entry-level fixed track hubs
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: rome
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
entry-level fixed track hubs
heĺlo!
i'm putting together my first fixed gear bike. i have a raw steel track frame, but i need wheels. (especially a rear one)
..and i want to assemble them. i'm gonna use some nice road bike rims friends' shop has lyin around.
i'm gonna need to buy some hub though!
what are some nice cheap (but hopefully durable) fixed gear hubs? considering i'm gonna use the bike mainly for street riding?
i was thinking about :
miche primato high flange (found the couple for 67eur)
miche primato low flange (couple for 65 eur)
novatec (heard they're durable) (found rear hub for 30 eur)
also: lo flange or hi flange??
thank you!
i'm putting together my first fixed gear bike. i have a raw steel track frame, but i need wheels. (especially a rear one)
..and i want to assemble them. i'm gonna use some nice road bike rims friends' shop has lyin around.
i'm gonna need to buy some hub though!
what are some nice cheap (but hopefully durable) fixed gear hubs? considering i'm gonna use the bike mainly for street riding?
i was thinking about :
miche primato high flange (found the couple for 67eur)
miche primato low flange (couple for 65 eur)
novatec (heard they're durable) (found rear hub for 30 eur)
also: lo flange or hi flange??
thank you!
#2
Senior Member
I've had Novatecs in the past and imo they are very good for their price point - better than Formula. As for high vs low flange, high with get you a tad more stiffness, low will save you a smidge of weight, I don't think one's head and shoulders better than the other,
#3
Senior Member
I've got the miche, they're smooth and nice. Double check the cones, for whatever reason my rear hub tightened up from the lock nut not being tight enough against the cone and it wasn't after too many trips on the bike. Problem solved and they still spin beautifully and built up nice.
#4
High flange hubs result in shorter spoke lengths and shorter spokes will be stronger. However, it may make some lacing patterns less than desirable. Sheldon Brown has written on this.
#5
It's the little things
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 785
Bikes: Too many, yet not enough
Liked 335 Times
in
151 Posts
Novatec
I have now two wheelset with novatec hubs and they are great. One is a more basic design, the other is Ben's cycles Milwaukee bicycle co branded hub which is amazing. Got one of their in house wheelset builds. Both buttery smooth. I also personally like the hollow axle detail which shaves a few grams.
Sturmey Archer also makes a nice and reasonably priced track hubset, the model number escapes me at the moment.
Lots of options out there. I may get blasted for this, but I am personally a fan of formula loose bearing hubs. When serviced and adjusted right, they are a fantastic as well. Unsure which model forumla loose I have, but they are a bit older.
Sturmey Archer also makes a nice and reasonably priced track hubset, the model number escapes me at the moment.
Lots of options out there. I may get blasted for this, but I am personally a fan of formula loose bearing hubs. When serviced and adjusted right, they are a fantastic as well. Unsure which model forumla loose I have, but they are a bit older.
#6
I have now two wheelset with novatec hubs and they are great. One is a more basic design, the other is Ben's cycles Milwaukee bicycle co branded hub which is amazing. Got one of their in house wheelset builds. Both buttery smooth. I also personally like the hollow axle detail which shaves a few grams.
Sturmey Archer also makes a nice and reasonably priced track hubset, the model number escapes me at the moment.
Lots of options out there. I may get blasted for this, but I am personally a fan of formula loose bearing hubs. When serviced and adjusted right, they are a fantastic as well. Unsure which model forumla loose I have, but they are a bit older.
Sturmey Archer also makes a nice and reasonably priced track hubset, the model number escapes me at the moment.
Lots of options out there. I may get blasted for this, but I am personally a fan of formula loose bearing hubs. When serviced and adjusted right, they are a fantastic as well. Unsure which model forumla loose I have, but they are a bit older.
#7
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 14,623
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Liked 4,553 Times
in
3,050 Posts
Not super cheap but not over the top crazy expensive for what you are getting, the All City New Sheriff SL hubs are quite nice. Some of the lightest track hubs with quality bearings useful axles that can take a 6mm Hex or 15 Box wrench. If you are looking to up the budget a touch but not go Phil Wood or Mack or Paul or something ultra fancy they aren't a bad way to go.
