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Re: What Size Wheels?
Posted: 19 Dec 2016, 5:22pm
by NeilM
The Trek is now rebuilt.
Everything has been cleaned, wheel bearing re greased, new brake cables and a few other drive train components, but most of the original bike remains.
Initial shakedown rides now needed and if I like it I will get some mudguards and rack(s). I will also get a Brooks or Spa saddle, but the original will do to start (after pushing the nose down a touch).
Re: What Size Wheels?
Posted: 19 Dec 2016, 8:24pm
by Sweep
willem jongman wrote:Ryde/Alesa Sputnik/Exal SP 19 (all the same) are probably the stongest touring rim, and not expensive. Get a Shimano LX hub and 36 spokes. But why 9 speed? What do you have now? If it is 8 speed, you can use a cheaper and more robust 8 speed cassette on any modern hub. Or is the rear hub still a freewheel hub rather than a cassette hub?
To clarify william, you mean that all those differently named rims are all the same, all effectively Sputnik?
Re: RE: What Size Wheels?
Posted: 20 Dec 2016, 5:15am
by BTP
NeilM wrote:I'm a new member to the forum but not a new cyclists as I have been a mtb rider on / off since the late 1980's and more recently got into road riding for the first time ever.
I may be within site of retirement at 60 and fancy building a touring bike. At this stage I am thinking of traveling on the roads, adequately light but with lightweight tent, so I don't want to carry too much, but not super light either. After some prep and training I want to head to Scotland, as I have strong family ties there and have done a couple of road riding holidays in the Highlands, albeit B&B based.
I understand that in general terms I have a few options; buy something suitable and adapt it (I have seen 1990's mtb's mentioned several times), buy a touring frame and build it up to my spec, or have a frame custom built for me.
But my question is, what size wheels? 26" or 700c?
I have toured on both. Each have some slight advantages/disadvantages. I have a lovely old original fillet brazed, 531, Thorn Nomad that I have adapted for a Rohloff with 26" rims.
The problem though is that the reason 26" (559 iso) became popular in the first place is because of the 1980's MTB craze. Now that virtually all MTBs are eithe 700c (29ers) or 650b (27.5") for future-proofing I'd go for 700c if I were you. I can't see 26" touring tyres being readily available in bike shops for that much longer.
I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my SM-N910G using hovercraft full of eels.
Re: What Size Wheels?
Posted: 1 Jan 2017, 10:06pm
by willem jongman
As for Alesa/Ryde Sputnik, Exal Sp 19 yes they are the same. Some have wear indicators, some not, but that is all.
Re: What Size Wheels?
Posted: 1 Jan 2017, 11:52pm
by mercalia
Sweep wrote:willem jongman wrote:Ryde/Alesa Sputnik/Exal SP 19 (all the same) are probably the stongest touring rim, and not expensive. Get a Shimano LX hub and 36 spokes. But why 9 speed? What do you have now? If it is 8 speed, you can use a cheaper and more robust 8 speed cassette on any modern hub. Or is the rear hub still a freewheel hub rather than a cassette hub?
To clarify william, you mean that all those differently named rims are all the same, all effectively Sputnik?
I have both in 26". The specs spoke wise seems to be very similar if my memory is correct - they are of course differnt makers Exal isnt Ryde?
Re: What Size Wheels?
Posted: 2 Jan 2017, 12:17am
by andrew_s
mercalia wrote:they are of course differnt makers Exal isnt Ryde?
My understanding is that...
Alesa were taken over by Rigida, some of the production of Alesa's rims was moved to the Rigida factory in Malaysia, Alesa went bust & and the factory etc was bought out by the Alesa management and a German rim maker, setting up as Exal. Subsequently the Belgian management group bought out the Germans, and the company was taken over by Büchel. Meanwhile, Rigida rebranded as Ryde.
There's Weimann in there too, somewhere.
Clear as mud
