Originally Posted by
NEWtie
I know you didn't mean that negatively, I just thought it was the best optin to post on the other part of the forum.
now to clear it all up:
- I have an aluminium roadbike, about 30years, old bought 2nd hand
- the bike has a chorus 8 speed drivetrain, 8 sprockets in the rear and 2 chainring on the front. It is all campagnolo
- I would like to switch wheels from the current tubulars to clinchers
- the wheels are 700c
- I would like to know if it is possible to just switch the cassette on a different wheel, so that I can keep the original cassette
- I am still learning the terminology and everything, so I would also like to kow about the hubs or anything else I should take into account when looking at wheels to buy
- I would like to know what kid of wheels I can put on the bike, so it works smoothly and doesn't break the bike.
If any of you can help me understand any of this, it would be great thank you for your help so far, I have learned a lot!
Keeping it simple, without all the 'history'...
The Rear wheels and frame dropout width are the deciders... Front wheel will work - 99.5% of the time, without modification, except adjusting brake caliper width and pads location...
Your current Bike has Campy 8 spd, so to use your current shifters and derailleurs, you need to have your rear wheel with an 8 speed cassette (or very old school freewheel).
so, keeping it simple and not changing the shifters and derailleurs.
1. rear wheel/frame dropout width - measure the distance between the insides of the rear 'dropouts' (where the rear wheel slots into each side) in centimeters/millimeters. That's your current rear wheel hub width...
2. If your current bike has a '130' mm rear width (very Likely) , you're 1/2 way there... Any wheelset from early 90s to now, for RIM Brakes will work...
2a. The wheelset you BUY (used) should be CAMPY 'cassette' compatible, and then you would buy an 8 Spd CAMPY compatible cassette, in whatever gearing range you wish to have. (also another decision which has impact depending on your need/desires and your front chainrings size (52 & 39 teeth ish ?)
Best to not buy Shimano compatible wheels/hub - this may work, but may not.
The selection of Campy Compatible wheels will be more limited than Shimano Compatible, but still should give plenty of choices.
2b Then BUY a 'new' Campy compatible 8 spd cassette - buying 'used' may find you buying a cassette already well worn beyond it's good use life. Unless you're quite certain it's been VERY lightly used...
3. If your dropout measures 126mm, then you have 2 options (besides staying with old wheel set).
3a. Best - since you have a 'Steel' frame - is to permanently 'spread' the dropouts to 130mm. This can be done by Frame builders, a decent/good bike shop with good mechanics who have strong familiarity with steel frame bikes would possibly be able to do it. Not likely that a under 40 yr old mechanic would even 'understand'...
3b - you could do it yourself, with good direction from experienced mechanic... If you have some mechanical experience and self-assurance. If you want to yourself, you can ask for help from the mechanics forum here, the C & V mght help but also expect a lengthy thread of 'wandering' comments on 'Why is There Life? ' LOL!
or PM me...
3c Then after spreading dropouts - Buy a Campy Compatible rear wheel - see 2a & b
Good Luck - all is not difficult and very doable, just one step after another...
Rode On
Yuri
EDIT: Why not Buy a used 126mm Campy Compatible wheelset ? Because, prolly, any decent Campy 126 Wheelset will be well worn and also TUBULARS/sewup rims...