Hi all.
I am a college student and rely on my Schwinn Le Tour to get to class every day. My entire back tire was recently stolen, and I was wondering if anyone can offer me some tips on how I can affordably replace the tire, spokes and all. My local bike shop quoted me over $200 to replace.
Thank you!
by Loose_Umpire231
11 Comments
Your entire back wheel, including the tire.
It’s an old size. 27″ wheel plus a 27 x 1 1/4″ tyre. You will also need a freewheel of whatever speed your old wheel had, probably 5 or 6 speed. It won’t be cheap but $200 does sound a little steep. Best to find a second hand bike shop or community bike kitchen, something along those lines.
It’s going to be annoying because that is an almost obsolete wheel size…
Maybe a bike coop will have something.
But really, you could probably find another beater bike for $200 (unless the used bike market has gone nuts).
at first i thought what!? and then realized the wheel size. not only are you missing the tire but an out of mass-production sized wheel, the associated freewheel (gears) and a tube. all that plus labor does come close to $200. with that wheel size it’s likely other components will be difficult to source once you wear them out later, of course.
i’m sorry to say you might be better off replacing the bike, maybe the shop can help you with that.
good luck.
your best bet for a good deal is a local bike collective. especially for old school 27in wheels/tires
You live in a shitty town for getting cheap bikes and parts. Check facebook marketplace for a doner bike.
You can get a 126mm width 27” wheel and a 6-speed 13-28 freewheel on eBay. Tire, look for a Vittoria Zafiro, they’re still around in 27”. It shouldn’t cost $200, but maybe $100-150. This is the cheapest one, there are others that are better, and of course the used ones the same vintage as your bike too: [27” 6-speed rear wheel](https://www.ebay.com/itm/284488692211?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=WmUultjSS8i&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=mwI1yDQXR6i&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY)
You might be able to fit a 700c wheel in there, IF the brake pads will drop enough to reach the rim. 700c are much more common. Then you could use a cassette and new chain to match the cassette. Not any cheaper, but more options.
Someone should have a wheel laying around. You can buy the minimum amount of tools and install the parts yourself. Fixing flats is something every cyclist needs to know.
No tuition for YouTube University.
Shops that work on older bikes often carry wheels and tires in that size. A wheel is $75, the freewheel is about $25, tire and tube $40, installation probably $25. Canadian dollars, but your shop isn’t too far off the mark for a while rear wheel. Co-ops may carry what you need if there are any in your area, though you’ll probably have to do the work of alignment and tire/tube installation yourself.
However I think there is enough adjustment available on your rear brake that installing a 700c wheel and tire is an option. It’ll probably be cheaper and leave you with more options in the future
Check Facebook marketplace and Craigslist. You should be able to find that wheel for $10. Or an ok used bike for about $100
First off you would be better off with a 700c wheel than a 27″. In the vast majority of cases they’re interchangeable.