Syntace hubs

Syntace hubs are the end product of solid German engineering. Right off the bat I should mention that Syntace believes enough in their products that they are backed by a 10 year warranty to repair or replace at their discretion. How many other manufacturers are offering such a warranty? Not too many! So, what makes them so confident in their work? Lets take a look at the insides of a Synatce HiTorque MX rear hub to see how they are unique. First off, the hub shell is made from aeronautic certified high strength 7075 aluminium. The freehub transfers energy via a spur gear design which allows all the teeth to be engaged at the same time. This method means that no individual teeth are ever overloaded. The simultaneous engagement of their high strength tool steel makes for a bomb proof set up. Since 2011 their team riders have not experienced a single failure! Not bad!

Syntace works from their own mantra of "Strong, Light, Smart" and it certainly appears that these ideals have been realised in their hub designs. The HiTorque MX hub weighs 245 grams with a 32 hole spoke count and a 6 bolt disc brake interface. Its current heavily tested track record bears this out. I hope you are in love with the colour black because at this time it's your only choice. 

Their sealed bearings incorporate double seals for protection from the elements and also have some degree of micro adjustability of the lateral bearing play via the end caps ensuring greater longevity of the bearings. The freehub is both Shimano and SRAM 11 speed compatible. 

The Syntace HiTorque MX rear hub, also available in 148 x 12 boost model.

         The HiTorque front hub topping the scales at 175 grams.         Available in 15 x 100 mm or 20 X 100 mm axles.

Syntace has a solution if you desire a quieter hub out on the trails. They supply a "silencer kit". This drops the volume by about 6 db and acts as a lubricant as well. An ideal solution if you would rather listen to mother nature than your rear hub!

                                             In just a few minutes you can instil the silencer kit to tame the sound of your rear hub.  

For the roadies out there Syntace has the Hitorque Road hub that sports 24 holes and weighs in at just 191 grams. It's also made from 7075 aluminium. A light weight hub that would be ideal for a nice set of training or road racing wheels. 

The Hitorque road hub in basic black.  24 hole count only. 7075 alloy hub shell with their micro adjust bearing set up. 

Syntace has gone all out to give us hubs that will go the distance. Any company that freely hands out a 10 year warranty knows they have a fairly indestructible product. 

Cognoscenti Cycles is now carrying this bomb proof hub and I'd like to see more of these on the roads and trails here in Ontario. If you need more information don't hesitate to contact me!

Kappius Components has focused on total engagement. 240 points of engagement to be exact, with 8 pawls working overtime in their cassette. All those points of engagement add up to a very unique feel and one that can't be easily duplicated with other hubs. One might describe the feel as instant engagement, a rock solid feel when you tromp down on the pedals. I imagine that when you got used to this you might find other hubs to feel a little lethargic by comparison. 

 8 magnetically sprung hefty pawls with 240 points of engagement. A freehub body from the KH-2 rear hub.  Slam those pedals and go!

Lets take a look at the Kappius KH-1.5 rear hub to see what makes it tick. It's a 28 hole hub that has 6061-T6 alloy flanges that are bonded to a carbon fibre centre. Not dissimilar to the approach taken by Royce hubs in the UK.  The KH-1.5 makes life easy with removable end caps that can be done by hand with no tools in a matter of a minute. These swappable end caps enable changing the hub from a 135mm QR to a 148mm boost thru axle in no time flat! Very handy. Both SRAM XD and Shimano 10 or 11 speed compatible. Disc brakes are taken care of with a 6 bolt standard interface. 

The Kappius KH-1.5 rear hub with a carbon centre. Easily removable end caps to change the OLD width. 

The KH-1.5 with J-bend spoke friendly flanges and a bright red freehub!          Weighing in at 305 grams. 

At $499 USD the KH-1.5 isn't cheap by any measure but if that unmistakeable feel of instant engagement is non negotiable then it's the one to buy. Kappius also has some carbon rims that would look pretty trick with this hub set. 

What about that matching front hub? A suitable mate with identical carbon centre and 6061-T6 alloy flanges and angular contact Enduro bearings complete the package. 4 different axle combos to choose from. 15mm thru axle, 12mm TA, 15mm TA with 110mm boost and quick release. 

The KH-1.5 front hub with Enduro angular contact bearings. A mere 115 grams!

