Bicycle Mechanics - Need new rear wheel for 1997 Trek 720

I picked up a bike today on Craig's List, a 1997 Trek 720 Multi Track . Paid only $70 for it but the rear wheel was in bad shape and can't be trued so I have to replace it. So my good deal is not so good.

It is a 7 speed cassette. It has 700 X 35c tires on it

I found this wheel on Amazon, a new Avenir Joytech/Weinmann CN520 32H QR Rear Wheel with 5-7 Speed Freewheel Hub (Silver, 700 x 25mm) $38.51 with Free Shipping

http://http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Joytech-Weinmann-Freewheel-Silver/dp/B003RLHKW0 (http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Joytech-Weinmann-Freewheel-Silver/dp/B003RLHKW0)


So is the free wheel part of the wheel or the cassette?

Is this a good price and compatible replacement for the current damaged Mavic Vapor 32 hole rims?

It's a freewheel type rear wheel - requires a separate 5, 6, or 7 speed freewheel.

Furthermore, this is a machine built "unfinished" wheel.

=8-)

It's a freewheel type rear wheel - requires a separate 5, 6, or 7 speed freewheel.

Furthermore, this is a machine built "unfinished" wheel.

=8-)

Here is another one on Amazon.
WHEEL MASTER WHEEL BIKE 700C REAR WEINMANN AS23X QUICK RELEASE ALLOY 7-SPEED HUB 36H
by WheelMaster

So does this one come with the freewheel? It says 7-Speed Hub . . . .

http://http://www.amazon.com/WHEEL-MASTER-WEINMANN-RELEASE-7-SPEED/dp/B000AO3GES

Are you able to open the hyper links I am posting?

Same boat, same quality...

=8-)

Your links are missing ":" as part of the protocol portion of your URLs. ( http:// instead of http// )

Thanks!

Personally I would not downgrade from a Shimano Freehub hub to a freewheel hub. 7 speed freewheels are magnets for bent/broken axles. It's not a question of if, it's a question of when. I'm 130lbs and I've bent them before. It's a poor design, a design the Freehub replaced. You could probably get your original hub built into a new wheel with new spokes for around $70.

$25 rim: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Sun-Rims-Road-Bicycle-Rim-Assault-SL1-700c-32h-MSW-/380386266463?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5890c9cd5f

Figure $30 for spokes. $10 for a spoke wrench if you want to try building it yourself, ??? for how much the LBS would charge you.

Check the rear spacing to ensure you get the right hub and would also suggest a freehub (or rebuild) as unless you get a freewheel specific hub like a PW or one of ours, axle bending and breakage can be an issue.

You can use an 8 speed freehub and fit a 7 speed cassette with a spacer which leaves you an option to upgrade to 8-9 at some later point.

Think used, you have a 14 year old bike, you really don't need a brand new wheel. Take measurements first, know the rear spacing, and go.

Post a WTB wheel on your local C/L bicycle for sale section (yes, I know you are not selling a wheel, but that's where people look).

I find good used wheels all of the time. In rehabbing a couple of hundred bikes in the last five years, I have not bought a single new wheel (someday I probably will have to buy a wheel, I've never bought a new rim either). But I have bought many, many used wheels. Some come in the form of a bicycle. Bought a bike once just to get the Superbe Pro wheelset that is on my Katakura Silk right now.

One nice side benefit of used wheels is they often come with decent tires, tubes, skewers, and a cassette.

The seven speed stuff is pretty cheap as people upgraded to 8/9/10 speeds.

Don't rule out your LBS. I've been able to get decent used wheels for about 1/2 of new for the exact reason stated above. People like to upgrade.