When did we drop using 27 inch wheels for bicycling?

It is a mistake to think that bikes with 27" wheels are no longer made. They are. As far as tires and tubes, if you are used to buying them from a discount store you are correct... nobody sells them. Most bike shops keep them in stock and if they don't they can be ordered.

We just got a container of tires and tubes that included 1500 27x1-1/4 tires and 500 27x1-1/8" tires along with several thousand 27" tubes in both presta and schraeder valve... and we are just "little guys". This inventory will be gone in about 8 months time.

Regarding the drivetrain, parts are still readily available although it won't be the same stuff you have. When it comes to replacement I suggest that you condider MicroShift brand stuff. They kind of took up the older stuff as Shimano backed away. Good products... cheap too.

27" wheels have fallen out of favour somewhat for marketing reasons, but they are not extinct. You can still find replacement wheels and tires if you look a bit. Actually, 27" wheels have a couple of advantages. The larger diameter rolls over bad roads a bit smoother than 700c wheels and 27 x 1 1/4 tires are a perfect width for a touring bike, about the same width as a 700 x 32 tire. I rode a light touring bike with 27" wheels for many years and it was a great commuter with a much smoother ride than the mountain bike I rode before that

In 2009

You also have the option to convert to 700c wheels.

If your lucky you can use the same calipers if you lower the pads.

I had an 87 schwinn letour and an 89 traveler, the letour had stock 27" wheels and the traveler came with 700c

I would say 88-89 was was most bikes started coming with 700c wheels

kinda of odd that your Miyata did not come with 700 back then. Most of the better bikes moved to this size in the mid eighties. I am surprised the Miyata was built with 27. Mid range bike in their line the fact that it still rides today is a indication of the quality of the bike. you can still hunt and peck and find 27 inch rubber

You can still buy 27" tires and wheels on Amazon. The 700c was used on high end bikes before the 80s. Northern European bikes used 28" which is that same thing as 700c.

http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

Weird. My '86 Miyata 310 has paint-matched 700c rims. The '84 catalog is the first to mention 700c and only for the upper tier models.

why do you want wheels?

you can still get them

there was no one cut off date, to answer your question

i would say about 1987 most decent bikes had 700c

wle

27" tires & wheels are still abundantly available through your local BICYCLE SHOP & various online stores.

http://www.rei.com/c/road-bike-tires?ir=category%3...

no one did they are for sale on amazone