Bicycle Mechanics - Mavic MA40 road wheels with specialized hubs NR

Just found the site and new to road riding. I have been riding MTB for years now but want to extend my riding to pavement. I found a great aluminium Cannondale frame for a great price (free) but I need wheels, it is set up for an 8 speed cassette.

I found on ebay Mavic MA40s with something called a "specialized hubs NR" could anyone tell me if they would accept an 8 cassette? I have attached pictures.

Thanks in advance

Just found the site and new to road riding. I have been riding MTB for years now but want to extend my riding to pavement. I found a great aluminium Cannondale frame for a great price (free) but I need wheels, it is set up for an 8 speed cassette.

I found on ebay Mavic MA40s with something called a "specialized hubs NR" could anyone tell me if they would accept an 8 cassette? I have attached pictures.

Thanks in advance

From the pictures you attached, they look like vintage Campagnolo hubs. The NR in the description stands for "Nuovo Record", the Campy group these came from. They're many decades old. You most likely don't want them.

First figure out if your components (shifters & derailleurs) are Shimano 8-speed (they likely are), because Shimano and Campagnolo are incompatible. That should help guide you to the appropriate wheels.

Shimano and Campagnolo are incompatible.
Not exactly. I use Shimano cassettes with my Campy Record Ergo shifters/derailleur.

As to the original question, juicemouse is correct, they look to be Campy Nuovo Record hubs. Very nice hubs, but not cassette compatible. If you do a search on Google (http://www.google.com/search?q=8-speed+freewheel&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official), you'll find some sources for 8-speed freewheels. You'll might have to rebuild the rear hub with a longer axle to fit it (I'm not sure, as I've never put an 8-speed freewheel on a hub, all of my 8-speed wheels are cassettes). I have a set of Super Record High Flange hubs from the early 80s that are the one of the smoothest wheels I've ever owned.

Not exactly. I use Shimano cassettes with my Campy Record Ergo shifters/derailleur.

Well yeah, there are exceptions,but in the general sense and for n00bs, don't go mixing unless you know what you are doing or depend alot on dumb luck to hit on the combos that do work.And you don't use that shimano cassette on a campy hub do ya?

If it's ebay, NR could just mean 'No Reserve.'gimmie a break.

Not exactly. I use Shimano cassettes with my Campy Record Ergo shifters/derailleur.

Right. I forgot to mention this possibility. Since it will involve some additional adaptation that the manufacturers didn't have in mind when they designed their parts, I would only recommend this in your case for two reasons:

1.) If you find a wheelset that is Campy compatible that you really like for some reason. An example would be if a buddy had such a wheelset lying around that you could have for little or nothing.

2.) If you identify gear combinations you want that aren't available from Shimano. Shimano offers more options from what I understand, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Campy had a cassette or two that Shimano didn't.

Since you already have all the other parts and you only need the wheels, I can't see any reason other than the two I just mentioned to play the mix-and-match game on a road bike.

Thanks, yes the bike is set up for Shimano 8 speed. So no go on the wheels. Unfortunately the guy selling them has no idea about cycling, he found these at a garage sale.

Thanks, yes the bike is set up for Shimano 8 speed. So no go on the wheels. Unfortunately the guy selling them has no idea about cycling, he found these at a garage sale.
Visit the link I posted above, it has sources for Shimano-compatible 8-speed freewheels that will work on the wheels (depending on axle spacing, which can be easily corrected if needed). It'd a shame to pass on nice wheels when a simple solution exists.

Visit the link I posted above, it has sources for Shimano-compatible 8-speed freewheels that will work on the wheels (depending on axle spacing, which can be easily corrected if needed). It'd a shame to pass on nice wheels when a simple solution exists.

Thanks monogodo. I have a few days before it closes.