[Closed] Inner tube size (vintage darkside)

Yes it's a normal size, albeit an older one. Bit like 26" is to 650b

You can still buy them, there are plenty of bikes running 27" wheels.

I converted my 27" wheeled 70's touring bike to 700c, it's reasonably straightforward but you may find the brake drop is not sufficient on 700c. Gets me a better choice of wheels and tyres though

It's a normal size. Convert that to mm and it's basically 700x25.

FWIW, I've got a mint ProAM that I picked up at the tip for £20 🙂

*edit - reading the post above, I'm sure my ProAm is normal sized, i.e. 700c, wheels. have you got a set to compare against?

What size is 700c? could the wrong size tubes been put in maybe?

jambourgie what size are your tyres? it's possible someone reused a 27 tube in a 700c tyre. I'd never do something like that obviously...

edit crossed post

700c inner tube will fit a 27 inch wheel

Hmm, binned the old tyres. They're really old and perished cream-sidewalled things. Now covered in bin-juice... can i measure the wheels instead?

Got some new 700c tyres to fit (if they're the right size).

Basically, If I grab some 700c tubes from Wilko, will I die?

New tyres are 700x25c

confused

If your wheels are 27" 700c wont fit sadly

Inside bead diameter of a 27" is 630mm and for 700c it's 622mm. Try your 700c on the wheel, you shouldn't be able to get them on as they are smaller.

From what you have described of the old tyres, they are very likely 27". Mine where exactly that description and good only for the bin. 700c and 27 tubes are interchangeable although I would probably replace yours as they are are likely fairly old now.

Have you any sticker or marking on your wheels? How many speeds on the block?

You are fine to use 700c tubes, yes

Linky for 27" tyres

There's plenty others online

Ah ok,

Yes, a sticker on the wheel: Raleigh 17 x 630

So looks like I've bought the wrong tyres.

Thanks everyone

The march of standards and naming conventions. 27 inch rims are bigger than 27.5. And 29 inch for that matter. 😁

Oh well, that's todays project done with 🙂

Never had a racer before, love the idea of going really fast though. This thing feels suicidal mind, really low, narrow bars etc... any recommended modernising mods? I've not quite worked out how to adjust it comfortably yet. It's a 23.5" reynolds 531 frame which should suit me as i'm well over six foot.

Is it just a case of getting used to it after a laid-back MTB slouch-posture?

Just renovating my 27'' wheeled Raleigh from 1983 , wheels are available as are tyres and tubes. Made the change from 27x 1 1/4 to a nail biting 27x1 hoping for less tyre drag and more elan ! Got some old style amberwall tyres to go with the old rims but the new wheels are getting Japanese panaracers , woohoo. Crochet back mitts at the ready.......now to google woollen replica Molteni jerseys.

Try this link for sizing https://www.cyclinguk.org/cyclists-library/components/wheels-tyres/tyre-sizes

Yeah mine is 22.5" and I find it a bit of a stretch at 6 foot one.

I swapped the narrow bars on mine to a wider more modern width, helped quite a lot! Also an inline post. I went for a slightly fatter tyre too. Currently on 28 but planning on going to 32c

Next step is to swap the brake levers for a style that is comfy on the hoods and I can operate the brakes at the same time

It is ace to ride, the 531 tubing is so skinny you can feel it shimmy through bends and over bumps. Putting new lighter wheels on means it climbs like a dream now

For some strange reason I quite like the narrow bars on mine , and the trail on those old forks means I can ride for miles no-handed , the steel 531 is sooo comfy it's unreal.

Just to continue the theme, I opted to stay 27'' to maintain the old girls integrity , friction levers etc. Pedals are clipless Shimano but would like some rat trap Campag in the future plus some nice 8os Campag brakes but the prices of NOS stuff is eyewatering at the moment. Is everyone doing rebuilds or modding?

Yeah, I'm keeping it low budget/pub bike. Thought I'd repack hubs, new tyres & tubes, cables and blocks, then see how I get on with it.

ive picked up a few brand new retro looking bits and bobs from 'cough' amazon, old school design pedals and the like. All cheap and nasty but actually turned out not so bad, especially for pub bike duties

The price of NOS campag etc is madness. Makes me sad that a lot of it is just hanging in someones house to look cool and not being ridden to death. Collectors, pah.

I wanted to keep the original wheels but they weren't anything special so I went for a suitable vintage set of 700c.

Other than that new blocks and cables, bar tape. I'm all for keeping things original but a lot of old stuff is a bit crap.

I couldn't get on with the weird one-sided grip clipped-in grip pedals so stuck on some really basic things off an old girls bike. What could go wrong?..

There's a huge difference between a 1980s Raleigh and a modern road bike. If you have chrome steel rims and Weinmann calliper brakes don't expect them to be effective in the wet, particularly if you've still got ancient brake blocks. A lot of low-end bikes of the era are truly awful but somehow people attribute anything "old" to valuable.
The reason why NOS Campagnolo is expensive now is because it was even more expensive then relative to income. A few year ago, a friend gave me a box of bike parts from his recently deceased father - it was mainly boxed Campagnolo stuff from the 70s and 80s, plus some parts that went as far back as the 50s!
I have a 50cm 1983 Gios with Campagnolo if anyone's interested?

I'm under no illusion about the difference between then and now, it's a very interesting comparison though of the relative merits, or not, of the old gear. The Raleigh is a decent bike , made at the Worksop special build unit, the serial number has been traced, rather than Nottingham or the Far East as some were. A surprisingly comfortable ride and light for the time although not in the league of a modern bike I am willing to acknowledge.Class still shows through despite her age.