Just got told there are no wheels to fit in a 126mm wheel hub gap

Just starting to research converting an old Bridgestone 400 to a fixie. Having measured the frame, I have a gap of 126mm in the rear dropout.... typical of a 6 or 7 speed hub from the 1980's

However in a shop in London today I was told that there are NO wheels with a hub to fit this width gap.... "Just put a 120mm hub in and tight the sucker up" was the advice

Is this correct? Or was the guy simply trying to sell what they had rather than the correct item?

I have seen spacers that allow you to convert a 120mm hub to fit a 130mm gap.... surely the same thing must exist to convert a 120mm to a 126mm also?

Also - would appreciate advice on wheelset choice.... looking to spend between £140 and £190

You can get most track hubs respaced to 126 pretty easily. Go for Novotec or SJS track hubs on a decent rim. You should be able to ask another bike shop to sort this. The one you went to weren't exactly helpful.

It's called OLD, have a read of this for some info but yeah he/she was trying to fob you off as one of the solutions is to just tighten down.

http://sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html

You won't have the same choice of hubs(not a huge difference tbh) but the spokes and rims will be the same.

http://www.velosolo.co.uk/shophub.html
About halfway down this page, get any track hubs and swap these out
'CNC Aluminium Axle Spacers for 126mm Spacing'

Sure I've measured both miche and novatec rear hubs to be more like 122mm anyway, and they both have plenty of axle to add in some spacers, 1mm or 2mm each side and you're there.

Thanks folks..... Some informative & reassuring answers here

This seller sells them in whatever width you need them, might be a bit cheaper than velosolo.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Axle-Spacer-4-Cycle-FIXED-TRACK-Singlespeed-HUB-GEAR-/200509361055

Also re wheels you can buy a new pair from varno with the forum discount code lfgssprice

http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/213086/

or look in the classified for a 2nd hand pair

why don't you just put in a 120mm and tighten it up?
It's steel, no? it can take it.
thousands have done it before you with no problem.

This.

Perfectly fine to just tighten it up.

Cold setting, innit?

If the wheel is built on centre can just add a small washer either side. TBH you could just tighten.

Velo Orange hubs come with washer for that reason.