pennpaul

I want to bring my road bike back into service. I use it on my trainer now.

It has a 9-speed hub (Shimano compatible) but only 28 spokes. I want to get a 32 hole hub (not as fit and trim as when I first got this bike), but new ones seem pretty scarce. Are new 9-speed hubs still being sold? A 10-speed hub won't work with a 9-speed cassette, right?

Thanks,
Paul

csport

8-10 speed (Shimano compatible) freehubs will fit any 8-10 speed (Shimano compatible) cassette and even some 11 speed MTB cassettes.

I run Shimano M6000 and M525 as a part of 9 speed drivetrain.

Check for the correct OLD ("road" vs "mountain", 130 vs 135mm).

Edit: link to Sheldon Brown's article on the subject

canopus 

You might find something on eBay but the world has moved on to 11 & 12 speed. What is your hub and your cassette and group? Many Shimano are backwards compatible, so while not marketed as 9s, they may work.

thook

why do you think you actually need a 32 hole? a 28 hole laced/tensioned properly is still pretty strong as long as you're not doing heavy gravel riding. maybe you intend to? otoh, consider buying a pre-built wheel with 32 holes? something with the same rim or a close match? just some thoughts...

pennpaul

It's a Shimano Ultegra drivetrain with STI shifters. The rear hub is a 28-hole Ritchey Zero System Pro Road (but I want to go to 32). I've changed the rear derailleur to accept a large 36 tooth cassette

tFUnK

If Shimano, 11sp is backwards compatible with 9sp with spacers. But, you probably don't need a 32h rear.

Lazyass

32 will have less wheel flex when climbing and sprinting and if you snap a spoke/nipple it won't get thrown out of true so much. And you have a reduced chance of snapping either because the load is spread out closer. It's a more reliable wheel. Four more spokes won't make you slower. You're adding maybe 10 grams of weight. 28 isn't too bad though, I've got away from low spoke count wheels.

rccardr 

Something like this: Shimano 105 rear hub 9 speed 32h FH-5500 | eBay
will do nicely, and only $20. There are bunches of orphan Shimano hubs out there that will suit your purpose.
No matter which rear hub you choose, make sure to get 130mm width.

pennpaul

I'm a bonafide spoke breaker and would just feel better on a 32 than this 28. This frame can only go up to 25mm tires so I'll use this one for the road and use my gravel bike for gravel.


Big duh moment for me as I'm just looking at my Wahoo KIKR. How else does the KIKR accommodate either my 9-speed road bike or 11-speed gravel bike?!!!

Anyway, looks like problem solved. I'll just go for an 11-speed hub and use the correct spacer.

Thanks,
Paul

csport

You can also go with a proper 8-10 speed hub like RS300, which is in the current Shimano product line: https://productinfo.shimano.com/#/sp...m_Disc%20Brake)
If you can use it without the spacer, the dishing of the wheel will be less extreme and the wheel will be stronger.

70sSanO

I take it that you already have a 32 hole rim and spokes as the reason you don’t want to buy a complete rear wheel.

John

jimc101

Only the high end, mid range and below is all 10 speed (Tiagra) or 9 speed (Claris and Sora), even then, all current Shimano Hyperglide hubs (less 7850, which by now should be very rare) are backwards compatible using appropriate spacers.

pennpaul

I don't have anything except for my stock bike. I already have a query into Universal Cycles who built my gravel wheelset with 32 spokes. Unless they have a good deal on a complete wheelset, I only plan on getting a new rear wheel.

Bill Kapaun

IF very desperate, you could use a "mountain" hub and amputate 5mm of axle & NDS spacer.

squirtdad

I agree on 32 hole hubs/rims for less the svelte (meaning me)

shimano 105 7000 would be a good value https://www.coloradocyclist.com/shim...00-rear-hub-qr

really best value, unless your are doing the wheel build you self is to buy a set between hubs, spokes, rims and paying a shop to build overall cheaper

105 7000 wheel set $219 with mavic cxp rims 32

https://www.velomine.com/index.php?m...oducts_id=3805
or
105 7000 wheel set $299 with mavic open pro (I am running open pro on 6800 ultegra hubs at 240 (down from 265 or so) and the rims have been greate
https://www.velomine.com/index.php?m...oducts_id=2743 I

Lazyass

I recently broke a nipple on a 24H rear wheel. It was thrown so out of true that the tire was wedged up against the chainstay and rubbed the paint off. If I didn't carry a spoke wrench or didn't know how to true a wheel I would have been stranded. I did manage to get it trued just enough to slowly limp home but it was still wobbling bad and I was scared of destroying the rim. I'm actually waiting on a custom wheelset for that bike I ordered with 32/32.

unterhausen

I spent some time building up new bikes in 2020, and manufacturers are shipping 7 speed bikes with 11 speed hubs. All it takes is a spacer. It may be included, but they are easy to get.
I'm still stuck at 10 speed for the most part, so all of my newer wheels have a 1.8mm spacer. 10 and 9 speed have cassettes that are the same width.

pennpaul

Thanks for the heads up. Compared to what I've been seeing this is a good deal. I just put in the order.

icemilkcoffee 

If you aren’t using an 11speed cassette, I would stay away from an 11speed compatible hub. Because the dishing is more extreme on that 11 sp hub than on an 8-10 sp hub.

tcs

Somewhat shockingly, yes:

https://www.amazon.com/SRAM-135mm-Re.../dp/B00L2Q0DYY

ThermionicScott 

^ Womp-womp!

According to Wikipedia, Shimano Sora is still at 9-speed, so if you really want a new hub that is being sold as "9-speed", there ya go. Assuming you can get your hands on one.

Pantah

I'm a big fan of finding used hubs/wheels (and parts in general). It's cheaper than new and long as you don't buy a thoroughly thrashed hub, all they usually need is the bearings to be cleaned and re-greased. Lots of 8-9-10 speed hubs and wheelsets out there, especially in 32 hole. The local used bike and bike parts shop in town has some rear wheels which fit those specs for under 100 bucks, wheelsets for a bit more. Probably best just to get a fully built wheel so all you have to do is throw a cassette on and you're good to go.

As for spoke count and overall wheel durability, there's more factors than just spoke count. Component quality plays a major factor. The original wheelset on my Cannondale R300 was 32 spoke, but spokes and rims were lower quality as it was Cannondale's entry level road offering. I'd knock the rear wheel out of true often and once it got several thousand miles on it, I started breaking spokes. Super annoying. Granted, I'm not a small guy. I'm 6'3" and, at the time, weighed close to 180 pounds, if I didn't have my backpack on or my 15 pound Kryptonite chain lock. That weight played a factor for sure. Regardless, I got sick and tired of breaking spokes, so my brother helped me build a 36 spoke wheelset with 105 hubs, DT Swiss spokes and Mavic Open Pro rims. Several thousand miles later and I have yet to need to true the wheels.

On the flip side, I've got a Cannondale R4000, which was their top of the line offering 20 years ago. As such, everything is high quality. I got it used with a ton of miles. Wheelset is 28 spoke, original to the bike and were in excellent true when I got it. I haven't put a ton of miles on it, but haven't had to touch either of the wheels.