Why use high flange hubs for the front wheel?
02-05-14, 01:42 PM
#1
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Why use high flange hubs for the front wheel?
I'm building a new wheelset and I'm leaning towards a DT 240 road hub I got on the cheap. I've got a Phil Wood high flange track hub laying around also (140g, or almost 1/3 a pound heavier). I'll be using the Phil Wood's rear match for the rear wheel, since I get it, fixed gear riding puts higher lateral stress on wheels and higher flange + taller rim profile = larger spoke angle and laterally stiffer/stronger wheel.
What I don't get is why people seem to think this is important for the front wheel which doesn't experience this stress. Is this just aesthetics? Cause even though a higher flange will make a stronger wheel, it still seems unnecessary for the amount of abuse front wheels really take when a 32h low-flange 3-cross will be plenty strong still.
It seems like standard low-flange road hubs are generally a better quality-to-price, and I get the feeling it's just marketing.
Anyone care to weigh in on this?
What I don't get is why people seem to think this is important for the front wheel which doesn't experience this stress. Is this just aesthetics? Cause even though a higher flange will make a stronger wheel, it still seems unnecessary for the amount of abuse front wheels really take when a 32h low-flange 3-cross will be plenty strong still.
It seems like standard low-flange road hubs are generally a better quality-to-price, and I get the feeling it's just marketing.
Anyone care to weigh in on this?
02-05-14, 03:26 PM
#3
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In the case you describe, the width of the flanges would have a much greater impact on the angle than the height of them.
I mixed high-flange rear with low-flange road front because I wanted a QR on the front, and otherwise the wheels are identical. Not a problem over the last 6 years...
I mixed high-flange rear with low-flange road front because I wanted a QR on the front, and otherwise the wheels are identical. Not a problem over the last 6 years...
02-05-14, 04:00 PM
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If you are just riding your fixie on the street, you really don't even need a high flange in the rear. Wabi makes a very nice 32H low flange wheelset for SSFG bikes that is plenty stiff and strong, while offering lighter weight. Even many track racing wheelsets use a LF hub in the front for mass start and endurance racers, and only use a HF front hub on wheelsets for large and powerful sprinters.
02-05-14, 09:05 PM
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I have both high flange and low flange wheels, and honestly I can't tell any difference.
02-05-14, 09:35 PM
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02-05-14, 10:26 PM
#10
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
High flange hubs build up with shorter length spokes and in the old days, when spokes are not as good as they are now, this made a difference in the strength of the wheel. Some companies really pushed the limits and made bigger flanges which were often susceptible to failure.
Nowadays flange height is more about fashion and the actual quality of the hub is more important.
Nowadays flange height is more about fashion and the actual quality of the hub is more important.
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