Rear Wheel & Surrounding Options

[Donteatpeople]

Hi people, first post, hoping for some advice on buying a rear wheel.

I'm just getting into trials a bit more seriously, I've been attempting the odd bit of trials on my trail bikes for years but finally decided to get a trails specific bike. I bought an Orange Zero off eBay as I really like the frame but the components are nasty (really nasty) so I'm planning a lot of upgrades, including the rear wheel. I'm trying to gather a lot of knowledge at once so I’ll break it down a bit

The bike currently has an 8 speed cassette but the shifter is integral to the front V brake lever so that’s going to have to be replaced anyway to make way for a front disc system, so single speed conversion is not out of the question. Most trials hubs I'm seeing seem to be single speed, is it generally accepted that gears are bad/unnecessary for trials or is it just a personal preference thing?

I was planning to have a wheel built around a Hope hub. I’d like to have a hub that will last and Hope seem to have the options to rebuild instead of replace (and a good reputation, based on my trail bike knowledge). Are there any other hubs that will give similar longevity that I should be considering?

I’m also trying to decide on a rim but I'm going to have to decide if I'm keeping the HS33 (in need of a good service) or going disc first. If I do keep the HS33 does that make my options limited or are there still plenty of decent rim brake rims available? Tarty I know but I’d really like a white rim.

[isitafox]

To start with, gears are pretty unnecessary so single speed would be the way to go, either a Pro 2 Trials on the rear or fixed rear hub with a freewheel (I'd recommend an Echo SL or Jitsie) fitted to the cranks (18-15 is the usual ratio for a 26" aka stock bike).

As far as a rear brake goes you're really going to struggle to get a modern trials rim in the back of an Orange Zero, it's a very outdated frame so you'll either have to run something like an old Mavic D521/Sun Mammoth rim to use a rim brake or get a modern trials rim if you decide to go rear disc. If you go for a disc then your best options are going to be a M810 Saint (if you can get hold of one) or trials specific Hope brake with at least a 180mm rotor.

Personally I'd go with a trials rim and disc brake for the time being as if you decide to swap the frame for something even a little more modern you will have a suitable rear wheel to run in it and the option to switch to rim brake.