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Old 06-29-03, 03:31 PM
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shrimpx
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Sheldon Brown says:

"High-flange" or "large-flange" hubs have a larger flange, usually drilled out for lightness. They transmit torsional forces with less stress to the spokes than small-flange hubs do, but this is not a problem in practice with modern equipment. High-flange hubs can make a wheel with slightly greater lateral strength than equivalent small-flange hubs, because the spokes create a wider bracing angle to the rim. This makes them popular with track sprinters, who create greater-than-normal side loads on their wheels.
The lateral strength argument makes total sense to me. Also, high flange hubs look much cooler than low flange on minimalistic track bikes, IMO.
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