My dad just picked up a used 2005 Fuji Touring for me back home in Milwaukee. It apparently has 36 spoke wheels and has had the rear wheel rebuilt due to broken spoke issues, which apparently were a known problem on Fujis that year. That makes for perhaps questionable wheels, and I'm concerned since I'm planning a cross-country trip. Advice 'round here seems that a rear wheel is a place to pay attention to.

I've gotten my hands on some 40 spoke tandem wheels here in Pittsburgh at the local bike coop which appear to be built really well: 40-spoke DT Hugi hubs, Mavic T520 rims, dead true. They'd make a worthy substitute.

The issue is that the tandem rear wheel appears to have a 140mm OLD. From what I've heard on the internet, the Fuji has 130mm rear spacing. I can't confirm this as the bike is still in Milwaukee.

Would it be a good idea to respace the Fuji to fit a 140mm rear wheel? One local bike shop (Kraynick's, a great place where you can walk in and DIY using the tools in back. It's piled floor-to-ceiling with ancient parts, too. Definitely a place to visit if ever coming through Pittsburgh) apparently has the equipment to do it.

One guy in this thread seems iffy: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...poke-rear-hubs