Originally Posted by
HillRider
Maybe I'm not hard enough on my hubs but I've had wonderful service from Shimano road and MTB cup-and-cone hubs used in all kinds of weather and road conditions. Overpack them with grease and grease the hub/freehub body interface and they will last nearly forever with only occasional maintenance.
I have Shimano cup and cone on a MTB and a loaded touring bike. The MTB hubs are 1992 vintage and not particularly well sealed. These appear to use grease and an expanding plastic washer to do the sealing.
The hubs on the 2000 Cannondale 2000 are also Shimano MTB hubs and they seem to be better sealed but not as good as the WI seal design.
I am getting to the point where life is too short to repack cup and cone bearings (or Phil freehubs). :-)