Out of touch: 26" Wheel Options

[Chucklehead]

I used to have a glorious GT LTS 1000 custom with Spin wheels and lots of lovely bits attached - my pride and joy. I fell out of love with cycling around 2002/2003 and sold off the bike for a lot less than i should have. In 2011 i bought another bike in attempt to rejuvenate, but have never really got on with it to the same extent. Anyway, that's not the point. The point is that i wasn't prepared for how far wheel tech seems to have moved in the last 10 years. Back in the day it was Hope hubs or Chris King hubs, Mavic ceramic rims, DT Swiss spokes - and every reputable shop had an online wheel configurator. It looks like wheel and hub sizes have changed a lot, and i can't for the life of me work out what i need to buy to replace my rear wheel (hub gone).

This is the bike: https://www.thebikelist.co.uk/cube/ltd-team-2011 (though mine is the white/blue)

I can't warrant spending big bucks on a new wheel, but thought for £120-150 i could get something reasonable, and at least not a downgrade. I realise i'm looking at 135x10 quick release, but there are still many more options i don't understand - plus, there doesn't seem to be many of these made. I think i read i could get 142x12 and an adaptor, which might make life easier?

Can someone point me in the right direction?! I'd go up to £200 if I had to.

Edited by Chucklehead on Monday 2nd August 10:30

[gazza285]

Are you wanting a wheel, or just the hub?

What is wrong with the hub you have?

[Chucklehead]

The hub has got excessive play in it. You can rock the wheel side to side quite a bit. I was going to replace the whole wheel given the hub would be the majority of the cost, but I suppose I could just replace the hub

[gazza285]

Deore XT hubs?

They might just want adjusting, these have cup and cone bearings.

[Chucklehead]

I was surprised it had gone, apart from taking my fat ass over the odd kerb, they've hardly been abused. I thought they were sealed though. I hadn't considered tightening was an option.

[Barchettaman]

Remove, clean, regrease and repack, see what they’re like after a bit of love.

[CO2000]

As a side note, I have a similar Cube as a back up bike and I put on a shorter stem (70mm iirc) & wider bars (both FSA) and it's made it far more enjoyable

[Chucklehead]

Funny you mention that, I wanted to get a shorter, taller stem or maybe bars with a bit more of a rise in them, or both. Hadn't done anything about it and then the hub gave up

[CO2000]

Ah spooky! I got 40mm rise, 680mm ones and they are good for options

[IJWS15]

Don't be too hasty, just had new cones/axle and ball bearings fitted to a Giant hub, all of £30 including re-truing/tensioning the wheel at the LBS and as good as new.

One cup does have some sign of wear but he thinks it will do a few more years.

Of course if the man maths means a new wheel is required . . . . .