20" wheels needed...

Replace the axels instead?

"Captain Dondo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, a little OT, but I figure this group would know where to get some cheap quick release 20"
wheels...

My kid got a really, really cool 20" wheel bike:
<http://www.author.cz/index.php?kolo&y=2004&z=1&idk=41&idkk=732> - all aluminum, < 20 lbs total,
beautifully made.... She and I are planning some rides next year - nothing out of the ordinary,
but some 25 mile organized events or something like that. The problem is that I can't find any
quick release wheels that are affordable to replace the solid-axle wheels on the bike.

I got a 16" recument wheel for her old bike for something like $25 that the LBS had laying around;
that's about what I'm looking for. I'm not willing to put a $300 wheelset on a $180 kid's bike....

Any ideas on where to get some cheap quick release 20" wheels? Something like a Bike-E or similar,
a real entry level wheel with an alloy rim?

BTW, we've done rides on my recument - a Vision R44 - but it's time for her to grow up a bit and
ride on her own.... I highly recommend a child seat on a recumbent. Much more fun than on an
upright.

Thanks,

-Dondo

--
What am I on? I'm on my bike, o__ 6 hours a day, busting my ass. ,>/'_ What are you on? --Lance
Armstrong (_)\(_)

Robert Haston said:

Replace the axels instead?

That's an option - but I'd need a source of axles that match solid axles. I'm told that diameters
can vary, so it's hard to get the right diameter hollow axle to replace a solid axle.

Any ideas on where to get some? Any larger on-line suppliers that might be knowledgeable in this
kind of thing?

-Dondo

--
What am I on? I'm on my bike, o__ 6 hours a day, busting my ass. ,>/'_ What are you on? --Lance
Armstrong (_)\(_)

"That's an option - but I'd need a source of axles that match solid axles. I'm told that diameters
can vary, so it's hard to get the right diameter hollow axle to replace a solid axle.

Any ideas on where to get some? Any larger on-line suppliers that might be knowledgeable in this
kind of thing?"

Actually, your Local Bike Shop should be able to handle this one. I'm doing the same thing, They
quoted my $20 per wheel. This includes QR skewers. Axle, cones, skewers.

Tom

Captain Dondo <[email hidden]> wrote:
: aluminum, < 20 lbs total, beautifully made.... She and I are planning some rides next year -
: nothing out of the ordinary, but some 25 mile organized events or something like that. The problem
: is that I can't

You could replace knobbies with 20" slicks (if the rims can take them) - about $20 per tire, unless
you go to a place like Cycle Vision where they sold Vredestein Monte Carlos for 7.5 euros a piece -
and easily do 30 mile events 😉

rec.bicycles.tech could be a nice place for technical questions as well. I bet there are many 20"
wheel experts around.

--
Risto Varanka | helsinki.fihpv.htmlOpen ↗ varis at no spam please iki fi

Captain Dondo <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Robert Haston said:

Replace the axels instead?

That's an option - but I'd need a source of axles that match solid axles. I'm told that diameters
can vary, so it's hard to get the right diameter hollow axle to replace a solid axle.

Any ideas on where to get some? Any larger on-line suppliers that might be knowledgeable in this
kind of thing?

-Dondo

Ouch. Diameters and threads are often different between solid and QR axles. It's a happy coincidence
if you can find a QR axle that will *directly* replace a solid one.

He's not a "larger online supplier", but Sheldon Brown knows all, sees all, tells all:
sheldonbrown.comwheels.htmlOpen ↗

Note that "BMX" hubs are usually 9.5mm x 26tpi thread (front & rear) while the QR axles are 9x1mm
front and 10x1mm rear.

Wheels Mfg. makes QR axles using the 9.5mm x 26tpi thread: wheelsmfg.comp axels.htmlOpen ↗ ,
which are also available from Harris Cyclery (where Sheldon works):
harriscyclery.netpage.cfmOpen ↗

Of course, the cool thing to do would be to get a 20/20 set of the Velocity Thracian wheels:
velocityusa.comvelocity wheels road.htmlOpen ↗ (scroll to the bottom)... but that's
kind of out of your price range.

Jeff