Hub Selection

The hub is the central point of the wheel structure where all dynamic loads transfer from the tire-
wheel system through the spokes into the bicycle frame. The hub handles tremendous static and
dynamic loads created by the road, the rider and the tension of the spokes. The following guidelines
aim to help you pick the best hub for your application.

Hub Weight: Of all the components on a wheel, the hub plays the smallest role on rotating inertia
because it is located as close to the center of rotation as possible. This means that the weight of the
hub is not as significant as the weight of other wheel components located further from the center of
rotation (i.e., rim, nipples, tires, or tube). On bicycles with suspension, the weight of the hub
contributes to unsprung mass -- these systems will always benefit from decreasing hub weight. On
road bicycles, decreasing hub weight often affects ride quality and steering characteristics; however,
these effects are usually small within a limited range of hub weights. Decreasing hub weight on a road
bike will make your bike lighter, which can be an important factor for racing or climbing where every
gram can help performance.

Hub Flange: The largest load on a hub is created by the tension of the spokes. Wheels that are laced
with 2-, 3- or 4-cross spoke patterns create much less stress on a hub flange than those that are
radially laced. This has to do with the extreme angle (or lack thereof) in which the spokes apply load
to the flange. Radially laced spokes patterns can contribute to flange cracking and breakage. For this
reason some hub manufacturers will not warranty hubs that have been radially laced. However,
several manufacturers produce hubs with extra thick or forged flanges with holes drilled closer to the
axle, leaving extra material to handle the additional stress of radial lacing. Other manufacturers
design their hubs to for use with straight pull spokes, which apply loads differently to the hub flange.
Examples of these hubs are seen on some Mavic and Zipp Wheels. Keep in mind that larger flange
diameters usually contribute to higher lateral and torsional wheel stiffness. For these reasons, large
flange hubs are popular with track racers. Lower flange hubs contribute to lower rotating inertia, which
we discussed in the previous paragraph.

Other Hub Considerations: Before selecting your hub, you may want to consider compatibility with
your rim. Some hubs are not available in very low or very high spoke counts. For example if you want
to use a Zipp 188 hub with your 32-hole front Mavic wheel, you will discover that no such hub exists.
Pay careful attention to the number of spokes you select on your hub and rim to make certain they
match. 

Another parameter to pay attention to is hub width. Most front hubs are 100mm wide with some
exceptions for mountain bikes. Rear hubs can vary from 120mm to 160mm, however the most
common sizes are 130mm for road and 135mm for mountain bikes. Make sure you select the hub that
applies to your application. Selecting the wrong hub can create a real challenge after the wheel is
built. 

Other issues to consider are: color preference, manufacturer preference, durability in wet weather,
ease of maintenance, availability of spare parts and (of course) cost.

Rim Selection
The rim is the backbone of the wheel structure. It connects the rider to the road through the tire,
spokes, and hub. Additionally, since the rim is a rotating body, its mass and aerodynamic properties
play a significant role in the amount of power required to keep you rolling down the road. The
following items should be considered when making your rim selection.

1. Rim Weight: Since the rim is the farthest component from the center of rotation, its mass
has the highest effect on inertia. Without getting into mathematical equations, it's important
to note that heavier wheels will be harder to accelerate quickly. Some wheels provide weight
savings at the expense of strength and stiffness. Be sure to consider your strength, weight
and riding style before selecting super lightweight rims.

2. Rim Stiffness: A stiffer wheel will generally transfer power better and allow for higher spoke
tension, which significantly improves wheel durability. Stiffer wheels generally feel more
responsive and predictable on mountain roads or during criterium races. The trade-off of
stiffer wheels is a sacrifice of ride comfort.

3. Rim Aerodynamics: Aerodynamic efficiency is arguably the most important parameter of a

road wheel. Its benefits far outweigh mass considerations of a wheel. A good example of this
is the solid disc rear wheel used for time trial applications. The mass of a disc can be double
that of a spoked wheel and still be a much faster race wheel. During short power sprints
around the neighborhood, the disc wheel is often described as slow and flywheel-like; however
once the disc is in motion it can reduce aerodynamic drag by over 60%. The important thing
to keep in mind is that wheel aerodynamics improve as the rim section gets deeper. The
primary trade-off of deep section wheels is their increased sensitivity to crosswinds. 

Several manufacturers have balanced the issues of weight, stiffness, and aerodynamics
through the use of advanced composite materials. These wheels are generally lighter, stiffer,
more aerodynamic and isolate road vibration better then their aluminum counterparts. Keep in
mind that there are no "free rides" with any wheel, and in the case of carbon composite rims,
they are more expensive and more fragile than standard alloy rims. This should not be a
major issue unless you are planning to put thousands of training miles on rims designed
specifically for racing. Consider the amount of racing verses training mileage your wheels will
be subjected to before making your selection.

4. Spoke Count: Wheels with fewer spokes are generally more aerodynamic. They are also
subjected to much higher spoke stress since fewer spokes are required to carry the same
dynamic load. Generally higher spoke counts contribute to higher wheel strength and stability.
For race wheels, you may want to consider fewer spokes, however there are few benefits to
training on wheels with lower spoke counts and typically the result is broken spokes. Consider
your body weight, intended wheel purpose, and riding style before deciding on the number of
spokes. Also be sure to select rims and hubs with the same number of spoke holes.