Dave Mayer said:"Hell And High Water" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:I currently have a Shimano 7-Speed FREEWHEEL.
-Bianchi Bob
Bob: what is specifically wrong with your old wheels? First order of
business is to check the rims. If a magnet sticks to them, then they are
steel, and should be shipped immediately to the landfill. Steel rims are
such an obvious indicator of low quality, that no further evaluation is
required. They are heavy, weak, and scary dangerous in the rain.
Second, if you already have decent alloy rims, then have the shop check (and
show you) if you have excessive brake pad wear on the rims, or the rims have
flat spots from impacts. If this test is passed, then check for:
- hub bearings rough?
- freewheel cogs worn out?
- need different gearing (better climbing gears)?
All of the above can be fixed - a lot easier and cheaper than getting new
wheels. If you get new wheels, there is a good chance you will have to bend
your frame to get the new rear wheel in the stays. And you may have to
change out your shifters if you are going to a different number of speeds
than what you already have (as in 8 or 9 speeds.)
BTW: if you must get new wheels, stick with hubs from Shimano. Shimano
cassette hubs are excellent.
true. except in heavy rain. i've found their road hubs to be problematic.
Quoted message said:Cartridge bearings, usually misrepresented as
'sealed bearings'
some are indeed sealed. mavic. phil. but many, as you suggest, are not.
Quoted message said:are used in hubs by small-fry manufacturers because they
lack the tooling,
untrue. cartridge bearings are a great way to get a quality result.
the usual bleating about needing bearings that support lateral load is
underinformed. the lateral loading on the typical deep groove bearing
cartridge as exerted by a bike wheel is well within tolerance.
Quoted message said:manufacturing size or necessary patents to use a proper
hub design and components.
untrue. ever used a cheapo suzue hub with it's "proper hub design and
components"? i'll take a cartridge bearing over that [censored] any day.
Quoted message said:Otherwise, 2 years from now, you're be hunting
through every bike shop in town for some obscure cartridge bearing,
untrue. i've never yet seen a cartridge bearing on a bike hub that's
not a standard series bearing available at any bearing supplier.
Quoted message said:or an
impossible to find non-Shimano replacement freehub body.
unless it's stupid aluminum like chris king, why would you replace it?
if the bearings are shot, either replace them, or replace the hub! on
nashbar right now:
$75 centaur
$65 ultegra
$60 105.
not exactly crippling extortion.
