Cyclocross - 130mm or 135mm for cyclocross?

Here is my dilemma--I am ordering a kelly cyclocross frame. The rear is set 135mm to accept mtb hubs. I have a pair of good road wheels [set to accept the standard 130mm] and it seems to me that it is much easier and cheaper to find 130mm 700c wheel sets. The sound logic behind the 135 mm is that the mtb hubs are more durable and thus more suitable for a cyclocross bike...but I don't want to have to get custom made wheels [mtb hubs coupled with 700c rims]. Kelly can set the spacing at 130mm...so its no problem, except [here is my question] Can I use an XT mountainbike crank, XT rear and front derailers with a 130mm rear wheel, and a Ultegra cassette and still maintain a proper chain line, etc???

Or can I just use 130 mm wheels with 135 mm spacing...last night I was able to put the road wheels on my mountain bike? Would I cause problems by simply squeezing the rear the 5mm to fit the road wheels?

Squeezing 135 down to 130 might be a bit much. That's why Surly spec'd their Crosscheck with 132.5 mm spacing. I spread a tad to fit my MTB hubs, but could squeeze a bit to mount a 130 mm hub. See if Kelly will set this same spacing and you can run either without worry.

DanO

My Pompino is 135m and I run 130m wheels. W/ the steel frame, it's fine. If you go 135m, you'll have a harder time finding wheels, other than 29er's because of the spacing. If you can do 130, that'd be better since you'll have more options.

chanline will be OK, you can use all of that stuff no problems. I'd go 130, better wheel options, unless you plan to run disc brakes at any point, then I'd go 135.

thanks you guys...great advice!!!!

Here is my dilemma--I am ordering a kelly cyclocross frame. The rear is set 135mm to accept mtb hubs. I have a pair of good road wheels [set to accept the standard 130mm] and it seems to me that it is much easier and cheaper to find 130mm 700c wheel sets. The sound logic behind the 135 mm is that the mtb hubs are more durable and thus more suitable for a cyclocross bike...but I don't want to have to get custom made wheels [mtb hubs coupled with 700c rims]. Kelly can set the spacing at 130mm...so its no problem, except [here is my question] Can I use an XT mountainbike crank, XT rear and front derailers with a 130mm rear wheel, and a Ultegra cassette and still maintain a proper chain line, etc???

Or can I just use 130 mm wheels with 135 mm spacing...last night I was able to put the road wheels on my mountain bike? Would I cause problems by simply squeezing the rear the 5mm to fit the road wheels?

Yes, you can definitely run all XT drivetrain with 130mm spacing rear hub. We do it on my girlfriend's bike and the chainline seems correct (we use a chainline tool to measure). If it's off it won't be much and you can always use a BB spacer ring to correct it.

However you'll run into an issue with the front derailleur. A road derailleur (105, Ultegra, Dura-ace) doesn't shift quite right with mountain cranks (the cage is too big). Also with an XT mountain derailleur the travel will be too short when using STI levers. Barcons work fine though.

We are addressing the front derailleur issue on my girlfriend's bike with a conversion pulley mounted on the seat tube.

chanline will be OK, you can use all of that stuff no problems. I'd go 130, better wheel options, unless you plan to run disc brakes at any point, then I'd go 135.

Not true anymore. Up until now there has never been a 130mm disc brake hub. Shimano has started producing some and I will have one within 2 weeks from my source whom I will not disclose at this time.

They will be in 32 and 36 hole hubs with standard disc brake configuration so that the avid mechanicals will work just fine.

Woodman also makes a disc brake hub which has 125mm spacing, so all that needs is 2.5mm spacers to make up the difference to fit the 130 mm.

I came across this same problem with my new lowracer which comes with 130mm dropout spacing. My previous lowracer had 135mm spacing and was set up for 559 erto or 650c wheels.
The new one is a 700 c wheel but I also wanted the option for disc brakes.

So fortunately now, that will not be a problem with the new 130mm disc brake hub.

After I get mine delivered , I will disclose the source of where to get them if anybody is interested. Just give me a private message and I will put you on the list.

Not true anymore. Up until now there has never been a 130mm disc brake hub. Shimano has started producing some and I will have one within 2 weeks from my source whom I will not disclose at this time.

They will be in 32 and 36 hole hubs with standard disc brake configuration so that the avid mechanicals will work just fine.

Woodman also makes a disc brake hub which has 125mm spacing, so all that needs is 2.5mm spacers to make up the difference to fit the 130 mm.

I came across this same problem with my new lowracer which comes with 130mm dropout spacing. My previous lowracer had 135mm spacing and was set up for 559 erto or 650c wheels.
The new one is a 700 c wheel but I also wanted the option for disc brakes.

So fortunately now, that will not be a problem with the new 130mm disc brake hub.

After I get mine delivered , I will disclose the source of where to get them if anybody is interested. Just give me a private message and I will put you on the list.

Well that's all fine but not exactly a great option for the average joe who cannot source a decent disc hub in 130mm. And what about price and availability? Yeah, eventually it'll be more common but until then it's not so easy.

Don't squeeze the frame. If you want to use road wheels, simply swap the axle to a 135, and re dish the wheel. Actually, all you probably have to do is tighten the left side spokes maybe a half turn. This is something that is not all that hard to do yourself, and any shop can do it easily.

Get the 135, you can just add a 2mm spacer to each side of the axle if you go with a 130 hub. The spacers are basically just nice thick washers. The 141mm QR axles used on 130 hubs are plenty long enough to seat in the drops of a 135mm frame.