Crazy question here, but not without a bit of reason! Here in the UK I often see bargain priced 8spd wheels, Shamals, disks, etc. I have a Giant OCR I use for club TTs and a Triathlons, I've built it up with a Veloce 9spd groupset. So I'm wondering if I could get it working with an 8spd hub. I assume the cog spacing is different between the 8 and 9, so I can't just lock out one gear. Possible options I can think ofbut have no idea if they would work, are: Break down the 9 cassette, leave off a cog and squeeze it onto the 8 hub. I could make up simple spacers if needed. Swap freehub bodies. Re-build a spoked wheel, like the shamals, onto a 9spd hub that has an appropriately divisible number of holes. For example, a 12 spoke wheel onto a 36 hole hub, using every third hole, or a 16 onto a 32. My traditional wheelbuilding skills are pretty good and I've built 18-spoke TT wheels this way, but I don't know about digging into a Shamal! Or I'll just buy a pair to use the front!
Tried the archives but couldn't find anything relevant...somebody out there must know the answer!
Originally posted by TJM Crazy question here, but not without a bit of reason! Here in the UK I often see bargain priced 8spd wheels, Shamals, disks, etc. I have a Giant OCR I use for club TTs and a Triathlons, I've built it up with a Veloce 9spd groupset. So I'm wondering if I could get it working with an 8spd hub. I assume the cog spacing is different between the 8 and 9, so I can't just lock out one gear. Possible options I can think ofbut have no idea if they would work, are: Break down the 9 cassette, leave off a cog and squeeze it onto the 8 hub. I could make up simple spacers if needed. Swap freehub bodies. Re-build a spoked wheel, like the shamals, onto a 9spd hub that has an appropriately divisible number of holes. For example, a 12 spoke wheel onto a 36 hole hub, using every third hole, or a 16 onto a 32. My traditional wheelbuilding skills are pretty good and I've built 18-spoke TT wheels this way, but I don't know about digging into a Shamal! Or I'll just buy a pair to use the front!
Tried the archives but couldn't find anything relevant...somebody out there must know the answer!
Cheers, Tim
8 speed cog spacing is 5mm, and 9 is 4.55. The casette spline pattern is also different. It may be possible to switch freehub bodies from an 8 to a 9 speed. www.branfordbike.com has alot of info in their online catalogue. Check under campy hubs or hub bodies.
