Originally Posted by
ScottCommutes
Changing wheels on bikes is harder than you might think. For starters, 26" wheels actually come in I believe three noticeably different rim sizes that are not compatible. You can tell one from the other with certainty only by their ISO numbers. Another important thing to check is the width of the new wheel from where it meets the frame on the left to where it hits the frame on the right. This is usually a semi-standard measurement such as 126mm, 130mm, or 135mm. Again - very important to get the right one. Less worrisome in my opinion is the width of the rim - some wheels are wider than others and may fit certain tires but not certain bikes.
Once you have the correct wheel, you will need special tools to change the gearing over.
If Google is any help, this looks like a 1997 bike, and is likely to have a 135mm rear QR and hub, which was the most common size of the era. Really doubt 126 or 130 which were older road sizes and not usually seen in 26” wheel sizes,