Certainly any serious MTB rider would be pleased as punch to be flying down any track on a set of wheels with Kappius hubs, but I think those same wheels would be just as exciting to a cyclocross or all road rider.  So if your disc machine is in need of some instantly engaging hubs, then let Cognoscenti Cycles build you up some incredible wheels. We are now carrying the complete line up of Kappius hubs and all their other amazing components. 

Hadley Racing Products

Hadley Racing Products, producer of Hadley hubs are somewhat of an enigma to many riders. This company has eschewed the limelight by not making themselves known through social media like Facebook or even Instagram. Hadley doesn't even have a website as of yet so their reputation has by necessity been built over the years on word of mouth endorsements by its dedicated crowd of owners. Other than this peculiar aversion to standard marketing practises what can we conclude about their hubs? 

Hadley has provided the MTB world with some superb hubs that have garnered a fierce following. Their designs have enabled very straight forward and easy maintenance which is a big plus for many riders who aren't necessarily that mechanically inclined.  A handful of readily available wrenches like a 21mm and a Park SPA-2 spanner will enable you to do hub adjustments. Swapping out various axle options is also relatively easy. Hadley also has their own wrench's on offer in a deep rich anodised finish. Very cool!

What about engagement? Well, with 72 points of engagement and a 4 pawl set up, you get 5 degrees of play which is perfect for technical riders and overall pedalling efficiency. The noise of their freehub compares somewhat to that of a Chris King. A little loud and proud! If silence is golden then this may not be a marriage made in heaven. But if you want a sonic serenade on the trail then look no further. I should mention that there is an option for a titanium upgrade which in my opinion is definitely worth considering. Personally I love titanium freehubs. Only slightly heavier than alloy ones but longer lasting indeed. 

Another thing that I appreciate about Hadley hubs is the fact that they are made for traditional J-bend spokes. This enables wheel builders like myself to decide on what lacing pattern will suite a particular build and be free to use what is in our opinion the best option. I like that.

               As good as gold! A Hadley SDH 135 R10.0 rear hub. A thing of beauty!

Hadley uses the common 6 bolt interface for disc brakes. I like the fact that both flanges on the rear hub are identical in size. It's something that you certainly don't see that often these days. Many hub designers opt for differing rear flange diameters and sometimes this can result in large tension variations between the drive and non-drive side. I won't go into a lengthy technical discussion of what is going on with this design but suffice to say that Hadley's time tested approach undoubtedly has it's merits.

           More gold! The model H600100 front disc hub in 32 or 36 hole configuration. 

So what are your colour options? Hadley offers silver, black, red, blue, and gold anodised finishes. Custom colour requests are possible for an up charge. They also have quick release skewers in 6AL-4V titanium in matching colours no less! If a ceramic bearing set up is a must, they also have this as an upgrade. Japanese Ezo bearings come standard on all their hubs. I heard quite recently that Hadley is redesigning their hub shells for a new look. I'll post some photo's as soon as they are available.

Cognoscenti Cycles is very proud to now be a dealer for such a fine hub company. These gorgeous hubs would build up to a fantastic set of gravel grinder wheels or some very happening cyclocross wheels. The MTB guys have already beaten the trails with these for several years now. Call me if you see these in your crystal ball. I will make it a reality!

        A perfectly polished silver Hadley rear hub with very cool domed allan key bolts. 

Pacenti Cycle Design

Kirk Pacenti has spent the last two decades immersed in several areas of the bicycle industry. He's a keen rider and this experience informs his design work. His passion for all things cycling has caused him to focus on many diverse aspects of bicycle design. As a wheel builder I am always interested to see what trends are surfacing in the area of hub and rim design. As we know trends come and go. For instance many may have concluded that the straight pull spoke design is new, when in fact the idea was first seen over a 100 years ago! It obviously went out of vogue and has found its way back into the minds of hub designers. The same could be said for some aspects of rim design. A recent design direction is for a wider rim. The additional width enables the tire to form a different more pleasing shape with the added benefit of a smoother ride. Kirk Pacenti saw the benefits of wider rims and this has manifested itself in some of his rim models. One Pacenti rim that has been quite popular is the SL 25. This 450 gram 700c rim is made from heat treated 6061-T6 alloy. Its tubeless compatible with a welded joint and has no rider weight limit. A rim that could work well for road racers, cyclocross devotee's and off road enthusiasts. 

    The Pacenti SL25 is disc brake specific and comes in 24h, 28h and 32 hole spoke counts.    The external width is 24.5mm with a depth of 25mm and a subtle tear drop profile. 

