Paul Makepeace
1995-05-10, 01:02 AM
Since my Pashley (love 'em) axle snapped I've had the opportunity of rebuilding
my wheel (and Jez's since his axle snapped too...). While putting together his
26" I noticed that the 24" and 26" are _less_ than 2" difference, with a fat
tyre on a 24" and a skinny (ish) tire on a 26". (There's a good reason for this,
but it's not important.)
Slipping my frame onto his wheel, I realised it'd work! I've just bought a Mavic
231 MTB rim (17quid) and spokes and am using one of Jez's Specialized tyres. You
can't use a >1.5" tire on it, as there's precious little space between the frame
and wheel, so no off-roading with a huge fat knobbly tyre.
It is _so_ much more responsive it's untrue. None of this sloppy nasty
low-pressure rubber, no overweight bent steel rim. It's amazing. Despite having
not ridden since Brussels (>2 months) I pulled a 6 spin pirouette, in the street
after a 2 minute practice - I couldn't do that on the 24".
The fact that the rim is 430grams v. 750 for the 24" and the tire's lighter
(hi-pressure skinwall) means the inertia of the wheel is actually less despite
being larger. It certainly felt that way. It's a big plus having a lightweight
wheel: something I wasn't really aware of before.
If you've got a steel rimmed 24", seriously consider moving up to a 26". It's
not that much bigger, and is actually easier to spin and maneouvre than the 24".
Of course it also goes a bit quicker on road too. And (!) the spares are a
hundred times easier to get hold of and a hundred times better quality too.
(Before anyone says it, you can't race a >24" wheel but that's hardly an issue
for most people I s'pect.)
Cheers, Paul.
PS If there's anyone on the way (or not too far out) between Cambridge and
Cardiff who wants a lift to and from the British Uni Convention, let me
know... there're two spaces left. There's also free accomodation in Cardiff.
my wheel (and Jez's since his axle snapped too...). While putting together his
26" I noticed that the 24" and 26" are _less_ than 2" difference, with a fat
tyre on a 24" and a skinny (ish) tire on a 26". (There's a good reason for this,
but it's not important.)
Slipping my frame onto his wheel, I realised it'd work! I've just bought a Mavic
231 MTB rim (17quid) and spokes and am using one of Jez's Specialized tyres. You
can't use a >1.5" tire on it, as there's precious little space between the frame
and wheel, so no off-roading with a huge fat knobbly tyre.
It is _so_ much more responsive it's untrue. None of this sloppy nasty
low-pressure rubber, no overweight bent steel rim. It's amazing. Despite having
not ridden since Brussels (>2 months) I pulled a 6 spin pirouette, in the street
after a 2 minute practice - I couldn't do that on the 24".
The fact that the rim is 430grams v. 750 for the 24" and the tire's lighter
(hi-pressure skinwall) means the inertia of the wheel is actually less despite
being larger. It certainly felt that way. It's a big plus having a lightweight
wheel: something I wasn't really aware of before.
If you've got a steel rimmed 24", seriously consider moving up to a 26". It's
not that much bigger, and is actually easier to spin and maneouvre than the 24".
Of course it also goes a bit quicker on road too. And (!) the spares are a
hundred times easier to get hold of and a hundred times better quality too.
(Before anyone says it, you can't race a >24" wheel but that's hardly an issue
for most people I s'pect.)
Cheers, Paul.
PS If there's anyone on the way (or not too far out) between Cambridge and
Cardiff who wants a lift to and from the British Uni Convention, let me
know... there're two spaces left. There's also free accomodation in Cardiff.