BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

thick has a ton of velocity wheels in stock usually. along with cheaper, but still good, alex wheels and other brands.

you can order a nice shiny new wheel and borrow one from someone here till it comes (i probably have what you need, and if i don't i'm sure someone does)

Or learn to build your own. I can loan you a truing stand and a copy of Jobst's book. I'll bet your hub is undamaged, you just need a rim and spokes.

Gotta love the motorists who can't seem to keep their cars off the sidewalks. The proprietors of the Leaf & Bean cafe in the Strip were recently commenting on how often people drive into their sidewalk furniture.

Thanks, all! Upon further examination, I'm not sure the damage is limited to the wheel . I got a ride to Trek in Shadyside, so I ended up going there. (Double advantage: easy for me to get there to pick the bike up.)

This is not my first wheel disaster, and I'm beginning to think that having a spare wheel would be a good thing. I've heard the lore that one should always match chain and cassette. How accurate is that? I know that I replace chains more often than I replace cassettes, but I may be doing the wrong thing. How bad is that? Would I be doing something really bad if I had a second wheel with a different cassette on it? Or would it be better to move the cassette from wheel to wheel?

One motivation to have a second cassette is to have different gearing for different riding conditions. Is that sane? Should I use a different chain if I do that?

If you have a really worn chain and new cassette, there mgiht be problems, yes, but I'm thinking you'll p[robably be OK.

I think the idea of hving differnt gearing on a spare wheel is excellent.

BTW, I've never had a new-chain/sassette problem, but I have had new-chain/chain ring problems.

Spare wheels are a great idea. Also spare handlebars, and a spare seat... heck, just get a spare bike!

Seriously. A backup bike is handy. Unfortunately, I'm riding my backup now, as the primary is kaput.

You're better off with two wheels and (slightly) different cassettes rather than moving the cassette around. I don't think I'd want to have one with a 23t max and the other with a 37t, but within reason you won't have chain length problems.

If you change your chain often enough, you can extend the life of your cassette. I have considered buying five chains with my next cassette, and rotating through them monthly, in order to wear them all in (out) together. I'm just trying to convince myself that it's a clever plan, instead of bizarrely obsessive.

I vote for bizarrely obsessive.

lyle... i have just the thing for you: http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

for real though sheldon browns chain care articles are pretty awesomely in depth, even for sheldon brown

@mark: I used to do that but everybody says you can't reuse the pins!

If someone hit your bike with a car, there's a decent chance the rear triangle has been deformed too. Hopefully they'll check that out for you.

As far as mixing chains and cassettes, it's no problem as long as you keep on top of your maintenance. Replace any chain where 12 links measure near 12 1/16". If you put a new chain on with and old cassette and it skips under heavy load, it's time to replace the cassette. Pretty easy.

@Lyle that's why they sell the deluxe kit with 57 power links.

A big shout-out to Trek (Shadyside) - they had my bike ready Friday evening. I was super-lucky; only the wheel was hosed. Got a little riding in Saturday, and was able to do the Creamcycle alleycat on Sunday. Woo! Plus, I'm biking to and from work again.