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Bear with me here, my lack of bike knowledge is showing.
Several years ago my then-partner wanted a turbo trainer. We (I) bought it and stuck a Surly Cross Check on it with a blue Tacx tyre out back, it got used about a dozen times before the novelty wore off and that's basically how a four-figure bike has spent its life.
Fast-forward to today, my current partner wants to use the TT. But she's a shortarse* and the Surly is too big. I want shut of the Surly anyway** so I was hoping to mount her bike on it.
I don't really want to be swapping tyres all the time (and the TT tyre is a shit to fit) so I think what I want is a spare 26" wheel that I can just drop in and out. Brucie bonus, I can shove it on my own bike as well.
So the question is, how do I best go about this without spending a fortune? I don't really need a full cassette out back as the TT is variable, can you get a single-cog wheel which fits into drop-outs for x-speed? I think offhand mine is 3x9 and hers 1x11, is that going to give me chain issues? Is what I'm thinking even possible?
WWSTWD?
(* - her bike is a junior's as all the women's bikes were too big)
(** - stealth advert)
You might well find that the existing wheel/tyre fits - if you have clearance for 26 x 2.n" tyres, then a lower profile tyre on a 700c wheel is quite likely to fit.
WRT the differing chain lines, could you fit a single sprocket to a full-width freehub? The sprocket would slide into a position to align with wherever the indexing on the bike of the moment is set. But these could be tried out with the Surly's wheel before you sell that on.
I used my old 26" hard tail on the TT for a number of years.
You can get a specific TT tyre in 26" which is well worth the effort, they are not that expensive and normal tyres melt after a short time.
You can get a cheap 26" wheel from eBay or merlin or CRC, just buy something cheap and reasonably reliable. If you don't put a brake disc on the wheel remember to put a spacer in between the brake pads.
I would invest in a cassette as a single speed on the back can make it quite dull and you want an easy spin to warm up and cool down with something tough for the middle. You can get free TT training sessions on YouTube or les mills / Zwift if you don't mind paying and gears add to the enjoyment. If you want a cheap single speed option get something like this https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/dmr-single-speed-converter-kit/rp-prod2300
You might well find that the existing wheel/tyre fits
Yeah, but I kinda want to keep that on the CX.
WRT the differing chain lines, could you fit a single sprocket to a full-width freehub?
I don't have the faintest idea, that's why I was asking.
Thanks for the reply, appreciated.
You can get a cheap 26″ wheel from
...
I would invest in a cassette
Perhaps feasible if I had the faintest clue what I was doing.
You might well find that the existing wheel/tyre fits
Yeah, but I kinda want to keep that on the CX.
I realise that, but was merely suggesting that you don't necessarily need a 26" wheel. You might have a 700c/29r wheel lying around, or be able to get one easily, and re-using the existing TT tyre will save you a bit of expense, assuming it's still in ok nick. Checking the fit using the existing wheel saves you wasting money if the clearances turn out to be too tight after all...
Do you know what dropouts you've got? I may be able to help with a wheel and possibly cassette too
I don’t have the faintest idea, that’s why I was asking.
Apologies, that was more of a rhetorical, thinking-aloud question than a direct query. I reckon it should work, provided you used a wide-based sprocket like this one.
Chain width is the possible show-stopper, but that sprocket is specified as 1.8mm thick, and a quick google suggests that an 11s chain has a 2.18mm inner width so I see no reasons for it not to work.
Baser's point about having multiple ratios for warm-up and warm-down is a good one, though. However, if you're using both 9s and 11s bikes with the same wheel then that definately won't work with a single cassette - you'll need to swap cassettes when you switch bikes. Which isn't actually that big a job (easier than swapping tyres) so might well be worth it.
Do you know what dropouts you’ve got? I may be able to help with a wheel and possibly cassette too
Oh, that'd be brilliant. Thank you.
I don't actually understand your question, mind. What do you need to know?
However, if you’re using both 9s and 11s bikes with the same wheel then that definately won’t work with a single cassette – you’ll need to swap cassettes when you switch bikes. Which isn’t actually that big a job (easier than swapping tyres) so might well be worth it.
That being the case, I'd likely just skip me using it. That was 'nice to have' rather than anything, truth be told I've probably used it half a dozen times in as many years.
Tell a lie, hers is 1x9. So presumably there's little / no difference between a 1x9 and a 3x9 cassette / wheel combo?
I don’t actually understand your question, mind. What do you need to know?
How the wheel fits the frame. If in doubt a photo may help.
It... slots in? 🤷♂️ I'll see if I can get a photo.
I can't believe you were moderating threads [several identical ones Every. Single. Day.] on people bitching and moaning about different standards for how many years and none of it stuck 🤣
Next you'll be telling me not have you got a better understanding of Brexit, bozza or trump as a result.
I can’t believe you were moderating threads [several identical ones Every. Single. Day.] on people bitching and moaning about different standards for how many years and none of it stuck 🤣
😜 But how often did you see me on this side of the forum fence?
For what it's worth, if you're commenting on my moderation skillz, it's literally just now that I've realised your username isn't Dangerous Brian.
it’s literally just now that I’ve realised your username isn’t Dangerous Brian.
Yeah, that's a 20 odd year-old typo that stuck, from a drunken sign up to an old chat page thing. It was supposed to say dangerousbrian...
Brilliant.
A friend of mine had the typoed Xbox username of "ILoveLarger". After much pisstaking he changed it, and managed to typo the replacement as well.
After much pisstaking he changed it, and managed to typo the replacement as well.
Please tell me that should read After much pisstaking he realised what we'd been on about for months and immediately changed it, and managed to typo the replacement as well.
(Also I hope it should have been ilivelarger not iLovelager, the former being plenty of reason to think they probably deserved merciless piss taking and think Bozza is a "top guy".)
Nope, it was a typo of 'lager'.
... did that answer your question? If nothing else, is there something I need to know from that for googling purposes?
Sorry I missed the photo somehow!
That's a standard qr. I've definitely got a 26" wheel that will fit in the garage. It's been there a while mind so I'll need to check it's actually any good. Will have a look see for a cassette too.
The lighting makes that look like a 7speed. If it is I certainly won't have a suitable cassette, can you check?
(Just in case you don't know that either, count the cogs on the back 😉)
OK, I'm not quite that bad. It says [9_7_5_3_1] on the little plastic numbery index thing next to the gear lever. 😁
The bike is this, if it helps any: https://mountainbikereview.org.uk/voodoo-nzumbi-mountain-bike/
No, she's not aged 9-12. She's just diminutive.
Thanks again.
You can get away with a semi slick or slick 26" normal tyre on the turbo. I've never used a turbo tyre. I just use my normal road/hybrid (MrsF switches to the turbo) - just make sure the roller pressure is just enough to stop spinning.
Decathlon shuld have some single 26" wheels for sale, or ebay.
I’ve never used a turbo tyre
Guess what I just dug out of my garage?
Barely used 26x1.75" trainer tyre. You want it Cougar? If so PM me a Postal address.
I've dug out the wheel - needs a looking at, hopefully nothing more.
Will have a proper root round for a cassette.
Roughly where I'm the world are you - I'm guessing despite the namesake your not on Bodmin moor.
Oh, hey. Cheers guys.
Decathlon shuld have some single 26″ wheels for sale, or ebay.
That'd be great if, as above, I knew WTF I was doing. I thought wheels were wheels but Brian was telling me off for not understanding standards earlier so...? 😁
You want it Cougar? If so PM me a Postal address.
Ooh. That'd be ace if I have something to fit it to. Hang fire just for now, but thank you either way.
Roughly where I’m the world are you
East Lancs.