Touring - Could I use a hybrid wheel on a road bike?

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03staylo
04-24-11, 06:52 AM
Hi all,
I am looking at getting a new rear wheel for touring so it will have more spokes and be a bit more heavy duty for the job in hand. I was wondering what the different was between a hybrid and a road wheel was, both the wheels I have seen are 700c.
I was wondering would a hybrid wheel work on my road bike giving me more strength for the back wheel and better for touring?
Thanks,

RavingManiac
04-24-11, 07:02 AM
Sure, as long as the spacing on the dropouts is a match.
uciflylow
04-24-11, 07:55 AM
Many road bike frames won't handle anything over a 28 and some won't even handle that. Not to mention the brake calipers!:eek:

MichaelW
04-24-11, 09:27 AM
No. Road bikes and Hybrid bikes have different dimensions for the axle length.
Road bikes use an Over Locknut Dimension (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_n-o.html#old) of 130mm.
Hybrids use the MTB standard of 135mm.
Most touring bikes use 135 so this is the generally accepted standard for touring wheels that you buy ready-made.

You can convert a 135mm wheel to a 130mm frame buy removing 5mm of spacer and cutting/swapping the axle and quick-release skewer. You may have to adjust the spoke tension to centre the rim. Its possible but takes some expertise.
Any competent bike shop with a wheel-builder should be able to build up a 36-spoke road hub with a touring rim to fit a std road bike.
Note that many road bikes have tight clearance at the brakes and frame which may limit the tyre width and possibly the rim width. A general purpose rim such as Mavic Open Pro or Open Sport will be sufficient.