Owner

What do you think of using a 135mm hub on a 130mm frame? The frame is steel, a 2000 Randonee.

I brought the bike to REI for a tune-up, and they told me the rear rim was shot. They didn't have an exact replacement, so I bought what they recommended. They didn't mention that the hub on the new wheel was a different size from my frame! I happened to get a flat on the rear yesterday, which is how I discovered the new hub that's been on for four days was a 135mm crammed into the 130mm frame. Even if the guy who sold me the rim didn't know at the time the wheel didn't fit, I'm a little pissed that the guy who worked on the bike didn't call to confirm I really wanted to go with a larger hub, or mention it when I picked up the bike.

I'm a cycling newb, so maybe I'm overreacting. Is it common/safe to use a 135mm hub in a 130mm frame?

Also, is it hard to find an 8-speed, 36H hub with 130mm spacing today? For all I know, my bike is outdated and all road bikes are 135mm today.

Retro Grouch 

If it was my bike I'd get a new, shorter rear axle and rework the rear wheel to make it 130mm.

I doubt it's a safety issue with a steel frame, but it'll be a PITA every time that you have to remove and replace the rear wheel.

cs1

What make of bike is it? Is it a road or mtb? Sounds like a mtb if he could only get 135mm.

Tim

dobber

I wouldn't be all that concerned with a steel frame. 135mm hub is gonna be a bit stronger.

This bike has 700c wheels, correct? 130mm in the most common size these days for a 700c road wheel.

Any 9 speed hub is compatible with an 8 speed.

But if you paid go money, you deserve the right part. I'd take it up with the seller in a polite manner.

TallRider

The standard for road bikes is still 130mm, the only road-ish bikes with 135mm spacing are touring and cyclocross bikes.
Perhaps the shop had so-called 29-er wheels (for mountain bikes, but with 700c rims, which have some benefits off-road, esp. for larger riders) but not true road wheels. Especially if you really wanted 36-spoke rear wheel - mtb 29-er wheels are probably more likely to find in 36-spoke than road rear wheels.

The shop should be able to
1) put a shorter axle on the hub
2) remove 5mm of spacers from the non-drive-side axle
3) re-dish the rim 2.5mm to the drive-side

And now you've got a proper 130mm-spaced rear wheel.

But sticking a 135mm hub in a 130mm-spaced steel frame shouldn't be a problem, as others have mentioned.

Owner

It's a touring bike, old Novara Randonee, steel frame. Maybe more recent models are 135mm now, but my 2000 is 130mm. Kind of a bummer, since REI seems to be full of 135mm stuff. They sold me a 700c mtb wheel, but I didn't realize that until last night. I'll go back tonight and see if they have any 700c 130mm wheels. It's going to be a pain forcing the 135mm hub in and out if I have to change a flat out on the road.

Owner

Thanks. I'll go back to REI and see what happens.

dzinehaus

if its that hard for you to live with just space it out, sheldon brown shows you how to do it yourself on his website

https://sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html

bccycleguy

I have a similar situation to the OP, my Trek Hybrid came with Rolf Vector 700c wheels with a 135mm hub spacing and I want to use the rear wheel on a trainer with my steel-framed Lemond road bike (130 mm spacing). I'm tired of swapping the tires over in the spring each time I want to take my Lemond out.

I was just going to remove the single 5 mm spacer on the lazy side of the hub and use the wheel on the Lemond with the brakes in the open position.

After reading the above discussion, I may go further. How easy/difficult is it to replace the axle? The existing axle maybe could also be used with a spacer on the outside of the bike frame, rather than replacing/cutting it? I usually try to do everything on my bike myself, but haven't dove into the rear axle yet.

dzinehaus

can you say $$$ ?

Owner

Is this the link with the pictures of the 2x4 threaded through the frame? I saw that, but that's not for me. My next post after trying something like that would likely be, "Does anybody know where I can find a 200mm hub?"

Owner

I went back to REI, and they did right by me. They didn't have a comparable 130mm wheel, so the manager exchanged the 135mm wheel they sold me earlier for the wheel off a new Randonee on the floor. I'm very impressed with how they made a bad situation good. Great service!

HillRider

The OP got his problem solved but reducing a 135 mm wheel to 130 isn't that hard if you can do the work your self.

1. Disassemble the hub and remove 5 mm of spacers from the nds.
2. Cut 5 mm off of the axle. This is easy with a hacksaw. Leave one locknut on to clean up the threads after cutting.
3. Reassemble the hub.
4. redish the wheel which will only take about 1/2 turn on each drive side spoke nipple.

I've done this a couple of times when I needed a low cost rear wheel for my rain bike and the only reasonably priced 700c wheels were on MTB hubs intended for hybrid use.

cyccommute 

Or just force the stays apart and install the wheels. 5mm is only about 1/8". I'm a big fan of not doing more then you really have to. If the bike had 126mm stays and the hub were 135, I'd probably consider a cold set but not for 5 mm.