Second wheelset gravel bike

Second wheelset gravel bike

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Discussion

Les84

Original Poster:

990 posts

172 months

Monday 8th May 2023
quotequote all
Hi all, need a little assistance. Thinking about getting a set of road wheels for when the weather is nice for the gravel bike, what do I need to look for when doing this? Do I need to get the same cassette ratio or can I get one that’s more road geared and keep the front gropset as it is, so I need to think about brakes etc, any help would be appreciated.

https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/...

Bike spec above if anyone needs info.

Thanks

stargazer30

1,636 posts

172 months

Monday 8th May 2023
quotequote all
You will need wheels with the same axle (thru or skewer) and brakes (rim or disc) as your current ones. Rim width will most likely be the same. Then put some good 23 to 28mm road tyres on, GP5000s are highly regarded.

You can fit a slightly smaller cassette. Say if your gravel is a 11-42 rear you can put a 11-32 on as long as its the same speed, ie 11, 10 or whatever.

Les84

Original Poster:

990 posts

172 months

Monday 8th May 2023
quotequote all
stargazer30 said:
You will need wheels with the same axle (thru or skewer) and brakes (rim or disc) as your current ones. Rim width will most likely be the same. Then put some good 23 to 28mm road tyres on, GP5000s are highly regarded.

You can fit a slightly smaller cassette. Say if your gravel is a 11-42 rear you can put a 11-32 on as long as its the same speed, ie 11, 10 or whatever.
Thanks for the info, mine is a thru axle with disc brakes my current wheels that came with the bike are DT R470, cheap and nasty but seem to be holding up. My rear cassette is a 11 speed 11/34 and a front 48/32.

Would an option be going for a 700c32 tyre on the gravel as I have a mountain bike, not sure again if my current rims would go down low in tyres.

It seems to be a mine field getting this wheels right.


Edited by Les84 on Monday 8th May 17:36

Your Dad

1,994 posts

189 months

Monday 8th May 2023
quotequote all
Get same wheelset, use same disc diameter and use same cassette ratio if you want minimal hassle when swapping between wheels. Get the widest road tyre that will fit.

If you can’t get/don’t want to get the same wheelset then anything that uses 12mm thru axle should be ok but be prepared to have to adjust the brakes when you swap over to avoid disc rub (or use shims to match the spacing).

paulrockliffe

15,950 posts

233 months

Monday 8th May 2023
quotequote all
If the wheels on it are rubbish, get some new gravel wheels and repurpose these ones for the road? It sounds like then you'll be doing more riding on the nice wheels.

PastelNata

4,418 posts

206 months

Monday 8th May 2023
quotequote all
The Shimano 105 11-34 cassette you have on now is a good ratio for road. The Diverge Sport is not as extreme for gravel as the Diverge Pro out of the box, for example, which has a SRAM XS 10-42 cassette and 42mm tyres.

The spec sheet shows you have DT Swiss R470 Disc wheels which can accept road tyres from 25mm up to gravel tyres of 45mm.

So...you could simply swop the tyres for 28mm road tyres and it is job done.

If you want deeper road wheels, then you can choose a 50mm deep rim, disc version, and either share the cassette you have or get another for the new wheels for convenience but the ratio can be the same so no chain tension issues or go down to 11-30 if few hills in your area.

I bought a set of Zipp 404 Disc and 28mm GP5000's tubeless for my Diverge along with a second cassette but identical to the Roval wheels it has for gravel. For road, they hold speed far better.





Les84

Original Poster:

990 posts

172 months

Monday 8th May 2023
quotequote all
paulrockliffe said:
If the wheels on it are rubbish, get some new gravel wheels and repurpose these ones for the road? It sounds like then you'll be doing more riding on the nice wheels.
I mainly use this for road use and light canal paths, the MTB does the off road stuff mainly, thats a chore using it in between road and off.

Les84

Original Poster:

990 posts

172 months

Monday 8th May 2023
quotequote all
PastelNata said:
The Shimano 105 11-34 cassette you have on now is a good ratio for road. The Diverge Sport is not as extreme for gravel as the Diverge Pro out of the box, for example, which has a SRAM XS 10-42 cassette and 42mm tyres.

The spec sheet shows you have DT Swiss R470 Disc wheels which can accept road tyres from 25mm up to gravel tyres of 45mm.

So...you could simply swop the tyres for 28mm road tyres and it is job done.

If you want deeper road wheels, then you can choose a 50mm deep rim, disc version, and either share the cassette you have or get another for the new wheels for convenience but the ratio can be the same so no chain tension issues or go down to 11-30 if few hills in your area.

I bought a set of Zipp 404 Disc and 28mm GP5000's tubeless for my Diverge along with a second cassette but identical to the Roval wheels it has for gravel. For road, they hold speed far better.
thank your for your detailed reply really appreciate appreciate it. Do you have a pic of yours on these wheels please?

I had a quick look at the rims they are tubeless only id that right, I have never gone tubeless I’m still on inner tubes on the current setup.

Regards


blueovercream

283 posts

97 months

Tuesday 9th May 2023
quotequote all
I did this last year and with hindsight would probably have kept the hubs the same at least.

