New Wheels

[Lee_M]

Hi

I am planning to use my MTB to commute into that London (11 miles each way), and after riding it over the weekend I remembered why I dont ride it - its so bloody heavy!

So I was thinking the best route to lightness might be some new wheels? So any idea what I should consider - or is there aything else I can do (short of changing the whole bike - I cant do that as I'm saving for a 5.2 Domane!)

The bike is a 22" Claud Butler lump (best description I can think of after riding it), and I'm about 100kg, so given its for London and the roads are crap I'm not thinking super-lites!

Thx

 

[defy-one]

You could go for 700c tyres with 28mm tyres,as long as you have clearance to the fork. Change the calipers to short ones and you have a hybrid hybrid which will be faster on roads

 

[black'n'yellow]

You could go for 700c tyres with 28mm tyres,as long as you have clearance to the fork. Change the calipers to short ones and you have a hybrid hybrid which will be faster on roads

sorry, what..?

 

[defy-one]

Change the 26" wheels and stick on 700's
Never tried,but thinking about doing this to my mtb. The current brake calipers are to long,therefore need short reach ones to hit the rim correctly with brake pads.

 

[black'n'yellow]

Which Claud Butler MTBs do you know of that use caliper brakes..?

 

[defy-one]

Dude it was a general suggestion to the OP. Not sure it can be done,but worth investigating wheels and brakes combo.
Some folks on here are so #%&&%#% ...... and breath :-)

 

[lejogger]

I used to commute on an old Claude Butler which had a disc at the back and calipers at the front! It was a complete mish mash with some old Pace suspension forks and then just some bog standard steel ones when they died.

On your commute I assume you'll be carrying kit anyway? I wouldn't worry too much about trying to make the bike lighter, especially if you have to spend money to do it. Just accept that you'll be a bit slower, but building up heaps more base fitness by lugging something heavy around. Then you'll really feel the benefit at the weekends on your best bike.

If you're desperate to make improvements I'd make sure you've got some narrower slicker tyres - I went for the 26" Conti Sport Contacts and you could also think about switching to a road cassette to make the shifting smoother.

 

[Lee_M]

you may be right, its just the thought of fighting the traffic the road surface AND the bike!

at least it means I can add the money to the Doman fund!

 

[lejogger]

If my Claude can transport me from Lands End to John O'Groats then I'm sure your Claude can get you to work and back without much bother!
Please note that yes, those are Look Delta racing pedals on a MTB and aero bars on the front...

Fantastic Claude. I wouldn't change a single thing about him...

 

[Lee_M]

I'm guessing you didnt have to go down the Mile End Road though

 

[lejogger]

I'm guessing you didnt have to go down the Mile End Road though

Well clearly not, although in the course of 900 miles in 9 days you tend to experience most of the extremes you're ever likely to have while cycling.

If a road really is that bad then it must be for reasons that a new set of wheels isn't going to fix!

 

[Lee_M]

Well clearly not, although in the course of 900 miles in 9 days you tend to experience most of the extremes you're ever likely to have while cycling.

I'm sure you do

If a road really is that bad then it must be for reasons that a new set of wheels isn't going to fix!

yep - mostly that it's in Mile End!