Bicycle Mechanics - Hub choice for mismatched riding wheel set?

Gentlemen,

I hope I might again test your patience with one of these user level questions:

I am building up a new set of riding wheels. I am not too worried about matching front and rear hubs, but will build to matching rims. The rear will be a current version Phil Wood, 126m in 36h, chosen for the strength of axle and because I’m a life long Phil fan. Old C&V frame, friction, etc.

The front hub, however, should come from one of the multiple orphan front hubs in my collections box. The only Phil front I have is 28h, and I don’t think my overweight (aka fat-ass) body should go down to a 28h hub. Plus, it's really really hard to match any C&V-appropriate 36h rear rim to a 28h front rim of the same type. (Open to be educated there, but I still worry about 28h for my fat class.)

SO, the question is to ask help in choosing which orphan front hub is best of what I have - or if there is enough difference to matter among them. Given the following odd-man-out front hubs, what would you suggest I choose? Thanks.

1) a NOS Suntour XC Pro in 32h. This is a cartridge bearing unit.

2) a NOS Mavic 601 in 36h. This is a cartridge bearing unit.

3) a NOS Zeus New Racer in 36h. Classic loose bearing hub.

4) a NOS Campagnolo Croce D’Aune in 36h. Classic loose bearing hub.

5) a NOS Phil Wood in 28h. As noted above.

6) or: Sell the 28h and buy a 36h Phil to match.

I appreciate comments and suggestions.

Cheers!

Front wheels see a lot less loading than rear wheels, so if you're building the rear with 36 I wouldn't worry about 28 on the front. Actually, if you build both wheels with the same # of spokes (and gauge) and same rims, either the front is overbuilt or the rear is underbuilt.

Finding matching rims with different hole counts can be difficult though. And personally I like my wheels to match if I am going through the trouble of building them up by hand. See what you can find for rims, otherwise I'd suggest selling the 28h hub and getting a 32 or 36h if your rim choices are that limited.

I'd take that 28h Phil hub off your hands if you really don't want it :P

Of the possibilities you mention, I think the Campy C d'A is the best quality for a matching spoke count and the Sun Tour XC Pro would be my choice if the 32H isn't a problem. There are numerous rims available in both 36 and 33H forms but not many in both 36 and 28H.

I too wouldn't worry about 32° vs. 28°... some front suspended mountain bikes were OEM spec'd with 28° radial laced front wheels!

As for the hub? If you want to match the 36° pattern of the Rear I'd go with the 601. 32° then the XC Pro.

The bike would look pretty cool with the Phil hubs, though... :p

Go with the Phil 28h...

=8-)

http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?id=105472

rims that will look ok on an older road bike and available in 28 and 36 hole. I am sure there are others

Gentlemen,

As always, interesting and thoughtful comments which leave me still scratching my head.

I'll cop to being a slow learner.

I really wonder about using that 28h for myself. I'm certainly going to do a bit of looking for a set of rims (thanks for the first link above).

The 32h is certainly an option. I don't fear that on the front. And it's an interesting comment about how matching sets are either overbuilt for front or underbuilt for rear. That makes sense, but I'd never considered it before.

I think the Mavic is the sexiest looking of the hubs. They didn't make a match to that one for 126 rear ends. I won't be spreading my frames, as my 126m bikes have already been spread from 120 or even smaller (the 1959 Hilton Wrigley was 118, at most).

So, the hunt for rims probably will give me time to keep thinking. I don't run tires much smaller than 28mm anymore, so that also means rims a bit chubbier than the usual road fare.

All in all, my thanks for the solid food for thought.

Cheers!