Bicycle Mechanics - Cruiser to roadster: Roadframe with cruiser wheels?

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charlesw
12-13-04, 03:44 PM
I found a great 62cm Schwinn Super Le Tour frame that fits my size but the wheels where missing.
The chainrings are 52/40.

Can I just grab some cruiser wheels and toss them on the roadframe??
http://charles.loveofcolor.org/bikeforums/schwinn-super-le-tour-nasty-500.jpg to make a simple singlespeed?

(Most older, road cruisers will have 27" wheels, correct?)


DieselDan
12-13-04, 05:23 PM
No. Cruisers use 26" fat tires, and won't clear the frame.

Rev.Chuck
12-13-04, 06:29 PM
Your best fit will be 27" rims with some 1 1/4 tires. That is about as big as you can get. looks like you need some brakes as well.


charlesw
12-13-04, 07:08 PM
That is the standard bike size for older bikes.

Would the rear cruiser hub work with my frame? I think it would, but I'm not sure if everything would line up perfectly.

DieselDan
12-13-04, 07:18 PM
Define crusier hub. Single speed, coaster brake hubs are 120mm.

dafydd
12-13-04, 07:29 PM
That is the standard bike size for older bikes.

Would the rear cruiser hub work with my frame? I think it would, but I'm not sure if everything would line up perfectly.

You can make it work, but you're probably going to have to ideally respace the frame to fit the hub (spacing varies from about 110 mm to 120 mm), widen the seatstays and chainstays at the tire, and fudge around with chainline, which may or may not involve a need bottom bracket spindle (sometimes just flipping it over works). 27" coaster wheels are available, but your tire selection is going to be a little more limited than with a 26"/559 coaster wheel. Unless you're really tall and can't find a coaster-brake bike that fits (which it kind of looks like judging by the frame size), it's a lot of work.

Rev.Chuck
12-13-04, 08:51 PM
Fixed gear.