Help design my new wheels !!!

Donald Gillies said:

I have a 1970's Schwinn Paramount with 27" rims, and although I own some drop bolts, I'm not
ready to move over to 700c rims just yet. I like the look of the older and larger wheels on a
classic 10 speed.

My present bike has 630 gram rims (Araya) and 360 gram tires (junk) and 120 gram cheapo tubes!
These are on Nuovo Record high flange hubs (about 400 grams per set). I already have some period
high-flange and low-flange Nuovo record hubs, and intend to use these for a new set of wheels.

Quoted message said:

What rims and tires should I look for to build up a much lighter set of wheels, and how much will
it weigh ?? I am a big guy (200 lbs+), and I've have bad experience with heat-treated rims.

I sometimes see NOS 27" MA-2 rims on eBay; those would be great. Otherwise you might check some LBSs
to see if they've got some decent 27" rims in the back room.

At your size, I'd use 36 spokes (DT 14-15-14) and 3X lacing.

I assume you've already tried lowering the brake pads to see if they would work with 700c rims.

As for tires, Nashbar has the IRC Road Winner Duro II on sale at $12.95 in either 27" x 1-1/8" or
27" x 1-1/4". The 27 x 1-1/8 version weighs 280g with wire bead and kevlar belt. I use these in 700
x 28 and have been very happy with them.

Art Harris

[email hidden] (Donald Gillies) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I have a 1970's Schwinn Paramount with 27" rims, and although I own some drop bolts, I'm not
ready to move over to 700c rims just yet. I like the look of the older and larger wheels on a
classic 10 speed.

My present bike has 630 gram rims (Araya) and 360 gram tires (junk) and 120 gram cheapo tubes!
These are on Nuovo Record high flange hubs (about 400 grams per set). I already have some period
high-flange and low-flange Nuovo record hubs, and intend to use these for a new set of wheels.

Anyway, my current bikes wheels are 3 pounds each !!! Curse you, Ignaz Schwinn!!!

What rims and tires should I look for to build up a much lighter set of wheels, and how much will
it weigh ?? I am a big guy (200 lbs+), and I've have bad experience with heat-treated rims.

Thanx,

- Don Gillies San Diego, CA

Hi, I'm not sure about the rims, but a good all around tire would be the Continental Ultra Gatorskin
in 27x11/4. But they are still a little on the heavy side at 330g. They do offer decent flat
protection, look good, and ride well. I have them on my '76 Champion Du Monde and I am considering
them for my LeMond. Check out Harris Cyclery[Sheldon Brown] for a selection of both 27" rims and
tires. See link: Rims - sheldonbrown.comrims.htmlOpen ↗ Tires -
sheldonbrown.com630.htmlOpen ↗

Also, check out Ebay for 27" NOS rims.

Life is Good! Jeff

(Donald Gillies) said:

I have a 1970's Schwinn Paramount with 27" rims, and although I own some drop bolts, I'm not
ready to move over to 700c rims just yet. I like the look of the older and larger wheels on a
classic 10 speed.

It's only a couple of millimeters. Hardly noticeable if at all. But for this bike, keeping the 27"
standard will probably work better. Drop bolts are a kludge and best avoided.

Quoted message said:

My present bike has 630 gram rims (Araya) and 360 gram tires (junk) and 120 gram cheapo tubes!
These are on Nuovo Record high flange hubs (about 400 grams per set). I already have some period
high-flange and low-flange Nuovo record hubs, and intend to use these for a new set of wheels.

You have few options for new rims, at least if you live in the United States or Europe. If you live
in England, your odds are better. You should basically start by finding out that you *can* get in
this size and go from there. Check www.sheldonbrown.com, www.lickbike.com, etc. also to see who's
got 27" good quality rims. If you can find 27" Mavic MA2 rims- highly unlikely but more likely than
700C MA2s- go for those.

As for tires, you can do a *lot* better. I'd start there, if it was me, and not worry about
rebuilding the wheels as long as the rims and spokes are in decent shape. There are 27" Avocet
slicks, IIRC, and I'd use those if available. And some decent quality tubes- standard 700C
tubes will fit.

