Swapping PowerTap Wheels

Joseph Lombardi

Okay I should know this already but frankly never done it so need to clear my mind of questions....

I currently have PowerTap G3 Hub/wheel on my TriBike.  Gearing is SRAM 50/34 and 12/25 (10 speed cassette).....

I have a Trek Madone that is set up Shimano 105 50/34 and 11/28 or 12/28 (10speed cassette).....

Can I just 

a.) Swap the powertap wheel onto the Trek

Or 

b.) Do I need to pop the Shimano Cassette onto the PowerTap Hub and then swap out the wheels 

.....if I want to ride with Power on my Trek?

 

 

thekidduxc

You should be sorted with your current set up. All you have to do is swap the wheel while leaving the cassette on the wheel. Most of the time, one can interchange SRAM and Shimano cassettes on SRAM and Shimano drivetrains. The key here is it being 10 speed. If one was a 10 speed and another was an 11 speed it would lead to issues that would demand you swap cassettes.

I've been swapping wheels between my tri bike and road bike for two years now. I also have a PowerTap laced i to my rear wheel. Since I ride a SRAM 10 speed on my tri bike and a Campy 11 speed on my road bike, I have to swap cassettes every time I switch bikes. I discovered that the PowerTap straight pull rear hub is my best friend in this situation. So I have a Campy straight pull hub and a SRAM straight pull hub. I don't have to even take the cassettes off the hub. Just swap the hub with the cassettes still on the hub.

Steve Ross

My only observation with everything being equal , and I believe you know the answer, swap out your PT at will and change your cassette to the type of ride you are going to do. 11/25 is an every day ride and the 11/28 is tackling a hillier ride day.OA. Hope this helps dude in your decision making ! 

Woody Freese

In my experience, you should be okay simply swapping wheels, so long as they are both 10 speed. The # of teeth on the cassettes is not so extreme that you will likely experience any challenges. It should be noted that chains and cassettes wear - and in some cases they wear evenly. Year ago, swapping wheels often produced sloppy shifting, as a new cassette with an old chain OR an old cassette with a new chain might make for a "choppiness" and some clunking (and no, I cannot imitate the sounds for you!!??). With more modern technology, this may be less of an issue - that said, if you have a fairly new cassette and a chain that has a few thousand miles, there may need to be some minor adjusting. BEST ADVICE: just buy a new bike!!