I'll chime in as an "expert" here having built somewhere around 10,000 wheels and still building at least 4-5 a week at work. Of course I wasn't building wheels Back In The Day but have talked to many that did. Basically the two points you you state are the two most important. I've also heard that guys found the low-flange hubs to have stronger flanges. I can understand this since most of the broken flange hubs I've ever seen were high-flange. As I understand it by the mid-70s you chose high-flange hubs for one of 3 reasons. 1. You were riding the track and wanted a stiffer wheel. 2. You were touring and wanted a better triangulation and dish of the spokes. 3. You liked the looks. The third you can't argue since it's a personal preference issue, but the first two reasons I think are kinda bunk. I have not yet seen any actual researched and proven evidence for high-flange hubs making a stronger or stiffer wheel. I've heard lots of opinions and talk but no actual evidence. Personally I've built and ridden bunches of both flange sizes and find the differences non-existent. For me it comes down to the right look and what In have around. I also should say that I think the lighter weight and better comfort issues with low-flange are as bunk in the real world as the advantages of high- flange. I think it comes down to the same mystical mumbo-jumbo that has surrounded wheelbuilding for ever. best, Brandon"monkeyman"Ives off to work and wheels to build before next I sleep in Vancouver, B.C.
On Dec 3, 2006, at 9:25 AM, David G. White wrote:
> I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that low flange hubs
> have two advantages: 1) lighter weight and 2) greater riding
> comfort due to the longer spokes providing greater flex thus
> absorbing rough road impacts better. Let the real experts chime in!
>
> David
>
> David G. White
> your neighbor in
> Burlington, VT
>
>
> Emanuel Lowi wrote:
>
>> What was the rational behind switching from HF to LF hubs
>> in the late 70s - early 80s? Weight?
>>
>> I've always understood that HF hubs make for stronger
>> wheels due to the shorter spokes.
>>
>> Emanuel Lowi
>> Montreal, Quebec
>>
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