Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - hubs / deep v's

i plan on getting deep vs on my fixed gear, rear only. I want a white wheel with black spokes, what hubs do you guys recommend? I went to my lbs and they said that they can hand make me deep vs with the cheapest formula hubs for a total of 130, is that a good deal?

And i'm also wondering if the cheapest formula hubs are better than the stock bianchi pista hubs (the wheel set is the alex solo), let me know, thanks!

miche, profile ($), iro, surly, etc. the new IROs are the best bang for the buck in a lot of peoples' opinions. colors, good machining, and higher quality bearings than generic formulas.

so what you're saying is that i should stay away from forumula hubs?

When it comes down to it...a hub is a hub. They almost never break and as long as the bearings are in good shape, functionally, theres little else about the hub that matters. Budget priced hubs are a good idea, because it allows you to put your money where it counts...in the rims and spokes.

Formula hubs are good. They are not "generic". They have an excellent reputation and are probably the best hub you can get for that little money. They will work fine for you. I wouldn't worry too much about bearing quality. I have formula hubs and the bearings are fine. At any rate, bearings are cheap ($6) and easy to replace.

IRO hubs are made by Formula, btw.

Hint...Ask your LBS how much for double butted spokes....it may cost you bit more, but you'll end up with a lighter, more durable wheel.

^^ I like the 'Hint:...' It's very Bicycling magazine.

Formulas certainly are generic. Of course they are "name-brand" but if you go into any LBS and ask for some "generic track hubs" you will get Formulas. They are cream of the crop, bland, without any special features. Generic. Are they good for almost everyone? Yes. But they still have no features and nothing special about them to make them different. They are plain jane hubs. The IROs, again, have nicer machining, colors, style, and bearings for not much more money. Made by Formula or not, they are higher quality.


I certainly recomend IRO hubs...nonethelesss they are simply rebranded formulas. Exactly what "special features" are we to expect...an IRO label?

Formulas certainly are generic. Of course they are "name-brand" but if you go into any LBS and ask for some "generic track hubs" you will get Formulas. They are cream of the crop, bland, without any special features. Generic. Are they good for almost everyone? Yes. But they still have no features and nothing special about them to make them different. They are plain jane hubs. The IROs, again, have nicer machining, colors, style, and bearings for not much more money. Made by Formula or not, they are higher quality.

escusse me wut ur saying

Formulas certainly are generic. Of course they are "name-brand" but if you go into any LBS and ask for some "generic track hubs" you will get Formulas. They are cream of the crop, bland, without any special features. Generic. Are they good for almost everyone? Yes. But they still have no features and nothing special about them to make them different. They are plain jane hubs. The IROs, again, have nicer machining, colors, style, and bearings for not much more money. Made by Formula or not, they are higher quality.

nice use of "cream of the crop"
and yes, even the new iro hubs are formulas..

i kinda like the gran compe hubs for the money. they've been a popular choice at the shop i work at.

http://www.businesscycles.com/graphics/thub-diacompe.jpg

yeah, are there special hub accessories that formulas don't have? and they're sealed, which for some reason, people use as a reason to buy phil's.

you can actually get phil bearings that fit in the formulas for a little performance/durability boost.

^right. that's whats so amazing to me. i definitely understand someone paying a little extra for something that looks nice, but dropping 450 bucks on white phil's that have no advantage whatsoever over repacked formulas is crazy. in fact, they're considerably heavier, and to relieve the flanges, it's even more $$.

Surly hubs are a toss up. I've had some that have stayed smooth, and others that have become rough very quickly.

I think that it is worth it to buy a set of nice hubs that do not have cartridge bearings, that way you can just keep them well lubed yourself (I like to see what is happening in there) and overhaul the bearings when you need to. If you live in a relatively dry climate, the cartridge bearings, I think, are not the best choice. So, in short,

Best: non cartridge bearing hubs (more expensive, generally), smoother ride, are more speed-efficient
Downside: more maintenance

Second best: cartridge bearing hubs (your cheaper Surlys, Formulas, etc.), less maintenance
Downside: less speed efficient

If you don't care about these nitpicky things, then it is probably best for you just to get the cheaper cartridge bearing hubs. Get some Formulas. Stay away from the Surlys.

Thanks for your help guys, so basically, for my rear wheel, i want a white velocity deep wheel w/ black or white spokes and lets say black formula iros, how much should that be?

