New MTB Wheels on old Specialized with 7 sprockets
h1bda00
Posts: 11
After not having done any MTB in the last decade, I'm now trying to start riding my old Specialized Hardrock again. Don't know what year it is exactly, between '95 and '97. For the most part, still in good shape, but I need to replace the wheels.
MTB gear has changed quite a bit since I was riding 15 years ago. I have a 7 sprocket cassette (at least I think it's a cassette) on the back wheel. The wheels are unidentifiable, size 26". I started looking on-line for wheels, but most of them are for Disc brakes (! didn't even know that existed), otherwise they mention V-brakes, and mostly they are 8-9 speed compatible. So here goes:
1) Are V-brake wheels compatible with older cantilever brakes?
2) Will I need to get a whole new drive train with 8 or 9 speeds to work with new wheels, or are these sometimes compatible with 7 speed cassettes?
3) Is there any problem with hub widths now, compared to in the mid-90s? i.e. have these grown wider so that new hubs may not fit in my old frame?
Thanks in advance for any comments / advice.
MTB gear has changed quite a bit since I was riding 15 years ago. I have a 7 sprocket cassette (at least I think it's a cassette) on the back wheel. The wheels are unidentifiable, size 26". I started looking on-line for wheels, but most of them are for Disc brakes (! didn't even know that existed), otherwise they mention V-brakes, and mostly they are 8-9 speed compatible. So here goes:
1) Are V-brake wheels compatible with older cantilever brakes?
2) Will I need to get a whole new drive train with 8 or 9 speeds to work with new wheels, or are these sometimes compatible with 7 speed cassettes?
3) Is there any problem with hub widths now, compared to in the mid-90s? i.e. have these grown wider so that new hubs may not fit in my old frame?
Thanks in advance for any comments / advice.
0
Comments
-
1) Yes, they both work on the rim so are fine.
2) You should be able to get a spacer that will make new wheels capable of handling your old casette.
3) As far as I'm aware overall widths have remained the same.
Enjoy!XC: Giant Anthem X
Fun: Yeti SB66
Road: Litespeed C1, Cannondale Supersix Evo, Cervelo R5
Trainer: Bianchi via Nirone
Hack: GT hardtail with Schwalbe City Jets0 -
Overall hubs widths have changed a few times over the years - measure the distance between the insides of your frame dropouts.0
-
Many thanks for the advice.
Anybody happen to know the width of the spacer that would be required - is this standard or does it depend on the wheels?0 -
1. Yes.
2. It is a standard spacer to mount a 7 speed cassette on a 8/9/10 speed hub, however all modern hubs have casettes secured by a lockring. If yours is a lockring type it will be fine with a spacer, otherwise if it's the older screw-on type then you'll need a modern cassette as well as a spacer to fit your new wheels.
3. Modern hubs are 100mm wide between the front drop-outs and 135mm at the rear. Get your tape measure out !0 -
OK, many thanks for all the helpful replies.0
