Widening steel dropout spacing - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

07-28-2004, 12:36 PM

I have an older steel road bike that used to be a 10 speed. I have built a
new rear wheel with a 6 speed freewheel, which has different spacing from
the old one (wider).

I don't know what the spacing of the new hub is, or what the spacing of
the frame is, but I am able to force the wheel into the dropouts by
bending them apart with my fingers. Ostensibly, this solution is working
for me. The wheel is properly aligned and the original derailers and
friction shifters are working well with the new freewheel (12 speeds
BABY!)

Is it OK to ride the bike like this, or do I need to cold set the
triangles so they hold the wider spacing with no wheel inserted?

Thanks,
Adam