My local bike shop said it would cost them 220 to make it and that just seems way too much imo, what do yo uguys think and whats a good price?

$150ish for handbuilt.

$150ish for handbuilt.

You'll never ever get that price for handbuilt wheels with IRO hubs and Velocity rims. $220 is very reasonable.

You'll never ever get that price for handbuilt wheels with IRO hubs and Velocity rims. $220 is very reasonable.

I think he's talking about just the rear wheel in which case $150ish is about right.

You'll never ever get that price for handbuilt wheels with IRO hubs and Velocity rims. $220 is very reasonable.

one wheel. read closer.

formulas are just so generic and cream of the crop, they don't even have any features.

yeah I should probably edit that, I was pretty tired. I still stand that they are boring old hubs. The IROs seem more nicely machined and have better bearings. That is my point.

hollow axle dimension hubs.
light and cheap and OK.

8)

one wheel. read closer.

Yeah, for one wheel, $220 is way too high.

Damn, i went to another lbs and they said that they could do 170ish for just a rear wheel. 50 for the hub (i think it was a dimension or something), wheel itself was 80, charge 40 for labor -_-, and 12 for the spokes...

I hate the fact that they sell wheel sets for 260 when i only want 1 wheel, but for 1 wheel, they're going to charge 170, damn.

Do you kno where i can purchase just 1 deep v rear white wheel with white spokes / black hubs for a good price?

let mek now, thanks again!

Damn, i went to another lbs and they said that they could do 170ish for just a rear wheel. 50 for the hub (i think it was a dimension or something), wheel itself was 80, charge 40 for labor -_-, and 12 for the spokes...

I hate the fact that they sell wheel sets for 260 when i only want 1 wheel, but for 1 wheel, they're going to charge 170, damn.

Do you kno where i can purchase just 1 deep v rear white wheel with white spokes / black hubs for a good price?

let mek now, thanks again!

Call Steve Bell at Bell's Bikes in Philly (google for number). He is one of the largest stockers and builders of Deep Vs in particular in the country. If he doesn't already have a wheel built like you want it, he will build it fast and not rip you off for labor. This dude has like 100 sets of white Deep Vs built already, literally.... :D

^^ alright thanks, i'll call tomorrow if they're open. just to make sure, he ships right?

yeah I should probably edit that, I was pretty tired. I still stand that they are boring old hubs. The IROs seem more nicely machined and have better bearings. That is my point.

you have a hard time grasping the fact that IRO HUBS ARE MADE BY FORMULA

you have a hard time grasping the fact that IRO HUBS ARE MADE BY FORMULA

Doesn't matter, quality can vary among an OEM. When a buyer asks for different specs the OEM will comply. Colors, different flange style, different bearings. What's your point? Every OEM company makes its own stuff and then caters to other manufacturers. ASUS makes its own motherboards and other PC parts while also catering to the orders of big-brands (Dell, etc) in changing parts and design to fit the customer's request. Formula is doing this for IRO, IRO is selling them for not much more than Formulas. Therefore IROs are the best buy for hubs a little notch above OEM Formulas. What don't you get about this?

also, I CAN TYPE IN ALL CAPS AND LOOK IMPORTANT TOO.

nvm.

jesus christ. the posts in here by peabodypride are legendary examples of why bikers don't really need to wear helmets. i love this thread!

deep v rim msrp: 60-70
formula hub: 50-60
straight gauge spokes: 75c ea (assuming 32h. 24 bucks per wheel)
double butted spokes: 1.25 ea (assuming 32h. 40 per wheel)
labor: 40 (at least thats what I charge for my builds)

so. if single butted, 170 + tax sounds reasonable. if double butted 225 after tax sounds reasonable... id go for double butted, it will help make the wheel both stronger and lighter.

The real thing thats being missed out of this wonderful thread is the deep v hate. they are *heavy* as hell. I'd take an open pro, with its double walled, double eyeleted construction over a deep v anyday. If you *really* need white, look at the velocity aeroheads.

just get formula hubs and phil wood bearings.

^^^ If one goes this route, what phil wood bearing cartride would one use?

that sounds close to what i ended up paying. my buddy made the wheels for me. i went with surly hubs though. i got a fixed/fixed and looking back i almost wish i had gone fixed free. however i didn't run a brake so i guess in the long run this is best. i'll post a picture of mine soon.