Currently I have three sets of tires for my Cannondale Quick4. My Quick has 26 inch wheels. I have 1.7 knobby tires I use on gravel roads and ratty paths. I have slicks that I have used for faster rides, I can't recall the diameter. I have 1.5 tough tires without much tread for all around use, but they are not the best for loose gravel. I end up wanting to swap out tires frequently. The 1.5s are a bit tough for me to get on. The other two are pretty easy. Sometimes I want to do a swap for a ride but don't because it is somewhat of a production.

What are my options? I am not sophisticated about bikes, even though I am pretty good at changing a tire. If I wanted to buy additional sets of wheels where would I find them? How do I figure what is the appropriate size, beyond the fact that I know that my bike has 26 inch wheels, rather than the 700s that are on the larger sized Quicks. For the rear wheel, would I have to buy a cassette? My bike is a 2011, the 2012 version has the Sunrace CSM668, 11-32, 8-speed on it. Here are the 2011 specs: https://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/B...6%22&Type=bike

How do I figure out what to buy? How would swapping out the rear wheel work? And, are they any questions I should have asked but did not ask?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

I'm not sure if that Sunrace "cogset" is a cassette or a Free Wheel. I know Sunrace makes 8 speed freewheels, so????

IF you bought a 2nd wheel (I'm currently buying a 2nd wheel set for similar purposes), I'd just have it equipped with it's own cassette.

The reason--??
You will probably be riding under different conditions when you are using the different tires. With the knobbies, a "mountain" cassette would probably be more appropriate, while with slicks, a "more" road friendly cassette would probably make sense. (The slicks roll easier on pavement, so you can utilize a bit higher gear)

Having the cassette already mounted will greatly speed up the swap.
Just have your chain long enough to handle the largest cog used on any wheel set.

BTW, I'm getting a cheap 700c wheelset & 9 speed cassette for $108.50 delivered from Niagara Cycles through Amazon.

With your self admitted limited knowledge on this matter, the best thing is order them through your LBS, and they will set them up correctly for your bike. You should expect around 150.00 dollars for the complete set (cheaper version), or 270.00 for the nicer ones, that would include the cassette and labor to set it up on either. You could always do it yourself, and save a good bit of money. But there is No problem having a set that will match right up, each time you want to change tires. Just has to be done right, Richard

You can use this rear cog : https://www.rczbikeshop.com/default/s...e-csm-668.html

Thanks for your thoughts folks. I travel in an rv and right now I am less than thrilled with the LBSs around here. If I wanted to order wheels and cassette where could I find out how to put the whole thing together. Anything else that I would need?

EDIT: judging from a youtube video search what I would need are special tools. I have to think about whether that makes sense. I may be a good idea to know how to take off and put on a cassette, handy for cleaning maybe.

To remove a cassette you need-
Chain whip (multiple option for price/comfort)
Lock ring tool (probably a Park FR-5 if you have Shimano/SRAM/SunRace cassette)
Wrench that opens to 1" for the LR tool. (Generic 12" crescent wrench.

A "shorter" crescent wrench may open up enough, but it's a bit lacking in leverage.

To install, you don't need the chainwhip.

https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-...ewheel-removal

I have recently gotten back into bikes after many years away and when I wanted to learn more about how current bikes are put together and work I went to amazon.com and got a copy of "Zinn & the art of road bike maintenance". I have learned a lot form it and now at least understand what is involved in repairing, upgrading and changing my bikes. I may or may not ever do the work but I feel better understanding what is going on.