tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post4819374512300266971..comments2024-03-16T04:26:25.260-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: Hi-Lo HubsBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-80884131085550328812016-11-29T16:03:22.692-05:002016-11-29T16:03:22.692-05:00That's the one I was trying to remember - as I...That's the one I was trying to remember - as I mentioned, there was one company making Hi-Lo hubs with the large flange on the left instead of the right. I couldn't remember who. Thanks!Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-31969325836659190952016-11-29T15:01:36.975-05:002016-11-29T15:01:36.975-05:00What about the Rolf Prima hubs, which put the high...What about the Rolf Prima hubs, which put the high flange on the left side? The explanation from their website: "When you stand on the pedals, the chain pulls on the cogs of the rear wheel. This puts a torque into the rear hub. That torque gets transmitted through the spokes to the rim - that's what makes it turn. Our patented Differential Flange Diameter™ on the rear hub helps spread that torque to the non-drive spokes so it is not absorbed by only the drive side spokes. The larger flange provides a lever arm to provide that mechanical advantage."Andrew Bushnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15223038811140687088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-43156985023540705722016-11-23T08:50:41.376-05:002016-11-23T08:50:41.376-05:00I saw that FB hub on eBay too. Not sure what to ma...I saw that FB hub on eBay too. Not sure what to make of it. There isn't a lot of info on the listing. It does make a person wonder.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-41828597183400709412016-11-23T08:35:10.562-05:002016-11-23T08:35:10.562-05:00I am a huge Rickert fan (I own multiple road, mult...I am a huge Rickert fan (I own multiple road, multiple track and a CX frame he built), and had him make me a made to measure frame that is by far the best riding bike I've ever owned. <br /><br />But I might have to partially debunk the myth that HiLo was purely his idea. Yes, according to Ted Ernst, Hugo got Campy to make them (and had to order a minimum quantity for them to do so).<br /><br />But it appears that FB (who made 3 piece hubs for Campy) seemingly offered a HiLo hub as seen here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Vintage-FB-High-Low-flange-3-piece-rear-track-hub-Campagnolo-/121916625456?hash=item1c62cc1230:g:JysAAOxy6~BR0mx3<br /><br />This may be a unicorn, and possibly could have been remade into a HiLo after leaving the factory. Touriste-Routierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00259672669676155538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-38551429820918679182016-11-18T18:06:16.690-05:002016-11-18T18:06:16.690-05:00I'm glad you mentioned Rickert - I only know a...I'm glad you mentioned Rickert - I only know a little about him - and it sounds like he knew a thing or two about bikes (to understate it).<br /><br />Looking at the hubs, it certainly SEEMS like they should make a difference. But when looking at how tangential spoking works, it becomes clear that intuition can be misleading.<br /><br />Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-7022080047957610492016-11-18T16:37:31.045-05:002016-11-18T16:37:31.045-05:00So I guess I should have said "Racers FELT th...So I guess I should have said "Racers FELT they gained a useful advantage from them". I suspect Jobst was correct, he typically was. But Hugo was trying to find a solution to a real problem of driveside spoke breakage for top level pro's, but like so many things that seem intuitively "better" they turned out to be sort of a dead end. <br /><br />After I posted the comment above I noticed your link to the "Bikeville" article where they do mention Hugo Rickert as the source of the idea. So even though you didn't really need me to call that out I wouldn't have been able to resist an opportunity to tell everyone how awesome old Hugo was.<br /><br />Great post, thanks.<br /><br />SpindizzyUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00194920301847931547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-12953373910667687012016-11-18T15:56:43.244-05:002016-11-18T15:56:43.244-05:00I've always thought Hi-Lo hubs looked the busi...I've always thought Hi-Lo hubs looked the business as well but have never had any of my own.