hey. i've got another stupid question:

how much does it suck to run a frame designed for 27"ers with 700c's? i'm asking b/c i have a frame i think i shall love, but the thing takes 27"ers, and i've got a nice set of open pro's that i'd like to put on it. i wanna build this as a fixie, but i'm into front brakes. will long-reach brakes do the trick?

also, for those of you (and i know there's a few of you on this board) with nishikis, did you have any trouble finding a headset to fit your frame? i've run into a wall with this one, and i was wondering if someone could gimme a clue.

thanks in advance,
-rob

You should have no problem running the 700's Doing that exact thing on my tank. You should be able to adjust the brake pads to get you there.

Dave

Worst case yes you can get long reach brakes that will fit 700c wheels there is only 4mm lower then your current 27". THe existing brakes might work.

As for the headset, what size is it?

I have a nishiki that came with 27's and I currently run 700's. I can post a picture if you like.. any portion of the bike.

i dont know what size the headset oughta be. i picked the frame/fork up on ebay, so i dont have an existing headset for the bike. i _thought_ it was 1" threaded, but headsets of that sort do not fit. i'm thinking there's either a problem with the headtube or the fork somewhere, but my roomie insists it's just some sort of wierd japanese sizing.

i'm bout to throw my hands up in despair, and drop it off at via bikes in philly, and let them sort it out.

thanks for the info re: the 700c's, everyone.

-rob

1" threaded and 1" threadless have teh same size headtube.. how much larger smaller is the headtube then the 1" headsetyou have?

the headset i tried on it was mercilessly destroyed by a handful of bike 'mechanics'. it's fine by me; i never paid for it. the problem seems to be at the top of the fork crown, which is a teeny-tiny bit too thick for the headset, if you know what i mean.

i fear i am screwed.

-rob

I have a Nishiki Head set, and I know the trouble you went through. I've still got the bike frame, if you need some help. You're not screwed, you just need a mech who is competent.

william,

my frame is from the early 80's. how did you end up getting a headset on there? did you need to go thru some parts bins to get the right one, or can a good mechanic make a more common sized headset fit?

any advice would be greatly appreciated.

-rob

This is where you really need to take everything to a competent LBS. The head tube probably just needs light reaming, and they would have the tools for that. Don't risk damaging the frame just to save a few bucks.

FWIW, I am running 700c wheels on two different frames that were originally equipped with 27" wheels. One has good old center pull cantilevers which have enough adjustment, the other required installation of long reach calipers.

There is a guy name Lee who works at preformance in my general area. He spent about 1 hour taking pieces off, and refitting. The problem was that one ring is a centering ring (unsure of correct name) and one is a lock ring, and there are actually redudant lock rings on it, which is why it was a paint. The centering ring was frozen to the lock ring and I (me, not the mechanic) almost stripped the stem trying to get what I thought was a lock ring off. It took a thread file to get it strait.