I’d read that if you’re lucky it’s a seamless transition but my own experience is that I need to adjust the L screw slightly each time I switch wheels. Same with the rear brake caliper (front is usually ok). It seems the spacing is very slightly different.

I’ve got used to it quickly though, and it’s still much less hassle than changing tyres as I do switch quite frequently.

blueovercream

283 posts

97 months

Tuesday 9th May 2023
quotequote all
I did this last year and with hindsight would probably have kept the hubs the same at least.

I’d read that if you’re lucky it’s a seamless transition but my own experience is that I need to adjust the L screw slightly each time I switch wheels. Same with the rear brake caliper (front is usually ok). It seems the spacing is very slightly different.

I’ve got used to it quickly though, and it’s still much less hassle than changing tyres as I do switch quite frequently.

Les84

Original Poster:

990 posts

172 months

Tuesday 9th May 2023
quotequote all
blueovercream said:
I did this last year and with hindsight would probably have kept the hubs the same at least.

I’d read that if you’re lucky it’s a seamless transition but my own experience is that I need to adjust the L screw slightly each time I switch wheels. Same with the rear brake caliper (front is usually ok). It seems the spacing is very slightly different.

I’ve got used to it quickly though, and it’s still much less hassle than changing tyres as I do switch quite frequently.
A couple of people have said that here and also on the web also, what wheels did you go for?

klootzak

649 posts

222 months

Tuesday 9th May 2023
quotequote all

Not quite the same, but used to have two sets of wheels for my 3T Exploro. Used to. 700c Fulcrum 4s for road and 650b 3T discus for off-road.

In the end I ditched the 3T wheels altogether. Partly because I don’t ride much that can’t be handled with 32mm semi-slicks off road, but mostly because it was always a massive arse-ache to change wheels. The gears only worked properly for one or other wheel set and I could never get the brakes running free either.

Tyre choice becomes a bit of an issue, but unless you really want to be competitive in one or other discipline a decent compromise is perfectly possible.

k

TGCOTF-dewey

5,684 posts

61 months

Tuesday 9th May 2023
quotequote all
I have zipps 3zero moto wheelset on my trail bike.

They have designed in 'ankle flex' and it really does reduce trail buzz. On a gravel bike, I would suspect this effect is even better.

Guy Kes raved about the gravel bike version.

Not cheap, but they do come up second hand.

Les84

Original Poster:

990 posts

172 months

Tuesday 9th May 2023
quotequote all
klootzak said:
Not quite the same, but used to have two sets of wheels for my 3T Exploro. Used to. 700c Fulcrum 4s for road and 650b 3T discus for off-road.

In the end I ditched the 3T wheels altogether. Partly because I don’t ride much that can’t be handled with 32mm semi-slicks off road, but mostly because it was always a massive arse-ache to change wheels. The gears only worked properly for one or other wheel set and I could never get the brakes running free either.

Tyre choice becomes a bit of an issue, but unless you really want to be competitive in one or other discipline a decent compromise is perfectly possible.

k
Did you notice much in comfort or ride-ability using the 32mm semi slicks if you went on canal paths etc?


Edited by Les84 on Tuesday 9th May 11:09

TGCOTF-dewey

5,684 posts

61 months

Tuesday 9th May 2023
quotequote all
Les84 said:
klootzak said:
Not quite the same, but used to have two sets of wheels for my 3T Exploro. Used to. 700c Fulcrum 4s for road and 650b 3T discus for off-road.

In the end I ditched the 3T wheels altogether. Partly because I don’t ride much that can’t be handled with 32mm semi-slicks off road, but mostly because it was always a massive arse-ache to change wheels. The gears only worked properly for one or other wheel set and I could never get the brakes running free either.

Tyre choice becomes a bit of an issue, but unless you really want to be competitive in one or other discipline a decent compromise is perfectly possible.

k
Did you notice much in comfort or ride-ability using the 32kg semi slicks if you went on canal paths etc?
At 32kg, I think you'd notice.

Les84

Original Poster:

990 posts

172 months

Tuesday 9th May 2023
quotequote all
TGCOTF-dewey said:
At 32kg, I think you'd notice.
Haha just edited my post, 32mm currently running 37mm sawtooth.

Les84

Original Poster:

990 posts

172 months

Tuesday 9th May 2023
quotequote all
TGCOTF-dewey said:
I have zipps 3zero moto wheelset on my trail bike.

They have designed in 'ankle flex' and it really does reduce trail buzz. On a gravel bike, I would suspect this effect is even better.

Guy Kes raved about the gravel bike version.

Not cheap, but they do come up second hand.
Thanks will look into these and see what it’s all about.

TGCOTF-dewey

5,684 posts

61 months

Tuesday 9th May 2023
quotequote all
Les84 said:
Thanks will look into these and see what it’s all about.
Me name's Guy Kesteven, I've been a bike tester for...

https://youtu.be/tyIs7TQSLpc

JayRidesBikes

1,312 posts

135 months

Tuesday 9th May 2023
quotequote all
Zipp 303s

Master Bean

3,947 posts

126 months

Tuesday 9th May 2023
quotequote all
Alternatively keep the wheels and just fit some 32mm slick road tyres.