RyanB38

Hi everyone,

I am new to the forum. I was given a Zipp 1080 tubular road wheel. I am trying to figure out if there is a rear track hub that can be used to rebuild the wheel. The concern I have is that there are only 20 spokes for this rim and almost no rear track hubs for such a low spoke count.

I am 6'1 and 145 lbs.

Are there any hubs out there that will work?

Just seeing if there are options since the wheel was free and I don't intend to use it for road riding.

thank you

queerpunk

i'd be surprised if you can find one without strain. but, a good wheelbuilder can calculate spoke lengths to lace a hub with the wrong number of holes.

carleton

I've seen it done. A masters rider much heavier than you had a set made back in 2009 or so. I can't recall what hubs he used.

Maybe I can dig up a pic.

taras0000

You can get hubs with custom drilling. Phil Wood has blanks available fro drilling, round spoke or bladed. Tange Design Star hubs are also 20 hole.

24 hole hubs will work as well. Skip every 6th hole.

Morelock

(Personally I've always been nervous about skipping holes... but I've seen it done and realize that's probably just a belief passed onto me by the guy that taught me to build wheels.)

See Taras^ post for available 20h options.

Another issue to consider is spoke angle. Zipp 1080's couldn't be laced with a Powertap back in the day because it created too much angle and it would (possibly) pull the carbon apart. A large flange hub would do the same thing.

So, can it be done? Yes
But honestly you're likely better off selling it to a triathlete that's going to Kona or another race where discs aren't allowed and buying a track wheel that will be less headache.

RyanB38

Thanks for all the input so far,

Morelock, I read similar comments to yours regarding spoke angle. I certainly don't want to bother if it will be a wheel that will destroy itself. That makes sense that it would need to be a low flange hub.

The option of skipping holes is really interesting since that would mean a lot more hub options and not having to go with something expensive.

For now I have a set of Zipp 404 tubulars. Along with the 1080 I was given a front Zipp 808 (16 spokes, tubular road front wheel) that I was thinking I would try with the Zipp skewer adaptor.

I have been track riding for a few years but just now getting competitive.

taras0000

High flange hubs and acute spoke angles can be mitigated by going with a 4x lacing. It creates a longer hypotenuse between the hub and rim, which decreases the bracing angle of the spoke.

taras0000

I would also add, if you got the wheel for free, spend the money on a good hub. You'll have a better functioning wheel that will last you a long time with little maintenance required. A low flange Phil will turn that wheel into a lifetime investment that will keep a high resale value as well.

Morelock

I don't think I've ever seen a 4x 20h, but now I want to.

octopus magic

Off the top of my head, I'm pretty sure Phil is the only company that makes a rear track hub in 20 hole. Everyone else bottoms out with 24/28, at least for the rear.

taras0000

Yeah. Usually low spoke counts are 3x drive side and radial-2x on the non drive, and that's road wheels. But with a super deep rim, I would go 3x at the lowest, especially if the hub is a flip-flop.

The 4x lacing also pulls more in line with the rim's tangent, so the carbon cross section is stronger in resisting the pull, despite the spokes tangenital exit angle from the rim not changing that much from a 1x or 2x.

taras0000

I think 20 hole is special order through Phil. I've only ever seen 24 in the retail market.