An interesting debate, but as we all know it just boils down to the different linguistic usage and terms on the different sides of the Atlantic...like the debate we had a couple of years ago about fillet brazing versus bronze-welding..although there are definitely technical arguments against the first terminology
I think that English terms for bike parts are often derived from a translation of the French descriptions, with the French language being very specific in its use of words such as adjectives, adverbs and pronouns.The French would not use the adjective *HIGH *in respect of hub flange because it would indicate a sense of space rather than diameter. *LOW *is again a spatial concept. Large and small give a better definition of measurement
However I had better not labour this concept of French linguistic precision too far because the literal translation of *flasque *-the noun used for flange - is in fact *flask*, whereas the correct French noun for a flange of a wheel in auto and mechanical engineering is a *boudin*
*However...* the word *boudin *is a noun in every -day common parlance to denote a type of speciality regional sausage known in England as *black pudding *because it is made essentially from animal blood.* BOUDIN *competitions and even *Concours* are incredibly popular In France...so much so that my local butcher from here in Settle in the north of England actually travels some 1000 miles to take part and enter his prize-winning black pudding sausage.
All of which leads me on to just add that the French also have another term for large/high flange bicycle hubs that is - *grandes joues..*which lterally means *large cheeks *but I guess its better not to go down that road....
Turning to the advantages of the high/low large/mall flange hubs...which we have laboured to define, although I am definitely on the side of the extra advantages offered by the high/large flange ones - far more polyvalent and adaptable, I Note that Daniel Rebour, the French writer and illustrator of all things cycling in France, actually comes down very heavily on the use of *4X spoking,* especially as this type of lacing of a wheel allows the spokes to be laced fully tangentially to the hub flange. He argues the case that wheels, particularly and most importantly rear ones only work when the wheel is in traction ie the spokes that face backwards in the wheel are pulling the wheel forwards..the rest being in compression. Traction spokes are most efficient when placed fully tangentially to the hub flange. He illustrates his argment with drawings of high/large flange hubs spoked 4X.
He also points out that many pro riders in the early 60s were experiencing a considerable amount of spoke breakages in their 36hole x 3X laced wheels due largly to the fact that the spokes were not fully tangential to the hub flanges, but cranked at a slight angle, a factor that tended to put unnecessary stress on the spokes when in traction. Once the Pros adopted the *4X* spoke pattern the number of spoke breakages decreased noticeably.
*4X* spoked wheels are also more compliant on rougher road surfaces..and the French are very keen on most aspects of compliance. So it is not very surprising that *4X-spoked* wheels were very popular, almost the natural choice for riders contesting such races as the Paris - Roubaix ,the Tour of Flandres, the Liege - Bastogne- Liege and other races using cobbled and similar rough-surfaced road..that was, of course, until the major wheel manufacturers started making the riders use the latest concept wheels !
There is another and separate aspect of spoke lacing a wheel and that concerns the side of the flange from which the spoke enters the wheel ie on which side of the flange should the spoke's head reside - externally or internally..in order to obtain the optimum traction...and..do wheels perform best when built in the symetrical or non-symetrical ie mirror/non-mirror pattern of spoke-lacing? I have my own views but would welcome those of other CR Listers, particularly as it appears that there are quite lot of wheelbuilders on the List
Norris Lockley...Never too old to have my opinions changed
Settle UK