the states to suit 27" (which would be 686mm)......I'm tipping we all get the same size wheels, they are just labelled differently,

cheers,

Hitchy

g'day,

from my 1st post you'll see I'm only talking about full size 'roadies'....obviously there are a million different size wheels to fit particular niche bikes. The size you seppos refer to as 27" is referred to as 700c in the rest of the world....1 cm = 0.3937 inches.....therefore 70 cm x 0.3937 = 27.56"..... I very much doubt that wheel manufacturers like , say, mavic, make wheels for the rest of the world at 700mm & make a different size for the states to suit 27" (which would be 686mm)......I'm tipping we all get the same size wheels, they are just labelled differently,

cheers,

Hitchy

That is erroneous. 700c has nothing to do with cm or mm, or any unit of measurement for that matter. Its just a denotation in the French wheel sizing system. The number is a reference to diameter and the letter is width (B and D widths were formerly found on French bikes). 700c wheels are actually 622mm in diameter, and 27" wheels are 630mm in diameter, despite what your instincts may tell you (I used to think the same thing, before I learned a bit about bicycle repair and parts). Therefore, tubes for the two wheel sizes are generally interchangable (good for me, both my bikes have 27" wheels) but tires are not (bad for me).

That is erroneous. 700c has nothing to do with cm or mm, or any unit of measurement for that matter. Its just a denotation in the French wheel sizing system. The number is a reference to diameter and the letter is width (B and D widths were formerly found on French bikes). 700c wheels are actually 622mm in diameter, and 27" wheels are 630mm in diameter, despite what your instincts may tell you (I used to think the same thing, before I learned a bit about bicycle repair and parts). Therefore, tubes for the two wheel sizes are generally interchangable (good for me, both my bikes have 27" wheels) but tires are not (bad for me).


g'day,

I stand corrected...however the original point of the post remains....If a 'seppo' says 27", the rest of the world thinks 700c,

cheers,

Hitchy

ryan_c is right. For a more in-depth explanation of what ryan_c said, Sheldon Brown has a very informative webpage that explains bicycle tyre/wheel sizing (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html).