MTB Commuter fitted with 700c wheels ...

jonnyboy77

I'm in the process of building a hybrid commuter bike from scratch, part of which includes 700c disc wheels ...

... so I thought I'd try them on the MTB today, see if they would fit and then find out how it rides!

I got the work done; swapped cassette and rotors onto the 700c wheels, threw on some Specialized Infinity 700x32c tyres w/tubes and then squeezed the wheels onto the frame! The front only just clears the suspension fork while the rear has a good amount of clearance.

Sadly I ran out of time to take it out for a spin, but hoping to do so tomorrow or Monday. I wondered if anyone else had tried this?

- Jon

tptvmbircn

It does work on some frames yes, the problem is tyre clearance and if you want to have mudguards etc. My advice is plan ahead before doing any mods and measure then double check what you've just measured.

Hope we see pics!

Koncordski

I've seen a couple on the commute, they look a bit weird with the skinny tyres!

nwallace

Is it a frame designed for 26" or 29" MTB wheels?
I've heard of 26" frames being converted to 29", it doesn't sound either pretty or engineeringly sound though...

Wouldn't have expected too many issues with 700s on a frame designed for 29" wheels though

jonnyboy77

It's a frame designed for 26" wheels, usually runs Schwalbe Big Apples, but with the 700c wheel and 700x32c Tyres it seems fine.

Not a great photo though:



Jon

tptvmbircn

Get them carbon forks on and you'll notice more of a difference, it will move but that clearance pushes it a bit haha.

I'm saying that if them forks fit, should do!

jonnyboy77

Carbon On-One forks will fit, just need to source a crown race first so I can switch forks more easily, any ideas on sourcing spare FSA compatible crown races?

Jon

tptvmbircn

try here there is one there for FSA, don't know if it's correct however.

edit: actually there is 4, dam scroll button.

scattered pedals

Is it locked to a broom?

jonnyboy77

scattered pedals wrote:

Is it locked to a broom?

The broom is sold secure gold rated! (just kidding, it was a temp parking spot!)

Jon

tptvmbircn

jonnyboy77 wrote:

scattered pedals wrote:

Is it locked to a broom?

The broom is sold secure gold rated! (just kidding, it was a temp parking spot!)

Jon

Inside sources told me the broom was platinum security?

jonnyboy77

stealthelite1986 wrote:

try here there is one there for FSA, don't know if it's correct however.

edit: actually there is 4, dam scroll button.

CRC emailed to say they can't help, but Kona got back to me with the following

<tech@konaworld.com> wrote:

Hi, the FSA model number of that headset is TH-855. Their part number for the fork crown race is H6010 {850-6}.

 

Not sure where to go now ...

First ride on new wheels & tyres tomorrow!

Jon

tptvmbircn

try this and this?

jonnyboy77

stealthelite1986 wrote:

try this and this?

Nothing on eBay and no sign of international shipping on the FSA webstore. I have emailed FSA for a UK stockist of the crown race ... See what they come back with.

Jon

tptvmbircn

probably be cheaper to get a headset! haha

jonnyboy77

stealthelite1986 wrote:

probably be cheaper to get a headset! haha

Maybe! But I still need 2x crown race, I want to be able to swap forks easily.

Jon

tptvmbircn

ah yes here's me getting carried away! see what FSA say, in fact I have a Nukeproof Warhead headset here, it has a detachable crown race like this so you can take it on and off easily, pretty nifty for the job in hand. take it for £20 notes if you want, just sitting around from my old MTB.

jonnyboy77

FSA sent me some UK contacts to try for the crown race. In the mean time here's a better photo of the wheels and tyres on the bike:



The ride in this morning was interesting, seemed a lot faster but also a lot less comfortable as the tyres are much less forgiving than the old Big Apples!

- Jon

Mr Plum

Looks interesting. What's the clearance like between your feet and the front wheel when cornering?

jonnyboy77

Mr Plum wrote:

Looks interesting. What's the clearance like between your feet and the front wheel when cornering?

I will pay attention to this on the ride home, but from looking at the photos, the overall diameter of the wheel/tyre combo is not that much greater with the 700x32c than it was with the 26x2.1 or 2.4:





Maybe I should measure it though to see how different

Jon

Mr Plum

jonnyboy77 wrote:

Mr Plum wrote:

Looks interesting. What's the clearance like between your feet and the front wheel when cornering?

I will pay attention to this on the ride home, but from looking at the photos, the overall diameter of the wheel/tyre combo is not that much greater with the 700x32c than it was with the 26x2.1 or 2.4:

Ah yes I guess that is true. I thought for a moment that it may have slightly overlapped, but by the looks of it there's actually very little difference in terms of overall diameter.

tptvmbircn

looks great, good to see they sent you a uk service for the crown race, keep us posted

mattwood

May I ask where you got your 700c wheels from? I've been looking all over the net and keep drawing a blank.

I am looking to re-vamp my GIANT ATX hardtail (which is currently my commuter) with some 700c disc-compatable wheels and some rigid forks.

jonnyboy77

mattwood wrote:

May I ask where you got your 700c wheels from? I've been looking all over the net and keep drawing a blank.

I am looking to re-vamp my GIANT ATX hardtail (which is currently my commuter) with some 700c disc-compatable wheels and some rigid forks.

I got them from Planet-x/On-one:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/WPM1250525/ ... r-wheelset

They were £89 when I bought them though. Seem like good quality, certainly fine for my needs.

I'm also looking to have the option of replacing the suspension forks with a pair of On-One carbon fibre forks, just need a crown race ... looks like I am now going to buy another Intellaset No.28 (£12.50) which uses the same crown race as my TH-855 (H6010).

- Jon

mattwood

Thanks a lot for that

I may ring them and see what sort of a deal they could do me lol.

Good luck with your project though mate, looks good!

jonnyboy77

mattwood wrote:

Thanks a lot for that

I may ring them and see what sort of a deal they could do me lol.

Good luck with your project though mate, looks good!

The real project is due to commence this weekend ... the 700c wheels come off the MTB and are added to the hybrid frame, with a few other bits and pieces ready for the winter commute.

The 700c wheel/tyre combo are good on the MTB, but not what I want ultimately.

- Jon