Suggestions for best-value 120 mm, 32-hole, silver, sealed-bearing fixed hub?

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Patrick Moore

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Jun 10, 2020, 9:48:46 AM6/10/20
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I have to buy a new fixed road hub since the Surly I've been using apparently can't  be respaced to the required 120 mm. 

I've not bought a fixed hub since 2006 or so, tho' I did upgrade my Surly axle and bearings about 2010, so I'm interested in suggestions.

I'd like:

Adequate sealing against dust and occasional rain;
Hollow axle for QR or allen bolts;
Decent bearings.

I know and own Phil, but I am trying in this case to buy on merit or value and not on status. If Phil or Paul don't add 50% or 100% more value (metaphor) then I'd rather not pay half or all again as much as necessary.

I see that Surly still makes a 120 OL silver 32 hole hub and that you can buy a hollow, threaded axle for it.

Miche, Velo Orange, DT, Formula: I've looked at all of these, but not all take QR skewers.

Your (singular and plural) recommendations?

Thanks.

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Patrick Moore
Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

Patrick Moore

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Jun 10, 2020, 10:11:57 AM6/10/20
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I should add that the default is the Surly, if currently available; it has been perfectly trouble free for thousands of miles and looks good. A fixed/fixed would be nice, though. And I'd like opinions on others.

Jeffrey Arita

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Jun 10, 2020, 12:18:24 PM6/10/20
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Hi Patrick,

I will offer up my 2 cents: I own a Surly Cross-Check (132.5mm rear dropout spacing) and I converted it to SS/fixed gear about 18 months ago.  Never having such a drivetrain, I researched rear hubs.  I settled on the VO fixed/freewheel hub (32 hole drilling only).  I installed a Shimano freewheel cog on one side and a Surly fixed cog on the other.  The VO hub came with various spacers so the hub will fit 126, 130 or 135 dropouts.  It does have a hollow axle but I've only used the bolts to secure it to the horizontal dropouts on the CC.  One could use a QR if desired.  FWIW: Mike Varley (BMC) recommends use of Shimano only QRs for the rear.  He states they clamp very well vs. other QRs on the market.

BTW: I recently purchased a Fuji Team road bike frame & fork.  The mid-80's frame had 126 spacing.  Wanting to put it together quickly to see how it rode I put the VO hub with the 126 spacers on it.  

Good luck!

Jeff

S

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Jun 10, 2020, 1:21:34 PM6/10/20
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These don't take a QR skewer, but I have used them on my last two builds and I like them a lot:


Around $50-65 for the rear, depending on where you buy them.

Patrick Moore

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Jun 10, 2020, 2:08:03 PM6/10/20
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Thank you, Jeff; this is exactly the kind information I was hoping for. I just looked again at the VO hub and it does indeed have hollow axles; missed that before. It is now #1 tied with Surly.

Noted about Shimano QRs; that's what I've been using myself; agree they work better than many others.

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Patrick Moore

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Jun 10, 2020, 2:09:11 PM6/10/20
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Just realized: One would have to trim the axles to fit a 120 MM hub with QR skewer, right? Not a huge obstacle, but something to include in the pro/con mix.

Thanks again.

Patrick Moore

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Jun 10, 2020, 2:09:49 PM6/10/20
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Thanks, Steve. Do you know if these are made by Formula?

At any rate, they're nice, but I would prefer a QR-compatible axle.

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Jeffrey Arita

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Jun 10, 2020, 3:11:52 PM6/10/20
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Yes, true.  I think that is why the use of the nuts make the VO flexible for various dropout widths.

VO really did their homework on this hub, IMHO.  Both sides of the hub are the exact same, so running two different freewheels with lockrings is possible.  Or, obviously two fixed gears.

Good luck,

Jeff
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Patrick Moore
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S

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Jun 10, 2020, 4:27:01 PM6/10/20
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My name isn't Steve, but no worries.

I don't know who makes the Dia Compe hubs, but I also have some Formula hubs and the Dia Compes are noticeably nicer.

I suggested these because I wasn't sure if QR compatibility was an absolute requirement or not. They have two out of three -- sealed and good bearings.
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Patrick Moore

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Jun 10, 2020, 5:41:08 PM6/10/20
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Thanks. I have offers or sources for hollow axle models.

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