For reasons I don't really understand, alot of people loathe 27" rims, even for older bikes. I've
been able to pick up MA2s and other nice 27" rims for next to nothing (around $10 each). Don't
forget about Araya and Ukai, they made some nice rims very similar to MA2s. Chances are if you live
in a somewhat sizeable urban area and go around to several bike shops, a few of them will have some
of these in the back. They are also common on nicer 1980s Japanese bikes which can often be found at
yard sales and thrift stores. Seems like a lot of people bought these but never really rode them.
Their loss.

-Bruce-

Well, if it were me that was the proud owner of that classic, I would try to keep it as "original"
as possible. But that's just me <drooling>.

"May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner geocities.comczcornerOpen ↗

"Bruce Lange" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:JhsXb.36345$uV3.59915@attbi_s51...

Quoted message said:

For reasons I don't really understand, alot of people loathe 27" rims,

even

Quoted message said:

for older bikes. I've been able to pick up MA2s and other nice 27" rims

for

Quoted message said:

next to nothing (around $10 each). Don't forget about Araya and Ukai, they made some nice rims
very similar to MA2s. Chances are if you live in a somewhat sizeable urban area and go around to
several bike shops, a few of them will have some of these in the back. They are also common on
nicer 1980s Japanese bikes which can often be found at yard sales and thrift stores. Seems like a
lot of people bought these but never really rode

them.

Quoted message said:

Their loss.

-Bruce-

Its not the rims, its the tires that they don't like. Not too many "good" tires in 27" any more.

Mike

(Chris Zacho 'The Wheelman') said:

Well, if it were me that was the proud owner of that classic, I would try to keep it as "original"
as possible. But that's just me <drooling>.

You're exactly right Chris. That's why I'm building a _second_ set of 27" wheels for this 1974
paramount -- I will keep the original wheels, and I don't have to touch the original (campy short
reach ... ugh) brakes !!

Here are some choices that i've looked into --

1. I already bought some Performance 27x1 1/8 tires on sale, however, the Araya rims are shelf-
bead (not hook bead) so the lighter folding type of tires won't work on the stock rims.

2. Sheldon has some great lightweight avocet slicks at great prices, and those are a
consideration. However, they won't work on my shelf rims.

3. Something really awesome would be hook-beaded weinmanns, because they are correct for
Schwinns just a year or two earlier, but i hear (from www.yellowjersey.com) that there were
only ever 2 models made and these are next to impossible to find.

4. MA2's would be awesome, but I cannot even find them in 700c, let alone 27".

I have no problem finding a rare, rim, I am patient - I just need to know what maker and what model
to look for !!! Keep those suggestions coming, please !!!

Should I use high flange or low flange hubs? It's a 1974

- Don Gillies San Diego, CA

(Jeff Starr) said:

the Continental Ultra Gatorskin in 27x11/4. But they are still a little on the heavy side at 330g.
They do offer decent flat protection, look good, and ride well. I have them on my '76 Champion Du
Monde and I am considering them for my LeMond.

Quoted message said:

Check out Harris Cyclery[Sheldon Brown] for a selection of both 27" rims and tires. See link: Rims
- sheldonbrown.comrims.htmlOpen ↗ Tires -
sheldonbrown.com630.htmlOpen ↗

I've seen the stuff on sheldon's site - which of these four rims would be the best for a 1974
paramount ??

I've also been looking at Panaracer tires - Panasonic (Panaracer) made the schwinn LeTour tires
that probably came stock with this bike. However, the kevlar beaded ones are available ... where?
I cannot find them at any web-based bike shop. They are 250g beauties with kevlar beads, kevlar
belts ....

- Don Gillies San Diego, CA

"Mike S." <mikeshaw2@coxDOTnet> wrote in message news:<ozsXb.68548$F15.48877@fed1read06>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Its not the rims, its the tires that they don't like. Not too many "good" tires in 27" any more.

Mike

I don't know about you, but I find Panaracer Paselas to be quite nice in 700 x 32C. They're
available in 27 x 1, 1 1/8", and 1 1/4" in both standard and Tourguard versions:
harriscyclery.netpage.cfmOpen ↗

Jeff