Flip Flop Rider

700c with rim brakes

I'm talking bullet proof wheels with at least 36 spoke holes that will accommodate 7-8 speed cassette (old tech I know)

would like to keep it cheap (but gotta be strong) as my bikes are cheap too. Don't want $500 dollar wheel set on a $100 dollar bike

mostly ride neighborhood roads in loops and don't care about weight or material. ride about 6k miles a year give or take

might like touring one day

websites, craigslist, flea bay, yard sales, where would you look?

any help is always appreciated

Flip Flop Rider

quick release

u235

Not all 7 speed are cassette, a lot are freewheels and not directly compatible with 8-10 cassettes. You said old tech so it sounds like you do know exactly what you need, just mentioning in case.

Flip Flop Rider

so I'm looking for the description to say specifically "cassette"? if so thanks for that

fietsbob

That you seek would be C&V since 7 speed cassettes was back in the early 90's and has been out of fashion for decades,

as the push went to 8,9,10, 11 etc..

I went with a strong axle Phil Wood Freewheel hub on my touring bike , a 48 spoke wheel was quite reliable ..

and still is.. replacement freewheels are still available , too..




So,.... you have to find the cassette hub first , then hire a wheel built around it..







..

pdlamb

You might be able to find a 9 speed wheel, then get a 10 mm hex wrench to swap the cassette holder with what's on the hub you have now.

Moe Zhoost

You won't go wrong with Sun Ringle CR-18 rims. These rims are relatively inexpensive, yet stand up to a lot of abuse (assuming a properly built wheel). I have them on my commuting bike and after >20,000 miles and a lot of road hazards taken at speed, they are as true as the day I built them.

Retro Grouch 

You mentioned a $100.00 bike, that's significant.

1. What's the distance between the dropouts? 126mm, 130mm or 135mm. If you're buying a brand new wheel know which it is because they'll all cost about the same.
2. I wouldn't even worry about spoke count.
3. For a $100 bike I'd be looking for something that will fit from a donor bike. If it's a flip it doesn't make sense to put on $100 wheels and then sell it for $100.
4. If I were building a new wheel set for personal use I'd look for a double wall rim and about 500g weight.

thook

keep an eye ebay. i've found great wheelsets for not much for my vintage bikes. one 36h set...araya rims/600 hubs... i have to convert the freehub for 7spd, but no biggie. i have an alex adventure set with xt/deore hubs....36h rear/32h front....and for 8-10spd, but works 7spd with a spacer. it was handbuilt, but picked them up for $125 or so. another nearly brand new set....36h....with deore dx hubs and matrix titan rims hard anodized practically brand new for about the same. go no less than 22mm outer width on rims for good sidewall support under loads

seamuis

Well your derailleur doesn’t know the difference or care wether your 7-8spd is a cassette or freewheel. Which one you need is based on the hub. That will be largely affected by the price of said hubs or wheelset. 7 spd freewheels are still plentiful because they’re still being manufactured. A lot of cheaper bikes in your price range like cruisers and hybrids are still being equipped with 7 speed systems.

mstateglfr 

You tell us what you dont want to spend, but don't tell us what you want to spend.

Head scratcher right there.

Something that has butted spokes and is properly tensioned will be fine.
Cr18 rims, shimano or random Taiwan hub, butted spokes- and handbuilt to proper tension.

It'll cost $250-300 to corectly be done by hand by someone who is paid to build wheels and stand behind the build.

$70 for rims
$90 for spokes
$50 for hubs
$100 for the build

Give or take.


There are plenty of machine built 36h wheels with quality parts for $140-240.
Look at velomine. But tension may/will be off and need adjusting.

clengman

I got a QBP (Quality Wheels) brand 27" rear wheel about a year ago. Cr18 rim, Shimano QR hub, 36 straight-gauge spokes, with 7 speed freehub body. Ordered it through my LBS. It was about $70. Seems like a good, no nonsense, wheel. Was evenly tensioned and trued out of the box. I cleaned and repacked the hub before i put it on the bike. It's holding up well so far in rough service on a bike used for daily 10-20 mile commuting.

Garfield Cat

Even though you place a constraint using the bike as "fixed", I would suggest that maybe its time to treat yourself to an updated model.