Velo Orange hubs
02-09-16 | 02:55 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Aspiring curmudgeon
Joined: Aug 2014
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From: Saint Louis
Bikes: Guerciotti, Serotta, Gaulzetti
Velo Orange hubs
I might pull the trigger on a pair of VO fixed gear hubs for sale locally. Anyone use these and have a ride report? They sure are nice to look at.
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02-09-16 | 03:56 PM
#3
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From: The Great Pacific Northwest
I have VO Grand Cru hubs but for a freewheel. Laced to H Plus Son TB14 high polish and they look great and ride well. Not sure how many miles I have on them, as I rotate between my "keeper" bikes, but so far they are fine.
02-09-16 | 05:25 PM
#4
Bike Butcher of Portland
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Portland, OR
Bikes: It's complicated.
My commuter/gravel grinder has a set, freewheel style also (big sale recently). The freehub version is "field servicable" so you can remove the freehub with no tools, making spoke replacement on the road easy.
The only thing you can compare hubs with, outside of looks, is how easily they build, and lifetime. Hubs are kinda odd in that once you build them up, you pretty much forget about them unless they break.
The only thing you can compare hubs with, outside of looks, is how easily they build, and lifetime. Hubs are kinda odd in that once you build them up, you pretty much forget about them unless they break.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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02-09-16 | 06:10 PM
#5
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From: Newbury Park, CA
Not the fg/ss but I also have one set of wheels built with the freewheel version. Like Gugie says it's hard to say much about hubs unless they have a special freehub design or some kind of unique spokes, but at least I can add one data point: The VO hubs I have work as intended and look good doing it. I don't know of any reason not to recommend them.
02-09-16 | 06:44 PM
#6
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From: Los Angeles
Bikes: 78 Masi Criterium, 68 PX10, 2016 Mercian King of Mercia, Rivendell Clem Smith Jr
Not the fg/ss but I also have one set of wheels built with the freewheel version. Like Gugie says it's hard to say much about hubs unless they have a special freehub design or some kind of unique spokes, but at least I can add one data point: The VO hubs I have work as intended and look good doing it. I don't know of any reason not to recommend them.
In the good old days it was a bit different. The first time I held up some wheels with Campagnolo Record Hubs, it was quite striking. The bearings were as smooth as glass. You could barely feel them turn when spun. It was like magic.
Cheaper hubs simply were not that smooth. Only Phil hubs could match them. Of course nowadays even cheap hubs have glass smooth sealed cartridge bearings.
BTW I have some VO hubs but they're not built up yet, so nothing to report except they are pretty. The break apart without tools feature is a good one for a touring bike.
02-09-16 | 08:38 PM
#7
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From: Hurricane Alley , Florida
Bikes: Treks (USA), Schwinn Paramount, Schwinn letour,Raleigh Team Professional, Gazelle GoldLine Racing, 2 Super Mondias, Carlton Professional.
I built These for a Recent Schwinn Rebuild. They ride really well, spin super smooth. They are supposed to be easy to service too.
02-09-16 | 08:52 PM
#8
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From: Berkeley, CA
Bikes: 72 Cilo Pacer, 72 Gitane GT, 72 Peugeot PX10, 73 Speedwell Ti,l, 75 Peugeot PR-10L, 80 Colnago Super, 81 Zinn, 85 ALAN Cross, 85 De Rosa Pro, 86 Look 753, 86 Look KG86, 89 Parkpre Team, 90 Parkpre Team MTB, 90 Merlin
Never used or handled them, so I have nothing to add in terms of use, but I agree they are easy on the eyes.
02-09-16 | 09:02 PM
#10
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From: Berwyn PA
Bikes: I hate bikes!
02-10-16 | 12:54 AM
#12
Bike Butcher of Portland
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Portland, OR
Bikes: It's complicated.
Generally I agree with you guys. All a hub has to do is spin and not break.
In the good old days it was a bit different. The first time I held up some wheels with Campagnolo Record Hubs, it was quite striking. The bearings were as smooth as glass. You could barely feel them turn when spun. It was like magic.
In the good old days it was a bit different. The first time I held up some wheels with Campagnolo Record Hubs, it was quite striking. The bearings were as smooth as glass. You could barely feel them turn when spun. It was like magic.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
02-10-16 | 09:41 AM
#14
Banned.
Joined: May 2011
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From: on the beach
Bikes: '73 falcon sr, '76 grand record, '84 davidson
still, i'd rather my hubs read "campagnolo" (and be even more affordable) than "gran cru."
the last two campy hubsets i purchased cost under $100 total. ($25 per hub with skewers.) and they were perfect.
i bought a campy gs rear hub with skewer this week for about $15.
and if you look, you can find great hubs on wrecked or rusty bikes.
if you like high-flange ones, suzues are especially nice and available on inexpensive japanese bikes.
