curby said:I am looking at a 42cm Giant OCR3 aluminum road bike for a junior! (10yrs)
I think they could use an extra cm or 2 of standover and a bit stronger/wider rims, the rear end is very tight on this (can't put a pinky between rear tire and seat tube!)... likewise the fork is quite short... so I thought maybe just put some 26X1 wheels on there!
I am prepared to replace the brakes with longer reach models but what else can make this undesirable?
Anyone tried this?
Also: no womens geometry or 650C cycles around here... even the 26X1 wheels will have to be special ordered (along with a few extra tubes and tires)...
I can post frame/fork details if necessary...
all's'miles
curby
I went the opposite way with an "extra" hardtail frame that I have [see attachment] ... I fitted a 700c rear wheel (135mm hub) + road fork. Basically, my project bike just needs cables + chain.
You could use a suitable hardtail frame (based on the virtual top tube you want), and put a 650c front fork on it which I presume would accommodate a 26" wheel (559-17) ... the rear brake bosses should be "okay" for 650c wheels if that is the option AND obviously would be good-to-go for 26" rims.
Obviously, on my project bike, the wheellbase is a little longer AND the bottom bracket is a little higher than "normal."
If you were to start with a hardtail, the cost would/could be lower OR you could buy a high-zoot carbon fiber hardtail frame; and, when he outgrew the toptube length, you could actually rebuild the frame as a mountain bike.
I think what you have to consider is the bottom bracket height of the 700c frame with the 26" wheels/tires ...
