Subject: Wheel Building and Hub Flange size Posted by: John C. on July 25, 2006 at 19:23:09:

Message: Here's the deal: I'm building up a bike based on an old Bridgestone MTB frame with 130mm rear dropouts and (obviously) a 26" wheel. Recently I purchased a White Industries H1 Rear Road Hub(very nice, BTW). After I received my new hub, I began thinking about the "Hi/Lo" flange design and I wondered about the reasons for this configuration, as it seems to me that a hub with 2 "Hi" flanges would result in a stronger wheel (better bracing angle and all that). I contacted White Ind. to enquire and was told the only reason for the Hi/Lo design was to save weight and I could exchange the H1 for a White M15 MTB hub with 2 equal (large diameter) flanges with a 130mm axle, if I wanted. THEN, when I was just about to pop the hub in the mail, I phoned White Ind. again and was told by another individual that the Hi/Lo design results in a laterally STRONGER wheel when using 130mm spacing and a 700c rim (which, of course, I'm not using). I'm not too sure about this!??? I'm wondering what the best approach is, given the wheel I intend to build. I know, as another option, I could physically expand the rear spacing on the Bridgestone to 135mm and use the M15 hub "as is" (no custom 130 axle). Maybe I should also mention I'm using a Shimano 9 speed cluster with and Ultegra triple crankset. Thanks!