refurbishing an old bike--can I spread frame for wider hub?
08-14-07, 12:23 PM
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refurbishing an old bike--can I spread frame for wider hub?
I have been refurbishing an old Clubman 70s road bike, and the frame width in back was 120mm. I "cold set" or spread it so it is now 130mm. It used to have 27" wheels on it. Would it be safe to use a more modern 700c/135mm hub for the rear or is that pushing it?
08-14-07, 01:05 PM
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I've been riding my Gardin all season (~2,000 miles) that I cold set to 135mm.
No problems yet.
08-14-07, 01:19 PM
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Well I dont know-- its only cold set to 130 (from 120). So should I cold set it another 5mm or just squeeze the hub in? 15mm isnt too much to cold set a frame?
08-14-07, 01:22 PM
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you should have no problems doing so. I've done it with a few steel japanese to run 700c wheels. It seems to work better with older steel with horizontal or semi horizontal dropouts. However, putting the 700c rear wheel back after repair is always a pain.
08-14-07, 01:27 PM
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OK cool. The rear cog used to have 6 speeds, when it was 120mm frame and hub. Can I now do 8 if I use a regular 135mm hub?
08-14-07, 02:18 PM
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08-14-07, 02:41 PM
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Depends. You can't "cold set" (permanently bend) carbon or aluminum, but you can still use wider hubs by spreading them a bit when you install the wheel. Many of us have done that with our older Cannondales, allowing us to use newer cassettes with more cogs.
08-14-07, 03:00 PM
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As the owner of a steel frame bike w/ 120cm rear spacing I'm curious about what's actually involved when you "cold set" the frame to a wider hub spacing...especially those people who claim to have done it themselves! Is "cold setting" the rear hub spacing of an old steel frame really a DIY project, or is this something best left to the pros?
And what would the pros do that an entrepid enthusiast couldn't?
Thanks.
And what would the pros do that an entrepid enthusiast couldn't?
Thanks.
08-14-07, 03:04 PM
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Going from 120mm to 135 you couldn't do with carbon or aluminum. He must be talking about a steel frame though because he said he's already gone from 120 to 130mm.
08-14-07, 03:34 PM
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As the owner of a steel frame bike w/ 120cm rear spacing I'm curious about what's actually involved when you "cold set" the frame to a wider hub spacing...especially those people who claim to have done it themselves! Is "cold setting" the rear hub spacing of an old steel frame really a DIY project, or is this something best left to the pros?
And what would the pros do that an entrepid enthusiast couldn't?
Thanks.
And what would the pros do that an entrepid enthusiast couldn't?
Thanks.
Sheldon Brown has detailed instructions for cold setting a steel frame HERE. It isn't difficult to do.
08-14-07, 04:03 PM
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Why go to 135mm? The current standard for road bikes is 130mm. All you will gain from the extra 5mm is a wheel is slightly less dish so it will be a little stronger. You may be able to use 700c wheels, the deciding factor is whether your brakes have the adjustment room to lower the pads 4mm.
