36H hubs with wide axles/flanges?

[waterrockets]

What options are there for rear tandem hubs that are 36H? I'll be needing 145mm, and the Shimano tandem hubs only go down to 40H.

I don't want to just space out an axle on a standard hub because of the leverage issue with lengthening that beam/bearing distance. Plus, a proper tandem hub will have 5mm wider flanges, which makes for a stronger wheel (less drive-side dish).

Is the only option a hyper-expensive boutique brand? I haven't been looking at anything over $120 for a rear hub, but I haven't noticed Phil, DT, or whatever, 36H tandem hubs either.

[Bill G]

What options are there for rear tandem hubs that are 36H? I'll be needing 145mm, and the Shimano tandem hubs only go down to 40H.

I don't want to just space out an axle on a standard hub because of the leverage issue with lengthening that beam/bearing distance. Plus, a proper tandem hub will have 5mm wider flanges, which makes for a stronger wheel (less drive-side dish).

Is the only option a hyper-expensive boutique brand? I haven't been looking at anything over $120 for a rear hub, but I haven't noticed Phil, DT, or whatever, 36H tandem hubs either.


I have used the newer DT Hugi hubset in 40H on our Co-Motion Supremo laced to a set of Mavic T520 rims, this is a pretty bullet proof set up and has performed well over the last three years on the Supremo. I also have a wheelset with the White Ind jocky hubs in 36H, both the DT Hugi and White Ind are good tandem hubs, I prefer the White Ind hubs myself. Dt Hugi does makes a 36H tandem specific hub set because Co-Motion offers a 36H,40H and 48H wheelset with DT Hugi hubs as a standard option on there tandems. White Ind make a very nice tandem specific front and rear hub in 32,36H,40H,48H with your choice of a cro molly or titanium cassette hub. Do a web search and you will find more info. Check with places like Tandems East, Precition Tandems. Also DT Hugi and White Ind have there own factory web pages. Both the DT and White Ind hubs will cost a little bit more but they have sealed bearings and both hubs sets are really nice and add to a good set of hand built wheels. I have the White Ind Jocky tandem hubset with the lite weight titanium cassette hub built up on a set of 36H Velocity deep V rims in black with 14G spokes and brass nipples. They turned out to be one heck of a nice set of lite bullet proof wheels.

Here were I live there is local guy that builds a mean set of hand built wheels and they had no problems ordering 36H hubs from either DT Hugi or White Ind in 145mm spacing also White Ind can build a hub to any axle spacing you want 130mm,135mm,140mm,145mm

Take Care & Ride Together :)
Bill G

[TandemGeek]

Best value in a high-performance, lightweight hubset whose brand name doesn't start with an S is the aforementioned White Industries hubs. While I keep mentioning the Racer-X hubs that we have, I built these wheels back in '02 and White seems to have a habit of changing model designations on a fairly frequent basis. Our hubs were essentially low-flange single-bike hubs with a longer axle. They have also offered a tall flange tandem hubset that at one time was called the Rocket. It would appear as though the "Jockey" and "Disc Jockey" have been the designated model names for the hubs marketed to tandems in some intervening years and the current '06 offering is the "Daisy": noting that the front hub with its tall flanges and machined openings looks just like the Rocket. All come in 36h versions with 145mm rear spacing.

As for other 36h hubs, DT seems to be the next in the price scale, followed by a huge gap that takes you into the realm of the Phil Wood and Chris King heirloom quality hubs... By heirloom, the inference is that you can pretty much run these things for 10s of thousands of miles and then send them back for a rebuild for 10s of thousands of more miles after that. Of the two, the Chris King are the more lightweight and high-tech. Both require service minimally at least once a year for fair weather riders, but they are also both user-serviceable... as are the White Ind, DT hub, and Shimano's hubs. It's best if you have some basic mechical skills and a healthy tool box with all the right wrenches. Chris King (and perhaps DT) specifies that you use their house brand of ring drive lube (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=4852&category=1034) for their cassette hubs. I use Phil Wood waterproof grease on my Phils & White Ind hubs, and our Chris Kings are serviced with Phil WP cut with Phil Tenacious Oil (and someday I'll get around to ordering some CK lube).

[stapfam]

What options are there for rear tandem hubs that are 36H? I'll be needing 145mm, and the Shimano tandem hubs only go down to 40H.

I don't want to just space out an axle on a standard hub because of the leverage issue with lengthening that beam/bearing distance. Plus, a proper tandem hub will have 5mm wider flanges, which makes for a stronger wheel (less drive-side dish).

Is the only option a hyper-expensive boutique brand? I haven't been looking at anything over $120 for a rear hub, but I haven't noticed Phil, DT, or whatever, 36H tandem hubs either.

I know it is 40 hole but the Shimano XT tandem hub does take a lot of Beating in the cheaper range of hubs. To get Tandem specific at 145 is going to cost, and unless there is a reason to go to a different hub, I would stay with the 40 h XT.

Saying that Hope do a couple of Hubs- The Bulb and the Bigun that are suitable for Tandems and are available in 145 and 36h but you are going to pay for them.

[zonatandem]

We have run 32H front and 36H rear Chris King hubs laced to Velocity Aerohead rims with DT Revolution spokes. Over 10,000 tandem miles on 'em. They are light and work just fine for us.
Quality ain't cheap . . . but it lasts!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

[waterrockets]

Thanks for all the responses. There is a good selection out there.

It's just crazy that there's no stopping point between $120 and $250 for a rear hub. I'll be just sticking with the Shimanos when the time comes. Maybe XTs, if I decide to go < 40H -- though I question the aluminum freehub shell on a tandem.

The only advantages I've seen with the more expensive hubs are: better spoke count selection for tandem-specific hubs, weight, and possibly stronger freehub prawls (for strong teams). None of which matters enough to me to double or triple the price.

I'm not totally against boutique hubs, as I have a White Ind ENO eccentric on my SS MTB. I love that hub to death, but I rarely drop that kind of coin on a bike part -- no other way to get an eccentric axle. I laced it to an old Mavic 231 that I got for $15 ;)