MTB / Hybrid rear wheel?

[Nebulous]

Any thoughts on a cheap rear 26" wheel with a screw on freewheel?

I'm renovating an old Subway, and unfortunately the rear wheel isn't round. In fact its well off. I hadn't intended spending much on it, but it has grown a bit, as these things do.

Edinburgh Bike do one for £31.99. Most of the online shops I generally use only seem to stock more expensive brands.

 

[HovR]

How cheap are you looking for?

I've had one of these before when I've been in a pinch.. Really cheap.. Not the best wheel ever, but it does the job (heavy, spoke tensions are out).

Have you considered trying to get your old wheel professionally trued?

 

[festival]

The wheel shown in the post above is the standard wheel all bike shop sell, The come from various sources but are much the same and usually about £35.
Because the freewheel hub is only used at the budget or worse end of the market you wont get a lot of quality.
Might be worth a visit to the LBS and ask if they have an old but decent wheel out back that you could buy.

 

[Nebulous]

Well that's certainly a lot cheaper than any I could find. The wheel is surprisingly far off, when I got the bike the brake pads had worn through the carcass of the rear tyre, and I can see why. I've had a fiddle with a spoke key myself, and made it slightly better - I mean what's the worst I can do?

I'm not sure I actually want an answer to that!

Anyway sometimes bikes should just be allowed to die with dignity. I've spent a few hours on it, replaced bits*, fiddled, adjusted, greased and I just took it out for a quick trial. I'm finding it hard to see why I bothered. It's intended as a bad weather, leave in town stands bike - but at the moment I think someone would do me a favour by nicking it.

* New Schwalbe Cityjet tyre, v-brake pads, brake cables and chain.

 

[Nebulous]

Wheel arrived yesterday - I haven't put it on yet, but it looks ok. It's Raleigh branded.

 

[HovR]

Yeah, it will definitely work fine on a station/pub/bad weather bike - That's the type of bike I ran mine on.

One piece of advice - Check the hubs. Mine came with surprisingly little grease, and the cones were a bit tight. Once I'd fixed this myself the wheel runs fairly smoothly.