Those with two wheelsets for one bike — 2 chains and cassettes or…?

I have two wheelsets for my monstecross/road bike

I have a cassette on each rear wheel as I can’t be bothered changing it over every wheel change

Question is do I need a chain for each cassette, which I also change when changing wheels, or will the same chain do?

Just thinking about wear issues, as it’s likely each set of wheels will be getting very different mileage

Picture of the bike to make the thread less tedious

Are both cassettes the same ratio? If so, I’d stick with one chain. If different size cassettes I’d have a chain for each.

Although twerking the B screw each time you swap wheels could get tiresome

I do this. Identical cassettes so I don’t bother swapping chains. I do try to keep on top of the chain wear and replace it ASAP once it’s stretched.

+1 for just keeping on top of chain wear and get on with it.

One chain (3 actually, that get rotated every 3 months). I also swap the cassette over when I think one is nearing half worn, as one set of wheels gets a lot more use than the other.

Cassette on each wheelset and usually replace them at the same time. One chain…
also adjusting the brake caliper can be a pain if different hubs.

I used to just move the cassette from one wheel to another. And after a while just leave one set of wheels on for everything and sell the other .

I couldn’t be bothered with changing chains. Same/similar cassette onnsach wheeler and it was fine. You could even shim the rotors so the discs were spot on on both, although mind were fine

Great, yes my thinking was one chain and check the wear quickly every wheel change, sounds like that’ll do as the cassettes are the same ratio 🙂

As for discs, I’ve had a quick check and it seems despite different hubs the disks are in the same place. The problem is one is a bit thicker so a little pad adjustment is needed. Or my disc is old and thin and needs replacing…

I swap the cassette. Doesnt take very long

You can change the cassette in a couple of minutes. I don’t see why you wouldn’t just do that instead of changing a chain.

I don’t change – but then the difference is only 32 down to 23 teeth. The rear mech can handle that. I don’t swap chains.

Changing the cassette can be a quick job or a slow one depending on how mashed my Hope freehub is…

I know for a fact that not changing a cassette is quicker than changing a cassette. Ain’t no **** can argue with that, even on STW.

When I used to run two wheelsets with identical hubs and cassettes to keep the switch as quick and simple as possible, I still hardly ever used the facility. These days, I think I’d rather just take the time required to swap the tyres. With a compressor in the garage, it takes no time at all.

I have two sets of wheels both with identical cassettes, only one chain. Biggest pain is getting the brake adjustment correct but its not a lot of work compared to swapping a cassette

4 sets of wheels for the same bike.
3 Different cassettes. I just keep an eye on chain wear and change before it’s at max. Just cheap sram chains £12 a pop. Takes minutes to change wheels and align calipers.

I bought another set of wheels for my MTB and in the end built an entire new bike around the second set of wheels as I CBA swapping them.

Same as many above one chain and cassettes left on wheels just check chain regularly works for me

I usually leave the same chain on, works fine. Assuming one cassette isn’t way more knackered than the other.

Of course if the two rear hubs are compatible and pull apart without tools like DT Swiss it takes seconds to swap the freehub with cassette still attached.

Good thread to read this – I’ve just bought exactly the same frame as you OP, even the same colour, and intend to run commuter wheels(700×35) mostly, and trail wheels (29×2.1) occasionally.

With the vastly different mileages and not-too-often swaps, it looks like swapping cassette over as the most sensible option.

I’ve just bought exactly the same frame as you OP,

what is it? looks nice….

Depends how often you swap really. If you are doing it every week then the same chain should be fine and the time saved not swapping cassettes is useful. If, like me, you only tend to swap a couple of times a year there is much more chance of the chain wearing significantly between swaps and the time required to swap the cassette is not really significant. I swap the rotors over too 😀

I swap the cassettes over, good excuse to use the abbey tools whip and cassette tool. XD driver is a lot less faff than stacking shimano cogs on.

For spacing discs: https://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/disc-rotor-spacers-6-bolt.htm

2 bikes, 2 sets of wheels but different tyres, so I swap them according to conditions. Don’t swap the cassettes or chains, as others have said just keep an eye on chain wear.

what is it? looks nice

It’s a Pipedream A.L.I.C.E, although mine is with the matching steel fork.

I’ve always wondered about the logistics of two sets of wheels. If I’ve got this right, the options are:

A) Just use different cassettes and accept some chain skipping when you change wheels
B) Keep a religious check on chain wear and try to balance it / rotate cassettes between the two wheelsets (despite one wheelset probably getting vastly more wear)
C) Have a cassette per wheel and change the chain when you change wheels

It seems like a lot of faff to me. Only worth it if you’re swapping wheel size (or at least rim width)?

My method is just to winterise my bike. In summer it’s a gravel bike with big (ish) tyres – 41mm. In winter it becomes a road hack / commuter only with 34mm tyres. Same wheels, I just swap the tyres in ~October and March (and mudguards at the same time, usually).

I’ve two identical sets of wheels with different tyres and cassettes – one set for road the other gravel. I use the same chain and just swap them over. No faff, no adjusting, no skipping, no aggro. Don’t over think it, just swap them. When the chain is shagged, change it. You might eventually need to replace one or both cassettes (or even chain rings) dependent on wear.

It seems like a lot of faff to me

Nah, you’re overthinking it.
Been running gravel wheels and road wheels for my Tripster for the last 5 years.
Both have cassettes on, 1 chain.
Swapped over mostly in the summer, I think I’ve replaced chain 4 times, cassettes twice.
Never had skipping.
Great to have the road/offroad tyre options, with a quick swap of wheels.

(Snap, boblo 😀 )

I’ve been (and my mate as well) running two sets of wheels, each with a cassette, and the same chain.

Just keep an eye on chain wear. Not had an issue.

The only thing I have to do is a couple of turns of the barrel adjuster when swapping between wheelsets.

Yes, Pipedream A.L.I.C.E with weird boost 60mm offset forks from Thorn of all people

Damn nice anyway and I don’t know why there aren’t more around…