"reverse" cold setting
 

just curious...

i know that (on a steel frame) one can spread a 125mm rear spacing to a 130mm rear spacing. can the reverse be done? i recently purchased a touring frame which takes 700c wheels. the rear spacing is 135mm, but i am only finding wheels that are spaced for 130mm. could the frame be "squeezed" or am i an idiot for asking. if so, just reply with the word "idiot" as the text. if not, any tips on a good and inexpensive way to do this would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

The frame could be cold set the "wrong" :) way but why not just add a 2 mm spacer under each locknut of the 130 mm hub? The resulting reduction in axle protrusion will still leave plenty (3.5 mm on each end) to locate the wheel properly and you won't have to modify the frame.

As to finding 135 mm hubs on road wheels, I think there are plenty out there or you could have a 700C rim laced to an MTB hub. Come to think of it, isn't that what 29" wheel MTB's use as standard equipment?

It can be done. You can do it with a 2x4. Sheldon Brown has a pretty good tutorial on his site. Just place the lever so it pushes the seatstay in. If you're not using quick release, 5 mm doesn't really need to be cold set, just use the nuts to pull the dropouts together. This would work with QR too, but would probably be a pain.

Keep in mind that "cold setting" is "bending with style"

You could do it, but if it were my bike, I would either add a 2-mm spacer on each side of the wheel... or actually, I'd move the axle to the left and add a 4-5 mm spacer to the LEFT only, to make it work like a bona fide 135-mm wheel. Or, if I were to buy a new wheel, I would simply get a wheel mounted on a MTB hub... like a touring wheel.

Basically, the 135-mm hub will give you a wheel with much less dish – i.e. much less vertical spokes on the right side – and therefore a much stronger wheel than a wheel built on a 130-mm.

wow! the answers i was looking for! and so fast, too!

i think i will hold out for some 135mm's. but i will keep the spacer idea under my hat. thanks again!

order a custom built wheel or there are a few at the online bike catalogs that have what you want in lowend units one is b--- n------ no ad just info doug