What replacement wheels should I get?

[frejesal]

So, I own a 21 speed Northwoods Safari handed down from my uncle. I know very little about bikes, so it was very inconvenient to me when some tool threw it down a hill and screwed up both wheels.

Price is no object, as the aforementioned tool will be expelled from my college if he doesn't pay up. I've tried googling and browsing forums, but I can't seem to find a direct answer to my question:

What replacement wheels should I buy for my bike?

The only facts I know for sure about it for sure are that it's a 21 speed bike with index shifting, rim brakes, and the wheel size is 26x1.75. Let me know if there are any more facts I can provide, or pictures if necessary.

I've looked at these wheels:

http://www.amazon.com/Sta-Tru-Steel-Front-Wheel-26X1-75-Inch/dp/B004YJ2DX0/

http://www.amazon.com/Sta-Tru-Steel-Coaster-Brake-26X1-75-Inch/dp/B004YJ2PKG/

http://www.amazon.com/Sta-Tru-Steel-Speed-Freewheel-26X1-75-Inch/dp/B004YJ2E16/

I'm kind of doubting that I can use coaster brake wheels, as I have rim brakes, and I don't know if a 6-7 speed wheel will work with a 21 speed bike.

Yes I am clueless, and I probably seem quite ignorant to many of you, but please, all light has gone out of my life. I am listless and morose. I just want to feel the wind in my hair again, to be free, to shake off this crippling depression with the joy of speed and exercise.

[WinterRider]

(11-18-2013, 10:41 PM)frejesal Wrote:  So, I own a 21 speed Northwoods Safari handed down from my uncle. I know very little about bikes, so it was very inconvenient to me when some tool threw it down a hill and screwed up both wheels.

Price is no object, as the aforementioned tool will be expelled from my college if he doesn't pay up. I've tried googling and browsing forums, but I can't seem to find a direct answer to my question:

What replacement wheels should I buy for my bike?

The only facts I know for sure about it for sure are that it's a 21 speed bike with index shifting, rim brakes, and the wheel size is 26x1.75. Let me know if there are any more facts I can provide, or pictures if necessary.

I've looked at these wheels:

http://www.amazon.com/Sta-Tru-Steel-Front-Wheel-26X1-75-Inch/dp/B004YJ2DX0/

http://www.amazon.com/Sta-Tru-Steel-Coaster-Brake-26X1-75-Inch/dp/B004YJ2PKG/

http://www.amazon.com/Sta-Tru-Steel-Speed-Freewheel-26X1-75-Inch/dp/B004YJ2E16/

I'm kind of doubting that I can use coaster brake wheels, as I have rim brakes, and I don't know if a 6-7 speed wheel will work with a 21 speed bike.

Yes I am clueless, and I probably seem quite ignorant to many of you, but please, all light has gone out of my life. I am listless and morose. I just want to feel the wind in my hair again, to be free, to shake off this crippling depression with the joy of speed and exercise.

21 speed means 7 rear gears.. 3 chain rings up front. You then need 7 speed.

You best bet.. would be to visit a bike shop. Possibly those wheels could be trued. A handed down bike might have been due for a wheel truing anyway.

You other consideration.. is axle spacing. Most 26" are 135mm.. a few and some older models are 130mm.

If coins are of no consideration.. let the bike shop take care of you. Relax and enjoy... good luck!

[Joe_W]

The coaster brake wheel is wrong, it is an internally geared hub. You want a wheel either for a cassette or for a free wheel. What do you currently have? I would change to a cassette, 7 speed freewheel hubs a notorious, the axles bend far too easily. All (well, almost all) 26" wheels today have 135mm OLD (over locknut distance), but you should be able to fit them into a frame with only 130mm spacing (though it is not nice and I probably would only do this with a steel frame, they are flexible).
I could not really find out what kind of bike you have, so I cannot tell you more.

I have to warn you against buying a cheap wheel. The components are... let's say "simple" and they have not been built nor set up properly. So if you get one of those you will have to grease the bearings, set them up correctly, tension and true the wheel properly. This can be done and should result in an ok wheel, but costs time and / or money.

If you have a non-steel frame and a rear spacing of 130mm you could have a wheel built:
Tiagra road bike hub 36 holes, mavic entry level rims XM 117 or something plus Sapim (or DT, or Wheelsmith) double butted spokes. However that would be about EUR 60 or so in parts alone (for the rear wheel). Note: you can put a 7 speed cassette on an 8 speed freehub, but you will need a spacer (or two).