Level Hubs on the track?
 

I will be building a bike for track use, but it will also end up getting ridden on the street. The Level hubs seem ideal because their design facilitates cog changes, something I will probably be doing frequently. Anybody see any problems using these hubs on the track?

nope - should be good to go. If they can survive on the street, the track won't be a problem

the only thing that might concern you on the track is their weight. frankly, i don't think it's enough to matter, but levels are ****ing tanks.. they are durable as **** tanks, but tanks no less. i would go for them.

Yeah thats what I thought. I can't decide if I should build some nice clincher rims with Level hubs and ride them everywhere or get two wheel sets. A IRO wheelset for the street and some tubulars for the track.

I'm wondering when LeVeL components will make a leaner version of their hub. Anybody know if it's in the works?

45mm chainline

/just sayin'

For durable as tanks, there sure do seem to be some axles breaking around here.

Just sayin'.

-brad

i do recall reading something about the axle issue -- didn't they address that by going with different axles now?

If I were racing on the track, I'd go with something lighter, and probably loose ball.

Then again, I don't race on the track.

EDIT: I wouldn't necessarily ride the above on the street.

Why loose ball?

drag. less of it.

= faster.

How about the Miche splined cog system? Anybody have any experience running that on a quality track hub? Do any other manufacturers have such a system? I am really into the idea of quickly changing cogs with minimal tools.

i mean, shimano makes a chainwhip/hookspanner combo tool that is 35$. that and a fixed/fixed hub and you're golden. if you are intelligent about things, you should never have a problem with stripping threads.

Hub weight isn't really a big deal on flat terrain (read: the track). Rotational matters (rims/tires), as does drag.

That being said, you probably don't want/need level hubs on the track. What happens if you need a cog at a race? Are you going to carry doubles of each cog?

If you want lots of gearing options, just get a fixed/fixed, 14+15 tooth cogs, plus a bunch of chainrings (48, 50, 52) and you'll have a very wide gear range. Plus, chainrings come off and go on with less work than cogs, imho.

The weight of a hub is the last thing to be worried about on the track. . .or many other places. Once you get towards the rim and tire, then you need to do some wise choices.

not to be mr practical or anything, but most trackies i know who don't race pursuit finals (most)- don't use a lockring at all.

they might as well be running a converted 80's road hub for all that matters.

because you're changing cogs a fair bit for different events, you just chainwhip one off, and spin the next one on. dealing with a bunch of allen bolts seems like a bit of a pain.

not to diss on level. i think they make a great product and hella support the messer scene.

however if you're planning to race a bit of track, the availability of cog sizes might play in, unless you've got deep pockets.

my 50 cents

Why would pursuit finalists be more inclined to use a lockring?
Just wondering...
I thought the match sprinters who change speed(all the way down to a trackstand) in the middle of the event would have the most need for a lockring.

yeah a lot don't use lockrings, they use the rotafixa method

whoops you're right match, not pursuit.