Wheel set for Triban RC500/520?
I'm keeping my eyes out for Triban RC500/520 as my "do-all" bike. Mainly for commuting but also hoping that it would mean I can go on a casual off-roading again. Nothing serious; something like: 1) well-maintained trail like Alice Holt / Queen Elizabeth with kids; 2) short solo ~2hr trail on New Forest / South Downs Way.
RC500/520 seems to be well received as a versatile bike for road and gravel/cyclocross. I'm thinking of keeping the stock wheelset for commuting (700 x 25-28mm) and get another wheelset to swap for odd off-road occasions. My questions are:
* What sort of wheelset / tyre set up is typical for an occasional trial ride?
* Is the stock Triban tubeless ready wheelset "good enough" for my intentions (and as a tubeless set up)?
Thank you and happy cycling
Comments
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The triban is fairly limited on tyre size, you need to check careful but circa 35mm CX tyres are probably about the best you'll find.
You'll need, ideally, a pair of CX wheels, but understand the rear mech will need indexing after a wheel swap, even if you get an identical wheel it may still need some tweaking but different hubs put the cassette in slightly different positions (and the disc, so you'll need to recentre both callipers.Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.1 -
Perfect, thanks very much for the advice. This has not come across my mind and I thought it would be a simple swap around of wheelset.The Rookie said:The triban is fairly limited on tyre size, you need to check careful but circa 35mm CX tyres are probably about the best you'll find.
You'll need, ideally, a pair of CX wheels, but understand the rear mech will need indexing after a wheel swap, even if you get an identical wheel it may still need some tweaking but different hubs put the cassette in slightly different positions (and the disc, so you'll need to recentre both callipers.
Back to drawing board!0 -
News to me I swop different makes of wheels without having to re index the gears. I wonder how they manage in races.The Rookie said:The triban is fairly limited on tyre size, you need to check careful but circa 35mm CX tyres are probably about the best you'll find.
You'll need, ideally, a pair of CX wheels, but understand the rear mech will need indexing after a wheel swap, even if you get an identical wheel it may still need some tweaking but different hubs put the cassette in slightly different positions (and the disc, so you'll need to recentre both callipers.0 -
They shim the wheels to put the cassette in the right location.
As an extreme, when I put a shimano hubbed wheel on in place of a Novatch (cup and cone always push the cassette in) my gears as indexed put the chain precisely on 8th not 9th, it was a whole sprocket out.
If you use the same brand hub and its sealed bearing you're probably OK.Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0 -
A bit more homework and I can see that there are 0.1-0.2mm shims to adjust the disc alignment if swapping out wheelset. I can do that.
Gear indexing seems to be mixed-opinion. Some says no problem, some say they spent more time than worth to get things right. Is it a matter of getting a wheelset and see how it goes?
I think I'll keep the stock wheelset for 35mm gravel and get a value for money road wheelset for commuting.
35mm-ish gravel tyres good enough for casual off-road rides (family-friendly terrain and maybe odd single track on SDW)?0
