Non disk wheel on disk bike

[SteveSteveson]

Am I missing something here? I want a turbo wheel for my disk brake equipped bike but disk wheels are much more expensive. Is there any problem with using a cheap non disk wheel, with a bit of card in the brake so I don't have to prize the pads apart when I inevitably grab the brakes at some point? I can't see any reason it would be a problem, but just want to check in not missing something.

I know ideally I would get some new wheels, but at £150 minimum I find it much easier to justify £30 for a turbo wheel.

[RGambo]

I may be wrong, but I think you'll find the hub width is different on a disk wheel to a standard wheel.135mm v 130mm

[CVP]

If you do get this to work to save the cardboard option, just nip to the local bike shop and ask if they have any plastic brake pad seperators going spare. These are used in transport of new disc equipped bikes and do the same job as the cardboard but can be used time and time again.

Also handy if you transport your disc equipped bike with the wheels off. In theory you should be given them when you buy your new bike but so many people just wheel the bike out of the shop there are often bucket loads left lying around. The guys at Evans gave me a handful for free just for asking nicely. Now I have a couple that live permanently in the car just in case if forget to get them out of the tool box when going to cross races.

[SteveSteveson]

RGambo said:

I may be wrong, but I think you'll find the hub width is different on a disk wheel to a standard wheel.135mm v 130mm

Ah, ok. I knew there was something I might be missing. I will have to look in to that.

Excuse my questions, but I am just trying to get my head round this. I can see the flange gap (te he...) being bigger, but I thought the hub width would be a standard, as many manufacturers offer a disk and rim break version of the same frame, or are the slightly different frames with the same model name?

CVP said:

If you do get this to work to save the cardboard option, just nip to the local bike shop and ask if they have any plastic brake pad seperators going spare. These are used in transport of new disc equipped bikes and do the same job as the cardboard but can be used time and time again.

Also handy if you transport your disc equipped bike with the wheels off. In theory you should be given them when you buy your new bike but so many people just wheel the bike out of the shop there are often bucket loads left lying around. The guys at Evans gave me a handful for free just for asking nicely. Now I have a couple that live permanently in the car just in case if forget to get them out of the tool box when going to cross races.

Thank you. I do have one, but was not sure what to call it. I should get some more for transporting my bike when I have a car that it will fit in. Next time I'm in the LBS I will ask.

Edited by SteveSteveson on Wednesday 17th June 09:54

[Kell]

RGambo said:

I may be wrong, but I think you'll find the hub width is different on a disk wheel to a standard wheel.135mm v 130mm

It might be different across brands, but when I bought my Orange P7 back in 2000, it came with Hope Hubs that were disc brake ready, but the bike itself had rim brakes.

Didn't seem to have any problems with fitment and they went straight into my (mechanical) disc brake equipped commuter once I'd put some rotors on.

Also, I'm pretty sure I read you shouldn't use your brakes at all on a turbo.

[SteveSteveson]

Kell said:

It might be different across brands, but when I bought my Orange P7 back in 2000, it came with Hope Hubs that were disc brake ready, but the bike itself had rim brakes.

Didn't seem to have any problems with fitment and they went straight into my (mechanical) disc brake equipped commuter once I'd put some rotors on.

Also, I'm pretty sure I read you shouldn't use your brakes at all on a turbo.

Ok, thank you. It is probably worth a try. I may see if I can pick up something second hand for less and give it a try.

I don't know if you should or not, but there should be no need to. I just know I will lean on the top of the brakes or grab them automatically to stop!

[gazza285]

It's not disc wheels that were wider than non disc wheels, it's MTB wheels that were wider. Things have changed a bit and most if not all disc wheels are 135mm.

Plenty of cheap hybrid wheels about, or get a 29er disc rear wheel and use that.

[was8v]

Disc wheels are dished differently to non-disc as they have to fit a disk and a caliper in on that side.

You might find when you insert the wheel the spokes clash with the caliper.

[Kell]

was8v said:

Disc wheels are dished differently to non-disc as they have to fit a disk and a caliper in on that side.

You might find when you insert the wheel the spokes clash with the caliper.

That's good point actually.

The fact that mine were disc ready, but worked with non-disc bikes doesn't necessarily mean it would work the opposite way around.

I'd forgotten about the shallower dish on the non-drive side.