I bought this for my wife and didn't realize it had 24x wheels, so I think it's a children's bike. She's not that tall so I'm thinking it could still work if I put bigger wheels on it (maybe 650b?) and caliper brakes instead of the cantilever brakes it came with. I don't think I can find cantilever brakes with a reach long enough to accommodate the bigger rims, but I am thinking if I got some caliper ones I could get away with it. But my question is: can I mount caliper brakes to the rear? The spot where I would normally assume caliper brakes are to be mounted was previously fit with a rack (pic 3).
by pinkpoojoe
6 Comments
Not really. The brake location sets the wheel size
24″ is for 4’6″-5’4″ normally but depends on frame size to that’s measured from centre of bottom bracket and top of seat tube
I can see brake on middle bit like some road rim caliper where bolt in hole on frame but unsure if get size to match wheel size
The fork length varies depending on the wheel size, Below are general axle-to-crown (A2C) fork lengths for different wheel sizes:
20″ wheels → 290-350 mm
24″ wheels → 360-420 mm
26″ wheels → 400-450 mm
27.5″ (650B) wheels → 420-480 mm
29″ wheels → 440-500 mm
Nope.
If its a bike just for cruising around, you could do a single speed setup with coaster brakes wheel. The dropouts seem to have enough length for good chain tension. Its the beach cruiser go-to or some bmx so you could find these for cheap used (probably lol i have not looked myself).
OR
For sure you are limited and would have to do a whole lot of experimenting on what is gonna have just the right amount of reach for any type of rim brakes, including caliper brakes. I found these suggested on another thread. Tektro 559 and Dia-Compe Long Reach Centerpull Calipers. Those silver Dia-Compe would look nice on that frame imo. Specially since its originally 24inch wheels, something like that MIGHT work, but I like the persistence to keep the bike rolling though.
What size 24? If you’re talking about a standard 507iso 24″ kid’s mtb wheel, going to a 586iso 27.5″ wheel will be a large stretch and I doubt it would even fit the frame. If you’re talking about something that was weirdly French and its a 540 or even 547 that there’s a possibility. My suggestion would be to see if you can get some old 26″ mtb wheels, 559iso, and plan to run a hybrid tire for clearance. Won’t know for certain till you try. You’re idea of running calipers has merit, make sure you get ones that aren’t designed to/come with a recessed nut. You need the older style that are held on with a 10mm nut and have 2 concave washers for each side of the brake bridge.
Is that fork straight? I don’t know if it’s a trick of the camera or real but that left fork blade looks bent in.