story; i got my first mtb last year. i got a GT avalanche 27.5 [i started with an ozark trail] buddy gave me a rockshox recon fork. fast forward to now, i purchased a thru axle wheel, i did not know hubs where different sizes. so my fork is 15x110mm and the hub in the wheel i got is 15x100mm.
am i fucked? do i have to return the wheel and shop for another brand? [i matched what was on my bike which is WTB]. so i get a new hub and have a shop put it on and true the wheel? or can i get 2 5mm spacers for each side?
thanks. im still learning.
You aren’t “fucked” and I wouldn’t beat yourself up over it. It is a good lesson to learn going forward because every component you buy for your bike you should double check what you need in terms of sizings as there are so many different standards. Not just in hubs with axle sizes and lengths but most components there will be a few different sizes and options that will or won’t fit your bike.
The brand isnt the issue here, each brand will usually make multiple options to fit the different sizes that are available for bikes so if you want to match up with WTB again you can do that so it is more about shopping for size that brand.
You can buy kits to convert what you bought to the size you need like this “better boost adapter” . I dont know how much you spent on the front wheel but being a beginner I’m guessing you didn’t go all out and spent ridiculous money which probably makes an adapter kit like that not good value compared to the price on the wheel. Personally I dont know if I would really trust it either because a lot of force will be going through that area and I wouldn’t want more points of attachment and more possible points of failure.
Buying a different hub and having someone lace it into your wheel as well isnt going to be the most economically sound option. Building wheels isnt the cheapest thing and definitely not something you could do well on a first try as a beginner.
Honestly if you can return that wheel and get your money back then I would do that and then shop around for something that fits what you need right now. Now you know what you have put in a search for 27.5" 15x110mm front wheel and then have a look at what options come up.
Then if you want wtb search for the options that they have in those size combinations.
Every frame and fork should have a tech sheet available that lists all the sizes of everything on them. I would suggest finding one for your year of bike and save a copy so you can reference it in the future when buying parts.
Good luck with it all going forward :)
Yeah I did a return submission and ordered the correct wheel. Was $2 cheaper too. Can I ask you, I really enjoy 27.5 over 29 wheels. My buddy gave me a fork that doesn’t say 27.5/29 it only says 29. Is that still okay?
Comparing a 27.5 and 29 fork, assuming that they have exactly the same travel amount:
The axle-to-crown (leg length) is slightly longer on a 29 fork. The axle offset is slightly shorter on a 29 fork. The steerer tube is thicker walled (internally) on a 29 fork. The arch/brace height is higher on a 29 fork.
The first two are subtle changes to the steering geometry. Putting a 27 wheel on a 29 fork will give slightly slow / floppy steering. It will still work.
Nice, good to hear!
Yes that absolutely will be fine. You will have a little bit more room above the tyre and below the arch section of the fork than you may have on a fork that was made specifically for 27.5 but functionally it will all work absolutely fine for you.
The only thing I would check is your tyre clearance to make sure it isnt fouling on either side but unless you are running super wide tyres this shouldn’t be an issue either.