Originally Posted by Dahon.Steve
I have an Bianchi Brave steel frame that I'm thinking of making into a 3 speed. The axle is spaced at 135 mm but I'm not sure which AW-3 hub to buy?
1. Specs for 175.0mm Axle with 126.8mm OLD
2. Specs for 175.0mm Axle with 118.8mm OLD
3. Specs for 162.7mm Axle
4. Specs for 148.0mm Axle
Have you seen this part of Sheldon's website?
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html
I used his "cold spacing" method on my beater so that I could put a modern cassette hub in an old Raleigh frame my friend saved from the garbage. I've been riding the bike for about 6 months and nothing bad has happened yet...
He also mentions using washers to put a narrower hub on a wider frame. That might be the best solution if bending your frame seems a little too extreme.