And yet even in 2010 it's possible to find a 27 x 1 1/4 tire in more places in the USA than 700C (x 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 28, 30, 32, 35, 37, 38, 40, 42, 47, 50, 54, 57, 60 or 62).

Two folks on a cross country tour roll into a dusty little town, one on 700c tires and one riding obsolete 27"ers. They go into the hardware store. One comes out with a new tire. It'll be a 27 x 1 1/4!

In the UK 700C tires were sometimes known as "continental 27s".

In Germany what Norte-americanos call 27" tires are sometimes called 28".