Middleweight or balloon frame?

[Daddyar]

How can one determine if a 26" Schwinn frame is a middleweight or balloon tire frame? Are the dropouts and fork blades narrower or wider?

 

[CCR]

balloon frames are wider where the tire passes through the frame/fork.

A balloon tire (2.125) on a typical rim usually has no trouble fitting in a middleweight frame/fork. Using balloon fenders on a middleweight frame isn't easy though.

trfindley.com pics

middleweight

balloon / heavyweight

 

[B607]

my gimmick...Use 3 fingers. Put your first 3 fingers in the triangle just below where Jeremy's tape measure is. Your fingers will be snug in a middleweight frame but plenty of room in a ballooner. Gary

 

[Daddyar]

Cool , thanks guys!