> Subject: RE: [CR]Campagnolo HiLo hub for sale
> From: "Rich Rose" <rrose@normandassociates.com>
>
> What was the idea / purpose behind this hub design?
> Thanks,
> Richard Rose (Toledo, Ohio)
>
> From: Richard M Sachs <richardsachs@juno.com>
>
> it's for people who can't make a decision.
> e-RICHIE
> chester, ct
>
The following is based on my experience building wheels since the 70's. I cannot reference any printed material from Campy or any other source to support my views expressed here. Having said that, please take the following with a "grain of salt".
In an attempt to make the rear wheel stronger, the HiLo hub was trying to get the angle of the spokes on both sides of the hub to enter the rim at more equal angles. This is accomplished today by using spoke holes in the rim that are off center. Shimano (there, I said the "S" word) turns the spoke upside down and runs it from one side of the rim over to the opposite flange. That is why they can run the flanges closer together. (Does that mean that the Shimano radial spoked front wheel is actually a 1 cross?)
I love using a HiLo hub. I run it today on a few of my many bikes.
So, why do you see hubs with the larger flange opposite the cassette? Maybe to create more tension on the non drive side and thus evening out the tension. It is easier to get higher tension on a hi flange hub when compared to a low flange hub. Unfortunately this solution does not address the angle the spoke enters the rim.
In the modern 8/9/10 speed wheels I build today, I run a 4x pattern on the drive side (using straight guage spokes) and a 2x opposite (using double butted). That also helps even out spoke tension. Remember, I weigh 240 lbs. I have to do this in order to build wheels that last.
Or, as Mr. Sachs so aptly stated, maybe the bike industry cannot make up it's mind on flange size.
Dennis Stover
Arleta, CA