<br /><br />I can add a little more to the origin story of these hubs, in doing some digging about Hugo Rickert, a German framebuilder who built bikes for a crazy number of top-level Pros in the 50s-70s, I read that the Hi-Lo was his idea and that he had to badger Campagnolo pretty relentlessly to get them to make them. They required a pretty hefty initial order to make it worth their trouble but they proved effective for racers who really did stress things enough to gain a useful benefit from them.<br /><br />Hugo Rickert was a really gifted builder that only stopped in the early 2000s after a stroke made it impossible for him to continue working, even though he tried to keep going with the help of his wife who would hold the filler rod while he held the torch.<br /><br />Any bike with his name on it was built by him and his ratio of bikes built to bikes actually raced and won on has to be about as high as anyone. The Dude was the real thing. I have one of his best quality race-bikes from about 1963 and while it's a little scruffy and has worked hard for a living it's whole life, it's still a fantastic machine. I ought to find a Hi-Lo hub for it to see if it makes the magic stronger...<br /><br />SpindizzyUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00194920301847931547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-90000341349880131872016-11-17T17:39:39.351-05:002016-11-17T17:39:39.351-05:00I have to admit, the Campagnolo hi-lo looks really...I have to admit, the Campagnolo hi-lo looks really cool. The others, not so much. As you and Jobst Brandt say, though, they're all about equally practical.Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-54222640758427877252016-11-17T17:29:09.816-05:002016-11-17T17:29:09.816-05:00Ha! No need to explain. We like old, steel, bikes,...Ha! No need to explain. We like old, steel, bikes, and wool stuff. <br /><br />We're weird enough already....<br /><br />Much like the airless tires you posted about today, there's forever someone, walking in, who has discovered some iteration of this snake oil, I explain, realize I'm wasting breath trying to educate, and I just hold my nose and build what they're asking for....MendonCycleSmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213406716238931069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-25353228139533476812016-11-16T18:58:17.380-05:002016-11-16T18:58:17.380-05:00As I mentioned - I'm a little embarrassed to a...As I mentioned - I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I'm really a fan of these things, even knowing that they are just a cool gimmick. There was never any point in arguing with Jobst Brandt! But dang they are cool-looking! They look their best when used with a "corn-cob" straight block freewheel, though there's no way I can use one of those anymore.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-92214312794914198382016-11-16T18:54:04.264-05:002016-11-16T18:54:04.264-05:00Used? or NOS? I've always had reservations abo...Used? or NOS? I've always had reservations about building on used rims. Anyhow - I have a NOS 36 hole Mavic Monthlery Legere rim -- I've always had really good experiences with Mavic rims. I'm trying to find a matching 32 hole rim for the front wheel, as I have a beautiful, perfect 32 hole front hub to go with that 36 hole HiLo hub. 36 rear/32 front is my idea of "perfect" wheels. If I still weighed what I did in college (125 lbs!) and wanted a high-performance set of wheels, I might go with 32/28!Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-87472695039496932252016-11-16T13:02:30.733-05:002016-11-16T13:02:30.733-05:00I love stuff like this. Because it's old, and ...I love stuff like this. Because it's old, and cool looking. <br /><br />I detest it because it's one in a series of products and ideas, that fall into the category, of, "it makes sense on paper, so it must be true". <br /><br />Hilo, offset spoke bed, asymmetrical builds, paired spoking, all trying to fix a problem that patently doesn't exist. <br /><br />Show me where tens of thousands of wheels are failing due to this serious enginerd issue.<br /><br />I thought so.....<br /><br />It seems like the recumbent crowd would be the most rabid fans of this, alas, upright folks are prone to marketeering as well!MendonCycleSmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213406716238931069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-522540304857160982016-11-16T10:50:10.397-05:002016-11-16T10:50:10.397-05:00Vintage rims.
I have some Fiamme Red and Gold labe...Vintage rims.<br />I have some Fiamme Red and Gold label tubulars that you can have for $zero.Dave Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07355264650239868491noreply@blogger.com