Ease of changing wheelsets
02-22-23, 08:37 AM
#1
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Ease of changing wheelsets
One topic I don’t see drawing much concern with e-bikes is the ability to easily change wheelsets with a mid motor compared to the much more expensive proposition of doing it with a hub drive.
I’m not an e-bike owner just yet but when I do this will be an absolute factor in my choice of bike which sadly eliminates Orbea at least for now.
Being able to use the bike for both road and gravel is important to me and yes I can run gravel tires on pavement but prefer not to if it’s a long ride with zero gravel.
I’m not an e-bike owner just yet but when I do this will be an absolute factor in my choice of bike which sadly eliminates Orbea at least for now.
Being able to use the bike for both road and gravel is important to me and yes I can run gravel tires on pavement but prefer not to if it’s a long ride with zero gravel.
02-22-23, 08:48 AM
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Why would changing wheelsets on a mid-drive bike be any different than on a human-drive bike?
I can see some durability concerns relating to inappropriate freehub material against a motivated rider + motor, or wear concerns at the cassette from riding motor assisted in too small of cog.
Brake caliper/shifting alignment issue between wheel set A v/s B is going to be the immediate concern. But that's hardly atypical with switching wheel sets in general.
I can see some durability concerns relating to inappropriate freehub material against a motivated rider + motor, or wear concerns at the cassette from riding motor assisted in too small of cog.
Brake caliper/shifting alignment issue between wheel set A v/s B is going to be the immediate concern. But that's hardly atypical with switching wheel sets in general.
Last edited by base2; 02-22-23 at 08:53 AM.
02-22-23, 08:58 AM
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I think you misunderstood me or I wasn’t clear. What I was referring to was the ease of changing wheelsets with mid drive bikes as they use standard wheelsets as compared to hub drive wheelset being a substantial cost increase should one wish to switch back and forth.
And I am of course talking about the Orbea Gain / Scott Addict style bikes, not the larger utility style.
And I am of course talking about the Orbea Gain / Scott Addict style bikes, not the larger utility style.
02-22-23, 09:29 AM
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The ease of switching wheels on a mid-drive e-bike will be the same as a regular bike, with all the same concerns.
Because an e-bike has more power, there may be other concerns relating to longterm durability. I thought to include those that occurred off the top of my head, because with the extra power on tap, an e-bike has little need for typical light weight, supple, low spoke count, etc...That would typically motivate someone to have a dedicated purpose built "nice" wheel sets in the first place. But if you wanted to, they were at least factors to consider.
I get it. 2 wheelsets. One knobby & wide, the other smooth, light. There is no reason a mid-drive couldn't wear either interchangeably. But with all the extra power, there just isn't much reason to wear one over the other in the first place.
The long distance cyclist interested in efficiency & symbiosis of man + machine is at cross purposes with "man uses bike." Perhaps that's why there isn't much to be found in your searching?
Because an e-bike has more power, there may be other concerns relating to longterm durability. I thought to include those that occurred off the top of my head, because with the extra power on tap, an e-bike has little need for typical light weight, supple, low spoke count, etc...That would typically motivate someone to have a dedicated purpose built "nice" wheel sets in the first place. But if you wanted to, they were at least factors to consider.
I get it. 2 wheelsets. One knobby & wide, the other smooth, light. There is no reason a mid-drive couldn't wear either interchangeably. But with all the extra power, there just isn't much reason to wear one over the other in the first place.
The long distance cyclist interested in efficiency & symbiosis of man + machine is at cross purposes with "man uses bike." Perhaps that's why there isn't much to be found in your searching?
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02-22-23, 09:58 PM
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One thing for a mid drive don't forget your sensor magnets. I did that on one of my bikes and we were fighting so much trying to figure out what the heck was going on and why it wouldn't work and in the end it was a simple magnet we forgot in all the trouble. Nothing expensive nothing hard to get but easy to forget. My main ride is Rohloff equipped so no swapping wheelsets for me. However yeah generally with a mid drive it is pretty easy so long as you don't forget magnets and such.
