New rear wheel for MTB

[Sham69]

Having reluctantly given up the idea of converting my old GT Tequesta into an Shimano Alfine 11-speed internal gear hub bike, I'm left with a simple - or so I thought - like-for-like refurb, yet I spent most of the last two days searching for a suitable replacement wheel and 7-speed cassette (to replace existing) and couldn't find one. Actually, not quite true - I found a suitable cassette to fit a freehub wheel and that's the Sunrace CSM63 7-speed (11 - 28T) so that's what I'd like to use (yes, I'm on a tight budget).

I've always felt it's an invaluable skill to be able to conduct efficient Internet searches and this is clearly a skill I don't have so I'm not being lazy when I ask those of you with greater cycling knowledge and proficient searching skills, to suggest a suitable wheel.

This is what I need:

26" QR wheel (I assume a 10mm diameter axle - aren't all QR's?)
OLN: 135mm
Freehub to accept a 7-speed cassette
36 spokes
23 - 27mm wide rim suitable for rim brakes and clincher tyres

Ideally, I'd also like:

Double walled rim
Sealed bearings
No disc brake fixings
Cost under £80-ish (I'm fine with a cheapie if it meets the specs.)

I appreciate I may need to compromise on some of my "likes".

Many thanks in anticipation.

 

[cyberknight]

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.KX-Wheels-...r-26-Wheel_261730.htm?variations=colour:Black

 

[cyberknight]

wollyhatshop ebay store
single rim
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395465340462
second hand mavic
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/286505717971
second hand , double wall , needs trueing
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186801622585

loads more on there

 

[Jameshow]

Will a cassette hub fit a 7 SPD freewheel?

 

[fossyant]

Use a 8 speed cassette and drop a sprocket. Add 2 spacers on first. That's what I so with my commuter. Even works fine with 3mm 8 speed spacing. 7 speed was 3.1mm

 

[cyberknight]

Will a cassette hub fit a 7 SPD freewheel?

i was a bit confused , i thought you were after a wheel with a cassette hub not a freewheel?

 

[Sham69]

Thanks for your help and suggestions.

Yes, I'm after a freehub wheel so I can fit a 7-speed cassette.

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.KX-Wheels-...r-26-Wheel_261730.htm?variations=colour:Black

I've seen this one. It was one of the closest fits I found but discarded it because the advert states...

"Cassette: 8-11 speed"

...and my gear shifter is indexed (if that's the correct term?) for 7 speed. I imagine this suggestion...

Use a 8 speed cassette and drop a sprocket. Add 2 spacers on first. That's what I so with my commuter. Even works fine with 3mm 8 speed spacing. 7 speed was 3.1mm

...is a workaround, i.e. I purchase an 8 speed cassette and modify it to suit? I get the gist but feel it's beginning to get more complicated than I would have liked. However, if this turns out to be my best option, I'll bite the bullet and go for it.

Saw this one too but discarded due to a single wall rim:

wollyhatshop ebay store
single rim
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395465340462

Shame it's just single wall rim and the rim width isn't mentioned (although from suitable tyre sizes stated, it's probably around 25mm) however my perfect wheel doesn't appear to be out there so this bankrupt_bike_parts wheel and the KX wheel from Tredz seem to be the closest matches currently available so I need to choose between the two (sorry, forgot to mention that pre-owned is off the table).

Many thanks for your time, much appreciated.

 

[cyberknight]

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/cassett...-8910-speed-body-to-7-speed-conversion-black/

 

[All uphill]

As cost is important and you know what you want, have you thought of checking with bicycle recycling charities near you?

There's a map and list on this site.

 

[Jameshow]

i was a bit confused , i thought you were after a wheel with a cassette hub not a freewheel?

That's I thought cassettes are 8-12 spd usually although some earliest ones maybe 7spd.

 

[Sham69]

That's I thought cassettes are 8-12 spd usually although some earliest ones maybe 7spd.

I came to the same conclusion during my search. Most 7 speeds have a screw on fixing for a freewheel hub.

 

[Sham69]

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/cassett...-8910-speed-body-to-7-speed-conversion-black/

I guess I'll lose one cog of the 8-speed? I wouldn't want to lose the highest gear (typically 11-tooth cog) although I'd be OK losing the lowest gear (typically 32 or 34 tooth cog). I wouldn't want to lose one of the middle gears - that wouldn't feel right.

 

[fossyant]

Thanks for your help and suggestions.

Yes, I'm after a freehub wheel so I can fit a 7-speed cassette.


I've seen this one. It was one of the closest fits I found but discarded it because the advert states...

"Cassette: 8-11 speed"

...and my gear shifter is indexed (if that's the correct term?) for 7 speed. I imagine this suggestion...


...is a workaround, i.e. I purchase an 8 speed cassette and modify it to suit? I get the gist but feel it's beginning to get more complicated than I would have liked. However, if this turns out to be my best option, I'll bite the bullet and go for it.

Saw this one too but discarded due to a single wall rim:

Shame it's just single wall rim and the rim width isn't mentioned (although from suitable tyre sizes stated, it's probably around 25mm) however my perfect wheel doesn't appear to be out there so this bankrupt_bike_parts wheel and the KX wheel from Tredz seem to be the closest matches currently available so I need to choose between the two (sorry, forgot to mention that pre-owned is off the table).

Many thanks for your time, much appreciated.

It's not a work around - you'll struggle to find 7 speed cassettes, and most you find are cheap quality. SRAM and Shimano still do a large range of 8 speed cassettes. I've run this on two bikes for years, only switching one to 8 speed when I upgraded the levers on an old road bike. It works. Yes, you'll need to tweak the indexing, but you'll have no problems getting a cassette.

 

[cyberknight]

I guess I'll lose one cog of the 8-speed? I wouldn't want to lose the highest gear (typically 11-tooth cog) although I'd be OK losing the lowest gear (typically 32 or 34 tooth cog). I wouldn't want to lose one of the middle gears - that wouldn't feel right.

thats a spacer to run a 7 speed cassette on a 8-10 speed freehub