Picked up this GT talera to biuld a gravel like bike, but I’m not sure to what wheels/tires to use, what do you guys recomend? (700cc)
by -Mmz
Picked up this GT talera to biuld a gravel like bike, but I’m not sure to what wheels/tires to use, what do you guys recomend? (700cc)
by -Mmz
14 Comments
unless you’re willing to put in a lot of handiwork and money, you’re pretty much stuck to 26 inch wheels.
You could go 650b and possibly use the existing brakes. 700c is going to be a much taller wheel and finding a brake setup that will work could be fairly difficult.
I put 700c wheels on my talera. I had them lying around and I don’t know the brand off hand. Bought some side pull tektro brakes with medium reach to make it work.
I recently fit 650b x 47 tyres into a bike that had 26″ x 2.1 inch with plenty room to spare
you’re sure they are going to fit? I just tried putting a slim 700×35 wheel in my mid-90s Marin after seeing your post and it rubs everywhere.
The usual way is to convert to 650b, but a narrow 650b tire and a fat 26″ are basically the same size. Consider investing in good, fast rolling 26ers and you’re not slower than on a “gravel bike”
26″ wheels are perfectly fine. Just invest in some good quality tires.
Quality Wheels Velocity Cliffhanger. 26″, 650b, and 700c rim brake tubeless. 25mm internal. About $240 per wheelset MSRP. 135mm rear and 110mm QR spacing. You’re not gonna be able to go 700c. Like others have mentioned, something like 650b x 47mm will work. I’m currently running 26″ x 2.1″ Gravelking SK+ Tires on my Cliffhanger 26er wheelset. That would be my suggestion. You’ll be able to tackle real chunky gravel.
You don’t need 700c
Man I’d just ride that thing as-is
Keep it 26 and ride that beautiful bike!
Having done something similar, I would say first off leave it 26 inch and see how much you like it. If you absolutely love the bike and it becomes something you wanna keep long term, I’d go whole hog and get a new fork and disc tab welded
I saw this coz I have a Kona fire mountain and I did a gravel conversion on it and I loved it. Knowing it would be long term, I thought I’d like to try disc brakes on it. I did so and sorry to say but it is so much better than when it was on 26 inch. That’s not to say 26 inch is bad, but I had so much more wheel choice and tyre choice combined with braking that’s not wearing my rim down
So for me, keep it 26 inch and do what you wanna do to it. If you love it, just go all in with disc tab, it’s a lot better
In my experience dirt dropping a 90s MTB is going to be weird fit-wise. Ride that thing as is, it’s ready to rip!
The wheels already surpass the strength of a typical gravel bike. Just buy some thinner lighter tires with a tread of your choice and not got through the hassle and cost of drivechain changes.
Have not done a 26″ to 650b rim conversion; however, a 55mm tire on a 559mm rim is effectively a 669 wheel dia. Whereas a 42mm tire on a 584mm rim that equals 668. And a 25mm tire on a 622mm rim equals 672. I was similarly considering a conversion, and the less cushy ride had me skeptical. Also, there is the added cost of the rim set, new brake set, and tires. This was enough to dissuade me. I didn’t even get to worrying about accounting for the change in handling that would occur.