I was rather surprised to find that the distance between my rear dropouts is only 122mm. For two reasons.
One, the Shimano 600 hub is 126mm.
Two, the frame is a mid 1980's 531c (Raleigh Gran Tour) which surely would have been 126mm, wouldn't it?
Anyway, I've had the frame from new and have always had the 126mm hubs in there, and have always had to pull slightly the triangles when changing the rear wheel.
Maybe it was like that from new because someone had roughly treated it before I bought it and squeezed the rear dropouts together by 4mm, who knows?
Or, could it really be a 120mm size, that's been "stretched" to 122mm? But surely not, for that age of frame?
The thing is, I will need to replace wheels at some point (it's a bike for life so I intend to use it for many years) and would like to go to 130mm just for future hub/gear options not to mention to go from seven to eight sprockets.
Given all the above, would you go for a DIY coldset from its current 122mm to 130mm? Or is this a bend too far? To be super-safe I thought I could make up some shaped wooden pieces that I can clamp over the chainstay and seat stay bridges to avoid any ruptures there (I'm a furniture maker so can do that okay) when coldsetting.
Bob Jacksons said they wouldn't touch it as far as coldsetting from 122 to 130 and have quoted me for two new bridges and it's all getting to an unrealistic cost.
By the way all measurements are with a vernier caliper and 100% accurate.
Any opinions appreciated.
One, the Shimano 600 hub is 126mm.
Two, the frame is a mid 1980's 531c (Raleigh Gran Tour) which surely would have been 126mm, wouldn't it?
Anyway, I've had the frame from new and have always had the 126mm hubs in there, and have always had to pull slightly the triangles when changing the rear wheel.
Maybe it was like that from new because someone had roughly treated it before I bought it and squeezed the rear dropouts together by 4mm, who knows?
Or, could it really be a 120mm size, that's been "stretched" to 122mm? But surely not, for that age of frame?
The thing is, I will need to replace wheels at some point (it's a bike for life so I intend to use it for many years) and would like to go to 130mm just for future hub/gear options not to mention to go from seven to eight sprockets.
Given all the above, would you go for a DIY coldset from its current 122mm to 130mm? Or is this a bend too far? To be super-safe I thought I could make up some shaped wooden pieces that I can clamp over the chainstay and seat stay bridges to avoid any ruptures there (I'm a furniture maker so can do that okay) when coldsetting.
Bob Jacksons said they wouldn't touch it as far as coldsetting from 122 to 130 and have quoted me for two new bridges and it's all getting to an unrealistic cost.
By the way all measurements are with a vernier caliper and 100% accurate.
Any opinions appreciated.
