MTB Hub - 700C Rim

[levett]

I've found a thread re building a wheelset with MTB (Disc) Hubs and 700C rims. This is something I've been thinking of for 'the boss' to ride her MTB on the road.

Her MTB runs discs, so that should not be a problem and, from a quick measurement, my 700C 25 road bike wheels seem to be a radii just less than 350mm - which seems like it would fit in her Scott.

 

Next question - who, around Jo'burg, could build such a set of wheels for a reasonable price (I'd look for a set of wheels - without discs - to be around 2,500 or less).

[Johan Bornman]

Contact the okes at Yellow Saddle Cycling. They specialise in such projects. Someone here will point you in the right direction.

[levett]

I'm getting Johan at Yellow Saddle Cycling to build me a set of wheels on Shimano SLX Hubs and DRC ST 17 Rims (apparently similar to Mavic Open Pro Rims) with 'double butted' spokes (whatever that means!)

 

So we'll see how these go!

 

Johan and I have (1/2 calculated, 1/2 guessed) that the increase in gearing over the 26" 1.6" slicks will be about 20%!

[levett]

Johan at YellowSaddle built the wheels for me  - If you ever want this type of work done (or any wheel build, I believe he also does MTB forks, and lots of other things) I can 110% recommend Johan.

 

'The boss' has used the wheels a few times (including the Tour Durban) and she thinks they're fantastic - some may think it's wrong to have this type of wheel on a MTB, but the increase in gearing, combined with the massive reduction in rolling resistance, transforms the bike on the road.

 

Overall, totally happy with the wheels (and Johan at YellowSaddle).

[Guest Big H]

Brakes would be a problem though. You would have to get a cyclocross fork (steel or carbon Fibre) for the front wheels to enable you to fit V-brakes in front.. The rear would be a problem though. Here is what I did. I manufactured a inverted "U" out of aliminium, used the old V-brake bosses as a mounting point and installed new v-brake bosses at the correct height. This setup has now been going for quite a few years and it works.

 

[levett]

Ah - I forgot to say, I'm of the new fashon for discs!

 

As Big H says, running rim brakes would be a problem - I'm sure you could bake the 700C Rims work with rim brakes, but then 'interchanging' knobblies and road tyres would be a real pain  - with discs, it's simply a matter of undoing the quick-releases, slipping the knobbly wheels out, and slipping the 700C road wheels in - it takes less than 2 minutes

[Guest Big H]

Good for you!!! The picture is a conversion I did on my tandem frame. Not many 40 hole MTB hubs around!!!!! Disk like you want to use will be very nifty!!!!!!

[GoLefty!!]

I'vedone this with a Cannondalehardtail in the past. re-investigating it for my Scalpel. It works very well especially if youtravel with the bike often. One bike two sets of wheels is a lot easierto handle than two bikes

[GoLefty!!]

PS: The rims have to be of the eyelet typre that connects to both the inner part of the rim as well as the outer, Double eyelets I think they call them.

 

Those that Johan promotes are ideal although I used a pair of Open Pro's

[levett]

One bike two sets of wheels is a lot easierto handle than two bikes

 

I have to agree - my wife only has a mountain bike (and 2 sets of wheels - the road ones with the 700C's on) - I have a MTB with 2 sets of wheels (though both 26") and a road bike and, to be honest, I don't ride the road bike much now!

 

I rode my road bike in the Argus (though, with the weather, may have been better on the MTB), and have ridden it once since. When we go out on the road together, I take my MTB (with the wheels with the slicks on) and, have to say, I appreciate the comfort.

 

I'm now building a 29er MTB, and am going to put something like a 700 x 37C slick on one set of wheels, and am unsure how much I'll ride either of the other bikes then!