Hubbub on the Campy high vs normal flange hubs
09-13-22, 11:53 PM
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Hubbub on the Campy high vs normal flange hubs
Why offer both? When was one advantageous to the other. I have seen identical 1974 colnago supers, never restored with either hubs.
what is the hubbub with these hubs, bub?
what is the hubbub with these hubs, bub?
09-14-22, 12:25 AM
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Different strength and stiffness rationales, some era driven, some shiny new things, choices and options. You can sell more if you have more types. 
Jobst Brandt drills down in his book The Bicycle Wheel.
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09-14-22, 02:53 AM
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09-14-22, 07:29 AM
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For a long time Campy introduced new groups/parts, but continued to sell the old ones.
09-14-22, 10:38 AM
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BITD it was stated that high flange hubs contributed to a stiffer wheel. Today we know better.
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09-14-22, 11:03 AM
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Fashion.
Eddy used low flange, follow the Champion.
Last two bikes I built up have high flange hubs. Dare to be different.
Eddy used low flange, follow the Champion.
Last two bikes I built up have high flange hubs. Dare to be different.
09-14-22, 11:04 AM
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09-14-22, 11:48 AM
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as noted... "fashion".
I'm assuming that someone had the idea that big flanges offered some advantage... possibly that the larger flange would result in less additional tension in the spokes in the rear wheel when the rider was really applying a lot of torque to the pedals. That might be reasonable for a track hub, where some riders really put out serious peak power. Not likely to matter for most road riding.
My reason for high flange: more shiny aluminum to glitter in the sunlight.
Steve in Peoria
I'm assuming that someone had the idea that big flanges offered some advantage... possibly that the larger flange would result in less additional tension in the spokes in the rear wheel when the rider was really applying a lot of torque to the pedals. That might be reasonable for a track hub, where some riders really put out serious peak power. Not likely to matter for most road riding.
My reason for high flange: more shiny aluminum to glitter in the sunlight.
Steve in Peoria
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09-14-22, 12:17 PM
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I like the look of Campagnolo Record high flange better but they always seem to be laced only to tubular rims. I’ve found several sets of low flange hubs laced to clinchers and I find that more convenient. I should just rebuild one of my sets high flange to clinchers but I never seem to get around to it. I just switch out to a regular riding set of low flange and save my high flange tubular wheels for weekend short rides. As a result, my Chrome Paramount often sports these gray rims instead of the better matching silver, oh well.
09-14-22, 03:06 PM
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The racers edge was large flange front wheel... Small flange rear wheel. Guaranteed to get you on the podium.
09-14-22, 05:18 PM
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For me, it is an aesthetics issue - I much prefer the Campy high flange hub...
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09-14-22, 06:09 PM
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They are nice - here's mine on the Mexico, during the last ride it was fully functional:
Then this happened during the first couple/three miles of a ride in the very next day:
DD
Then this happened during the first couple/three miles of a ride in the very next day:
DD
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09-14-22, 06:16 PM
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I have a high flange record hub with a busted out flange. They looked very sweet for about 30 years, but now no more. The hub set sits in a box robbed of parts now.
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09-14-22, 06:21 PM
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The production accountant in me will tell everybody the small flange costs less to manufacture.
Seems Campy ceased making their high flange in the late-seventies. More profit, bubs.
I adore the high flange version, even when people buff them to a glorious shine.
A pinnacle of beauty, along with many of their Nuovo Record components.
Seems Campy ceased making their high flange in the late-seventies. More profit, bubs.
I adore the high flange version, even when people buff them to a glorious shine.
A pinnacle of beauty, along with many of their Nuovo Record components.
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09-14-22, 07:28 PM
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The first photo was all full of sexy bike bits and full of promise... and then.... tragedy!
I thought I should "like" the post, but then I reconsidered, wondering if that would be interpreted as approving of the tragedy.
My sincere condolences!
Steve in Peoria
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09-14-22, 07:35 PM
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09-14-22, 08:56 PM
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aw man.
The first photo was all full of sexy bike bits and full of promise... and then.... tragedy!
I thought I should "like" the post, but then I reconsidered, wondering if that would be interpreted as approving of the tragedy.
My sincere condolences!
Steve in Peoria
It took some time, but I did get over it - sooner than I thought, too. Removed the axle and other fiddly-bits, then passed the borked shell to a pal o' mine who will be storing a zero bike for me soon
Bob Freeman built up a new rear wheel using a 32h low flange Campy hub, new spokes, and the original rim. So far, haven't been on it since the hub failed, but that will hopefully change soon once I bring my stuff down here to AZ.
DD
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09-15-22, 03:08 AM
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My two Campy Record hubs received within a groupset are low flange, BUT have different spoke numbers: 32 front, 36 rear. The book mentioned by merziac states that “small-flange front hubs cannot be spoked tangentially with more than 32 spokes without spoke overlap. Flanges of rear hubs must be larger […] For convenience, hubs with the same size flanges, front and rear, have been made to use the same length spokes”, so I’m still wondering wether in my case it was a deliberate choice by the previous owner or just the standard BITD setup. In any case, it’s hard to find just one pair of rims that accommodates both…
09-15-22, 08:35 AM
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FWIW, Campagnolo offered high flange hubs as an option with their Triomphe, Victory, and C-Record groups in the mid to late 80s.
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09-15-22, 11:08 AM
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High/large flange hubs have been around a while, not sure when from though, e.g.,
https://www.classiclightweights.co.u...h-hub-company/
Personally I like high flange on 27"/700c and low flange on 26".
https://www.classiclightweights.co.u...h-hub-company/
Personally I like high flange on 27"/700c and low flange on 26".
09-15-22, 11:38 AM
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On my Colnago Super, just luv the look and I ain't strong enough to break them like Jeff!
For me , it's the look and I don't know about strength or rigidity
Of course you could always find a nice set of early Phil hubs , these things roll nicely!
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09-15-22, 11:48 AM
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JohnJohn-
Differing spoke counts were not unheard of. On racers, 32F and 36R due to rear weight bias. For touring bikes, 40R and 36F because, in period, tourists typically used rear panniers which heavily biased weight to the rear. Time trial bikes often used 28F and 28R to minimize weight along with really light weight tubular rims and tires.
Differing spoke counts were not unheard of. On racers, 32F and 36R due to rear weight bias. For touring bikes, 40R and 36F because, in period, tourists typically used rear panniers which heavily biased weight to the rear. Time trial bikes often used 28F and 28R to minimize weight along with really light weight tubular rims and tires.
09-15-22, 12:51 PM
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Well, Jan Jannsen used high flange hubs, and since he was the coolest guy that ever threw a leg over a top tube that HAS to make them cooler….
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