Cycling UK Forum

I did a little bit of measuring for you. The diameter of a decimal 26" Alex DM18 rim is 572 mm. This is the measurement of the largest diameter at the side of the rim, NOT the ERD or effective rim diameter. The rim is part of a brand new wheel with only a few miles on it. I then measured the equivalent diameter of a Giant 700 rim. This was 635 mm, and again the rim is part of a near new factory built wheel, which I removed from my wife's Giant Escape City bike in order to install a Sanyo dynamo hub. The radial difference between the two rims is (635-572) X 1/2 or 31.5 mm. It looks like the brakes you have mentioned will not be sufficiently longer in reach. I use 26" wheels on a Surly Long Haul Trucker. I have installed Planet Bike 700 commuter fenders successfully on this bike, with the addition of an 1/8" pipe spacer at the bottom front of the fender. The spacer is as near as I can measure without removing it, 12-13 mm in length. The biggest problem regarding the rear fender may be the bridge at the top of the backstays, which may need to be a little longer. Possibly an extension link could be contrived from a piece of 3/4" X 1/8" aluminum flat bar, so that the bridge and fender sit a little closer to the wheel. The only problem I have with 26" wheels, and this may be because I live in northern Ontario, is that the only 26" tires the local bike shops and Canadian Tire stock are 26 X 2.00 or wider. I typically use 26 X 1.5" if gravel road riding is on the menu, and sometimes 26" X 1.35 for city riding. These have to be ordered in which usually takes three or four days.

Best of luck with your endeavours.

All my bikes are equipped with dynamo hubs, typically Shimano DH 3N72 or DH 3N71 models. These are excellent quality and when connected to Busch & Mueller front and rear lights cause so little drag that I do not bother to turn them off. The front lights I recommend are B&M Iq Cyo N Plus or variations of that style. They give out much more light light than one can possibly dream of from an LED light powered by four AA batteries. Living in Northern Ontario, Canada, between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, I have on more than one occasion picked out a black bear out for a night time snack at a distance of about 200 meters or 600 plus feet.

Peter White Cycles of Hillsborough, New Hampshire has an excellent informative website with a section dedicated to lighting. St John Street Cycles of Bridgewater, Somerset also is a good supplier of both dynamo hubs and lighting products. Another dynamo hub worthy of mention is the newer Panasonic NWM789, previoiusly marketed by Sanyo as their H27. This is available for 28, 32, or 36 spoke wheels, whereas the Shimano hubs only appear to be available for 32 or 36 spoke wheels.

One of my bikes is built up using all new components on an old Canadian Tire Supercycle frame. About three years ago it developed a similar creek, only when pedalling. I was sure it was from the transmission. The wheel bearings were OK. I swapped the pedals with another set to no avail. Also I completely removed the SRAM crank set and reinstalled still without success. Then finally I decided to check the tightness of the clamp bolt which clamps the seat post inside the down tube of the frame. After tightening the nut perhaps a half turn the problem was solved.

The V - brakes I have on the Surly LHT are Shimano. The measurement from the center of the pivot to the centre of the cable clamp bolt measures 103 mm as near as can be measured with a tape measure. The corrugated sleeve over the cable between the two sides of the brake just touches the top of the front fender. On the rear there is perhaps 2 mm clearance. The shift levers are Shimano Alivio combined gear and brake units, 3 X 9 speed. The latest bunch of pictures I uploaded to Panoramio includes one of the complete bike. I have several other bikes but that one is my favorite for trails and gravel roads.

I have a Surly Long Haul Trucker with a size 50 cm frame. This was built up from parts rather than purchased as a complete bike. I normally use Schwalbe Marathon 26 X 1.5 tires, typically when I am biking on rail trails in SW Ontario. The widest tires I have used were Innova 26 X 1.75 studded tires, although I did once install a pair of Kenda Klaw 26 X 2.10 tires just to see if they would fit. They did look a little out of proportion on a touring bike frame. For fenders (mudguards) I use Planet Bike commuter bike fenders intended for use with 700 tires. I just pull them in a little on the radius using the stays. I have just done a lot of riding on the recently improved Bruce Rail Trail which extends from Port Elgin, on Lake Huron almost to the Bruce Nuclear Power Station. This trail has a gravel surface, better than railway ballast, but not asphalt by a long way. The 26 X 1.5 tires performed well near the bottom end of the pressure range (45 - 100 psi). Occasionally I use 26 X 1.35 Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires when gravel road riding is not expected. They are use-able on gravel but not as comfortable because of the higher minimum pressure rating (65 psi). If you are interested in seeing what these rail trails look like I have just posted a number of digital images to Google Panoramio. (Search for D. Baldwin Panoramio and pick Tag "Bruce Rail Trail"). I do have several other bikes, but for a medium height rider this size of Surly LHT has all the right clearances in the right places. Plenty of room for any type of front derailleur, long enough chain stays if you want to use panniers, or like myself if you prefer to use a large Carradice saddlebag, plenty of height above the back wheel.