700c wheels, good idea?

[Number6]

I've had my 2010 Cannondale Bad Boy for a couple of months, picked it up on ebay only done a few hundred miles. It's the model with tektro hydraulic brakes and 26" wheels.
Anyhow I ride mostly on road and pathway and was looking to maybe upgrade a few key components and started looking at wheels as the massed wisdom on here say it's the first place to start so was wondering if a set of 700c wheels would be a good call?

If so with a budget of £150 and the desire to retain the all black look anyone got any recommendations?

Cheers all.

 

[HLaB]

You'd have to get second advice but I don't know if your frame would have clearance anyway for 700c wheels.

 

[Number6]

I'm fairly confident it will take the bigger diameter because cannondale did a 700c version but would welcome any info on the matter.

 

[NormanD]

You could try These if they'll fit your frame and they come under budget to buy tubes and tyres

 

[HLaB]

I'm fairly confident it will take the bigger diameter because cannondale did a 700c version but would welcome any info on the matter.

If your frame will take 700c, the first place I think I'd look is PlanetX :-)

 

[Moodyman]

If you've got the frame clearance, you then need to check the OLN (width of your drops outs).

If your 26 inch wheels came with MTB hubs, you'll need to get your 700c wheels with MTB hubs too.

Most ready-made wheels come with road hubs so you'll have to go handbuilt route (for the mtb hub with 700c rim).

Personally, I wouldn't bother replacing your hoops - you'll find better gains by replacing your tyres to slicks. There's not much in it between 26" and 700c hoops for general riding.

 

[Number6]

I'm running the Kojak slicks at the moment.

 

[Paulus]

+1 for the hub width. MTB forks and chain stays are usually wider than those of road/hybrid frames.

 

[jack the lad]

Also it would raise the bike by an inch or so, which would not ony look a bit odd, but also make it harder to reach the ground, if that matters. I'm not sure that you would gain any benefit that you would notice simply from the different geometry of bigger rims. At £150 the individual components are unlikely to be any noticeably better quality than the ones you already have, so you will have similar quality bearings in the hubs but heavier rims. Lots of manufacturers make good lightweight tyres in both sizes and again, all other things being equal the 700c ones will be heavier. Heavier tyres and rims gives you more rolling momentum, so is good for a time triallist, but bad for a commuter who keeps stopping and starting.

Save up your money and go on a cycling holiday.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Your bike is designed to run on 26 wheels. If you can improve it by replacing them with better 26 inch jobbies there might be a gain. TBH though I'd look at tyres and save the rest of my £150 for a weekend away.

My only experience of swapping wheel sizes was riding my Galaxy with 700c in place of the usual 27*1.25 following an accident in France. It felt very odd until I was back in UK and could source proper replacements.

 

[Number6]

Many thanks for the replies, especially those who feel I need a holiday, amazing what you can tell about a fella just by the way he writes.

Ok so mixed opinions on the 700c wheel idea and some who feel that my budget (£150) would not benefit me as far as wheels go regardless of what size I go for.

However if I were to persist down this route would Mavic Crossrides not be a worthy upgrade when compared to my std Cannondale items if I wanted to stick with 26"