Can you put a 26” w...
 

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Can you put a 26” wheel on a 700c bike

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On my quest to get a 26” folding bike for my campervan and stick a Swytch bike kit (26”) taken off another bike - I have seen a couple folding bikes but they are 700c wheels - would this work or a definete no go?


 
Posted : 26/08/2024 8:36 pm
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Yes, if it's a disc braked wheel. No if you need to rely on rim brakes.

OTOH, if you do need to use rim brakes then building a new 622 rim onto the swytch hub shouldn't be too difficult. And with a sensible size tyre on it the wheel diameter won't be much different from a 26" wheel with a chunky tyre, so top speed should stay within an acceptable margin.


 
Posted : 26/08/2024 8:54 pm
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It’s gonna depend on clearance and tyre size. I do regularly swap between a 26” 2.25 and 700c 32 on an old mtb. The 700c has a bit bigger diameter. Obviously clearance isn’t an issue that way round.

I imagine if you have to go too small a tyre on the 26” it’ll  have too low a bb.


 
Posted : 26/08/2024 9:07 pm
thols2, scaredypants, thols2 and 1 people reacted
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I managed to squeeze 26x2.3 Booze Lights onto a Kona Dew, there was bugger all clearance (back wheel had a slight wobble) but they ran surprisingly well. Not much difference in diameter to the original 32mm tyres.


 
Posted : 27/08/2024 12:01 am
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If it's a rim (vee) braked bike, you can get adapters on eBay to move the brakes up/down. I've gone the other way with one frankenbike using 700c in a 26" frame...


 
Posted : 27/08/2024 5:18 am
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Totally depends on the frame. If the chainstays are crimped, clearance can be an issue.

I used to have a 700c frame that had marginally more clearance for a 700c tyre than it did for a 650b tyre.


 
Posted : 27/08/2024 7:02 pm
thols2 and thols2 reacted

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