Hi all,
I’ve a gen 3 Domane AL 2 (Disk). Currently I have road tires (32mm Conti GP5000 TL) on my (stock) wheels. I see some people near me selling brand new Bontrager Paradime SL at C$200 for the pair (the same wheels I have, but from a Checkpoint model).
Could I buy these to add gravel tires, and then just swap the wheels as necessary? Anyone have any experience with this? Not sure if tolerances are tight enough that I wouldn’t have to adjust the derailleur and brakes each time I do the switch. I would of course buy the same rotors and the same cassette.
Bit more details: I wanted to upgrade bikes next year (thinking Domane AL 5) and put gravel tires on my AL 2 for a secondary gravel + commuting bike. But honestly not sure if it’d be worth upgrading because, at least for the moment, I’m not super limited on my bike; more gears of a 105 groupset would be nice, but perhaps not worth a C$2600. Could be much cheaper and potentially quick and easy to just swap wheels to have my “second bike”.
Generally yes, you can have two wheelsets and swap them out without having to adjust anything. Both wheelsets need to fit your frame (same hub width and axle size), have the same number of gears on the cassette, and have the same diameter brake disc.
In your case I think everything matches except the cassette. Google tells me your bike has an 8-speed drivetrain, but the standalone Paradigm SL wheels have a hub sized for an 11-speed road cassette. Fortunately, you should be able to put an 8-speed cassette on the new Paradigm wheel if you use a 1.85mm spacer. Then voila, swappable wheels.
https://www.whiteind.com/product/freehub-body-cassette-spacer/
To add to this, you probably won’t know if you’d need to adjust the brake caliper and/or the derailleur till you try it. You can only reasonably sure of this if you’re swapping the same model wheel set from a wheel manufacturer. E.g. Mavic Aksium Disc from 2015 with another one of the same.
I swap two wheelsets on my Slate - it’s very convenient. Only thing for me is each time I have to reset the brake callipers, but it’s a very small thing.
In theory, sure.
In practice, some cassettes might be more or less worn than the other and might not work right with the chain. Probably best to keep the chains paired with their respective cassettes to help keep the wear even.
You’d think all things equal and standardized [LOL] you should, in theory, be able to swap wheels like you describe.
I agree with the “in theory” part.
Bontrager isn’t a real brand or anything. It was on attempt at trying to convince people that contract manufactured junk with stickers was as good as the specialty brands that made far better products. Now everyone is a sticker brand except Giant. Funny because they were the first major contract manufacturer when Schwinn sold out their neighbors for profit.
$200 is steep for OEM contract manufacturing from who knows where IMO.
Here’s the thing, the BOM for a model may come from different contract manufacturers so you need to really do your homework or bring the bike. Stuff is intentionally proprietary to exploit you in exactly this kind of situation. Proprietary is always theft of ownership.
