Hello there. I'm new here, I usually hang out in the Fixed Gear forum. Been riding track bikes for a while now but am completely new to road bikes (read: never been on anything with gears). Recently I've gotten interested in these geared things and bought myself an old bike.

Got a few questions about some parts on my bike.

#1 The rear wheel has a Hi-Lo Record hub. I've been trying to find more info on it but it's been scarce. I read somewhere that they made weak wheels. Is this true? Is it still ridable?

#2 The bottom bracket axle and the pedal spindles are titanium. I've read that they're prone to failure. HOW prone? Can I still ride them? (If weight matters... I'm LIGHT... 110lbs.)

Any insight/advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

Au contraire. Hi-lo makes a stronger wheel, allowing for dish - you don't need as much dish without a mess of gears on one side. The bottom bracket axle and pedal spindles are fragile. You can ride'em, but be prepared to have a failure. A better idea is to sell those suckas on eBay, make a whole basket full of money, and put some nice steel replacements in their place. You could do the same with the hi-lo hub if it is campy...they're worth a small fortune as well.

+1

Wow. Thanks for the quick reply guys.

Back to ebay to look for steel parts. Would you happen to know if a '82 Masi Prestige's bb is English or Italian threaded? (Sorry if the answer is very obvious).

Thank you!

Italian.
Just to stir up a little hornet's nest of controversy: according to Jobst Brandt (who wrote the book on wheel building) the HI-LOW style of rear hub does not afford any significant strength advantage over an "even flanged" design. You may disagree with him (people do) but he backs his statement up with calculations that boggle MY mind. In any case, it's not any WEAKER a wheel and does allow for easier spoke replacement on the drive side than a small-flange hub. I agree with Luker: sell the Ti stuff to a collecter, buy some steel replacements and pocket the difference, you'll be money ahead.

titanium pedals spindlez are prob. OK
smoothness in technique probably helps
no MASHing !
but you ARE light !

first generation super record ti bb spindles were prone to breakage
(you didn't say but I assume you're talking about campy stuff)
second generation was redesigned to improve strength

1st version spindles use crank bolts for fastening, as traditionally
2nd version use nuts instead

I'll play devils advocate...

Switch out steel parts if you want (I don't think you need to) but hold on to the parts that came with your bike. An 82 Masi with choice parts like yours should stay together.

Have fun.

I've seen 'em both break. I don't have a big database though...those parts are pretty uncommon. I think I have seen many more campy strada cranks break than titanium spindles...

And Hi-Lo flange hubs? I'm admitting that I just know the story, I don't have any actual data to back up the story. Conventional wheels are plenty strong. I have Rolf wheels that resurrect the hi-lo concept, though. And the Bontragers on my wife's bike also have hi-lo hubs (I think that these are rebranded Rolf's, though. Right?)

I just noticed that this sounds like I have two Hi-Lo hubs on my bike...not true. Just the rear hub...

+1 on keeping the parts.

Cool thanks!

Yes, the bb and pedals are campy too. I think I'll get steel things to replace the ti stuff. Don't want to break them or myself, but I probably won't sell them, I can never have enough things to twirl around or play with when my files are saving.

As for the hubs, low, high, lopsided, as long as I can ride them I'm happy!

One more question (unless your answers lead to more questions...) I have double ring campy record cranks. Is a 70-SS, Italian, 115.5 mm axle bb the right one to get? Would it be okay to get something shorter?

Lots to learn. Thanks guys for your patience. You're a lot nicer/more helpful than the fixed gear fellas.

I've been riding with a pair of SR Ti pedals on my primary bike for nearly 30 years without any issues at all.

I've owned 2 other bikes using the SR Ti spindle (1st gen,btw) for regular hard daily use and again no problems during the time I had them.

The Ti pieces do require more careful bearing adjustment and more frequent cleaning & grease replacement however. Since Ti is softer, the bearing surfaces are more easily damaged or scored if they get dirty or adjusted overly tight.

At your flyweight 110 lbs, you should be able to use them without any worries provided that you're using them with cycling shoes (not street footwear) and give them regular maintainence.

I'm curious just how many miles the other responders have put on their own SR Ti pedals and btm bkts?

My Oldnago has the Ti pedals and I've been riding then since new in '84. No problems.
The Ti spindle (nutted) on the other hand,... has been a paperweight since '89!
But it does that flawlessly.

If you are talking about a Nuovo Record/Super Record double crankset, the general-issue length is 113mm for an Italian BB, 112mm for a BSC. But YRMV, especially if the rear triangle has been spread (you don't mention if yours has been). Sounds like a thoroughbred bike, enjoy it!

btw, just for fun,
check the axles in your hubs

rumour has it some came with Ti here as well, though i've never seen em

The hi/lows are somewhat rare, never gained any popularity.