Bicycle Mechanics - 7-speed cassette on an 8/9 wheel?

I'm looking for a new wheelset, and am only finding 8/9-speed designs. I'm currently running a 7-speed drivetrain and though I want to upgrade eventually to 9-speed, I'd like to put it off until it's really necessary...

So, the question! Given that my current 7-speed wheelset is 135mm spaced, will I have problems if I buy a set of wheels built for 8/9-speed and try to use it with my existing drivetrain/ cassette?

Thanks!

-chris

I'm looking for a new wheelset, and am only finding 8/9-speed designs. I'm currently running a 7-speed drivetrain and though I want to upgrade eventually to 9-speed, I'd like to put it off until it's really necessary...

So, the question! Given that my current 7-speed wheelset is 135mm spaced, will I have problems if I buy a set of wheels built for 8/9-speed and try to use it with my existing drivetrain/ cassette?

Thanks!

-chris

Just did this last week on my MTB.

You just need to add a 4.5mm spacer inboard of the cassette. Nashbar has em for $4, bust apart an old cassette or go ask you local LBS for an old spacer.

My 8spd '95 marin is 135mm spaced, and like dobber says, a spacer should work fine.

Jay

Just to clarify, the dropout spacing (135 mm) has nothing to do with the cassette. Only the freehub body itself is 8-9 or 7 sp. You will want to carefully adjust your rear der for upper and lower limit.

I just did this samething to my old giant boulder se. I took a 9 speed wheelset from a newer bike bought the spacer from nashbar as well as a 7 speed cassette. It was easy to dod and works fine.