Replacing rear wheel on 8 spd Campy

[wheelio]

I converted a 9/10 speed Ultradrive compatible hub to 8 speed (see the discussion under Sachs Aris freewheels.) The Ultradrive and the preceding Exadrive cassettes are not interchangeable. The freehub bodies are completely different.

Campy makes the "Kit-03" to address this. However, they specify that you use a 9 speed, individual cog cassette (such as Veloce) and not a 10 speed. 8, 9, and 10 speed cogs are different thicknesses and the spacer kit is designed to work with the 9 speed cogs to achieve proper spacing.

I can switch rear wheels between the Exadrive 8 speed Athena hub wheel and the converted Ultradrive compatible Bontrager wheel with absolutely no need for even minor derailleur adjustment. The Kit-03 includes a very thin spacer to put behind the large cog as the 9/10 Ultradrive cassette body is "deeper" than the old 8 speed Exadrive.

As to rear hub spacing, it is my understanding that both Campy and that other component maker went to 130mm from 126mm when they converted to 8 speed. My mid-90's vintage Athena is 130mm.

[wheelio]

Can you tell me where I can buy the kit that allows you to run an 8 speed cassette on a 9/10 speed rear hub?

I don't know where you live, but any independent bicycle dealer that does business with QBP can order the Campy spacer kit for you. Fot the best results, use a 9 speed Veloce (individual cog) cassette with one cog removed (I took out the 16 on a 12-23 set.) No other supplier I know of keeps that kit in stock or lists it in their catalog.

One caveat, however. QBP has rather high dollar minimum order policies (for reasons I am sympathetic with), so unless your local shop(s) do a lot of business with them, be prepared to wait until they "stack up" enough to make it economical to do so.

[Gambedegallina]

Wheels Manufacturing (the company that makes the conversion kit sold by QBP) is selling directly to dealers now as well. So any reputable dealer should be able to get you the kit whether they have a big order with QBP or not.

[wheelio]

Wheels Manufacturing (the company that makes the conversion kit sold by QBP) is selling directly to dealers now as well. So any reputable dealer should be able to get you the kit whether they have a big order with QBP or not.

The kit I got from QBP is actually made by Campy in Italy. It came in a Campy box with all the pertinent info and instructions in forty-seven different languages.