26 wheel. Which one?

Wayners

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 5, 2023
411
89
55
Gloucester
Hi

Ive decided to buy a new rear wheel.
26 inch. V brake. 6 speed freewheel.

Would any wheel that takes a freewheel work ok?
I've looked online ( not very hard I admit) but I can't find the answer.
Thanks
 

saneagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 10, 2010
6,812
3,150
Telford
Hi

Ive decided to buy a new rear wheel.
26 inch. V brake. 6 speed freewheel.

Would any wheel that takes a freewheel work ok?
I've looked online ( not very hard I admit) but I can't find the answer.
Thanks
Yes, any one should be OK. There are two types of axles - bolted on ones and quick release. They're interchangeable, but you need the Q/R skewer to clamp the Q/R wheel. The Q/R axle is 9mm dia with a hole through the centre for the skewer. The bolt on type is 10mm and solid. If your bike has the Q/R type, you might have to files the drop-outs a bit to get the solid axle in.
 
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Raboa

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 12, 2014
787
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Do you know the size of the gap between your rear dropouts? Mountain bikes are usually 135mm or bigger depending on fixture method.
 

Wayners

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 5, 2023
411
89
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Gloucester
I think its standard width and I have a quick fitted ATM. Originally it was nut and bolt which I prefer. Quick release don't sit so well I find as every time I remove wheel the quick release never goes back in the same place.
 

Az.

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 27, 2022
2,044
903
Plymouth
Quick release don't sit so well I find as every time I remove wheel the quick release never goes back in the same place.
It never happened to me. Wheel always fits exactly as it should.

If I were you I would check Facebook and Ebay within 10 miles radius. It might be cheaper to buy entire bike than just a wheel.
 
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saneagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 10, 2010
6,812
3,150
Telford
It never happened to me. Wheel always fits exactly as it should.

If I were you I would check Facebook and Ebay within 10 miles radius. It might be cheaper to buy entire bike than just a wheel.
Or go down to the tip. There are always loads down there. One time when I wanted a cheap bike as a donor for conversion, I asked the scrap men to look out for one. A couple of days later, there was a knock at the door and the scrap man was standing there with a new looking catalogue bike for £10.
 

Bikes4two

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 21, 2020
1,006
432
Havant
.... Quick release don't sit so well I find as every time I remove wheel the quick release never goes back in the same place.
To help avoid such an issue, after re-fitting the Q/R, place the bike bqck upright, release the Q/R skewer and let the weight of the bike help 'seat' the wheel into the dropouts nd then re-tighten the skewer.

If this isn't working for you, I'm wondering if your have a Q/R wheel (that only requires 9mm dropouts) in a frame/fork 10mm dropouts?
 

Wayners

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 5, 2023
411
89
55
Gloucester
I'll have a look later at the sizes. Main problem I had was springs stopping the wheel fitting in tight as they sat in gap so I removed them which changed the fitting position
Had to adjust everything after removing springs
 

guerney

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 7, 2021
11,390
3,234
Or go down to the tip. There are always loads down there. One time when I wanted a cheap bike as a donor for conversion, I asked the scrap men to look out for one. A couple of days later, there was a knock at the door and the scrap man was standing there with a new looking catalogue bike for £10.
Only £10?!?!? Thanks for posting about this - I'm going to try the same and it's good to know what the going rate is but... did he know you were going to give him only £10 before he drove it over, burning a couple of quid's worth of petrol?
 

guerney

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 7, 2021
11,390
3,234
I found two good 26" wheels abandoned in the woods, they were still attached to the bike, also abandoned. Those woods are also abandoned, which is why I was in those woods. It's nice that there is such a large area abandoned to grow free range wild bikes so near my home.
 
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