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: rome
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
thank you all for your feedback, and for clarification about lo/hi flange... looks like i gotta go back to study old sheldon's
btw, i think im going with high flange.
yeah, im quite the tinkerer myself, i always like some grease on my hands... might consider loose bearings. but which models? i honestly dont know how to tell them apart (although i've set up countless old loose ball bearings in the past)
so... up for the novatecs and miches... also ty for the all city. it IS interesting, though it looks quite unaccessible from here in europe, isn't it?
btw, i think im going with high flange.
You are not wrong about the loose bearing Formula Hubs. Keep them greased and at the right tightness and they are fine. Regular commuters that ride in severe weather prefer sealed bearings for obvious reasons. Many of us don't ride in slop so the Formulas work just dandy.
so... up for the novatecs and miches... also ty for the all city. it IS interesting, though it looks quite unaccessible from here in europe, isn't it?
#9
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 14,623
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Liked 4,553 Times
in
3,050 Posts
thank you all for your feedback, and for clarification about lo/hi flange... looks like i gotta go back to study old sheldon's
btw, i think im going with high flange.
yeah, im quite the tinkerer myself, i always like some grease on my hands... might consider loose bearings. but which models? i honestly dont know how to tell them apart (although i've set up countless old loose ball bearings in the past)
so... up for the novatecs and miches... also ty for the all city. it IS interesting, though it looks quite unaccessible from here in europe, isn't it?
btw, i think im going with high flange.
yeah, im quite the tinkerer myself, i always like some grease on my hands... might consider loose bearings. but which models? i honestly dont know how to tell them apart (although i've set up countless old loose ball bearings in the past)
so... up for the novatecs and miches... also ty for the all city. it IS interesting, though it looks quite unaccessible from here in europe, isn't it?
#10
Senior Member
I have now two wheelset with novatec hubs and they are great. One is a more basic design, the other is Ben's cycles Milwaukee bicycle co branded hub which is amazing. Got one of their in house wheelset builds. Both buttery smooth. I also personally like the hollow axle detail which shaves a few grams.
Likes For j_e_r_e_m_y:
#11
It's the little things
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 785
Bikes: Too many, yet not enough
Liked 335 Times
in
151 Posts
Milwaukee bicycle co
Got these built at Ben's. The fit and finish on the hubs is top notch. Silky smooth. Went with fixed/fixed. Will likely get another set based on value.
Likes For Senrab62:
#13
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: rome
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
that wheelset looks nice as heck! how much did you (/would you) pay for it?
though i can easily service loose ball bearing hubs, i cant tell them apart from sealed ones while buying new... whoch ones are the loose formulas you guys are talking about?
thank you everyone for your support!
right now my choice has been boiled down to novatecs vs ambrosio zeniths
also, i'll check in shops for the allcity!
cheers!
though i can easily service loose ball bearing hubs, i cant tell them apart from sealed ones while buying new... whoch ones are the loose formulas you guys are talking about?
thank you everyone for your support!
right now my choice has been boiled down to novatecs vs ambrosio zeniths
also, i'll check in shops for the allcity!
cheers!
#14
It's the little things
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 785
Bikes: Too many, yet not enough
Liked 335 Times
in
151 Posts
that wheelset looks nice as heck! how much did you (/would you) pay for it?
though i can easily service loose ball bearing hubs, i cant tell them apart from sealed ones while buying new... whoch ones are the loose formulas you guys are talking about?
thank you everyone for your support!
right now my choice has been boiled down to novatecs vs ambrosio zeniths
also, i'll check in shops for the allcity!
cheers!
though i can easily service loose ball bearing hubs, i cant tell them apart from sealed ones while buying new... whoch ones are the loose formulas you guys are talking about?
thank you everyone for your support!
right now my choice has been boiled down to novatecs vs ambrosio zeniths
also, i'll check in shops for the allcity!
cheers!
Typically they run $200 shipped which is still a bargain in my humble opinion.
https://www.milwaukeebicycleco.com/m...odoldays-304/p
They build in shop by hand, not machine built. Rims are a bit narrow, but I fit 28mm without any issues. Wouldn't run much larger based on inside width.
#16
Guest
I have built eight SS wheels with Surly "Ultra New" hubs and have put thousands of trouble-free miles on each of them. Hollow stainless steel axles, 6mm hex bolts, available in every combination of fixed and free. 100, 120, 130, 135mm spacing.