If we look at the other rims from Pacenti the other models continue to get wider. If you have sufficient frame clearance you could opt for the widest rim at 31mm, the DL31.  A rim with a shallow depth but a width that will enable some interesting off road tire choices. The DL31 was originally designed as an Enduro rim but has proven itself in Europe with several Pro teams including Joe Connell's win at the 2013 Scottish National DH title.

The Pacenti DL31 rim. 32 holes and 582 grams with stainless steel eyelets and a welded joint. Disc only. 

A recent development in the Pacenti line is their "Forza". The Forza rear rim uses an asymmetric design that shifts the spoke holes over a few millimetres to help equalise spoke tension between the drive side and the non drive side. The diagram below helps to illustrate how this is done and how it effects the shape of the rim. A very helpful innovation that has been used by several conscientious rim manufacturers over the years. The front Forza rim has a typical symmetrical design. The Forza has also increased the thickness of the spoke bed which makes for a more robust rim. The actual width of the rim is narrower by only 0.5mm but retains the 20mm internal width. All this makes for a rim which is about 20-30 grams heavier but with a much improved design in my opinion. This rim replaces the SL23 and is a welcome addition to the line. I recently built up a pair of wheels with the Pacenti Forza's and I was very impressed with their quality. As with any rim that is designed without eyelets, I always use Sapim HM stainless steel spoke nipple washers to spread the tension load to avoid any potential cracking around the spoke hole. It works wonders. I think most road and cyclocross riders will really appreciate this new rim.

Cognoscenti Cycles is happy to be building with Pacenti rims. If wide is your thing, and getting off the pavement is your new aspiration, then maybe we could build up something to suit your new terrain!

Ax-lightness "ax 25T" carbon rim. 195 grams of pure speed!

Ax-lightness is a German company that truly specialises in designing and manufacturing in carbon fibre. Their expertise runs along several lines and they are not limited to only bicycle components, but i'd like to concentrate on one item that they make that really grabbed me as a wheel builder.  These carbon fibre specialists have given the world of cycling some pretty incredible rims. It causes the mind to enquire, just how light can we safely go with a carbon rim? I am sure that very question was on the mind of the designers at Ax-lightness. Obviously not content with the status quo and possessing a willingness to push the envelope, Ax-lightness went to work. With their ax 25T they have a carbon rim that is an unbelievable 195 grams! If you are not familiar with rim weights let me tell you that this is incredibly light! Only a very experienced wheel builder should embark upon a build with components this light. In comparing various rim weights one can put this into perspective. Because different carbon rims have different shapes, depths and profiles their weights can vary quite a bit. Deep aero rims are obviously going to weigh significantly more than very shallow rims with narrow profiles. The ax 25T is certainly lighter because it has less material being a very shallow rim, but even with those considerations its still feather weight. The specs look like this. The ax 25T is 25mm deep, hence the name, and 22mm wide. The rider weight limit is 100kg and spoke hole counts are either 20 or 24 holes and it's built for conventional rim brakes. Of course these rims would be best suited for your "race day only" wheels. The ax 25T is for tubular tires, so these rims will want to see the absolute best silk tubs that money can buy. Paired with some ultra light hubs you are talking about some of the lightest wheels currently being produced by anybody. But weight and weight alone does not make a great wheel. It has to be strong enough to do the job well and it has to be reliable enough to fill a rider with confidence in a 90 km/hr decent down an alpine pass. Well, Ax-lightness has achieved that goal. Riders have ridden these rims in the most demanding European races including the Tour de France and all went as planned. It's this type of pro level testing and input that separates the good from the great. 

All of their products are produced by hand in their state of the art facility in Bavaria.

I approached ax-lightness about being able to purchase just their rims for some special custom wheel builds. Normally they sell complete wheel sets only that are built in their factory in Germany. After convincing them of my experience as a wheel builder they graciously offered to sell me just the rims. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have access to such special carbon rims! With this opportunity my mind began to consider all the interesting combinations that I could create for some unique ultralight wheels. I'd be happy to share any of those ideas with anyone looking to have a super light pair of wheels built up with one of the lightest rims that I am aware of. 

Hopetech hubs.

For over 25 years Hope have been making top end bicycle products at their factory in Barnoldswick in the United kingdom. From day one their philosophy has been to let the quality of their products do the talking instead of exaggerated marketing claims. I think that has worked for them quite nicely. The words been out for quite some time that Hope make very desirable components!

So what makes them tick? A little history will enlighten us. Going back to the late 80's Hope Technology was busy making tools and various fixtures for aerospace companies in the UK. We all know that when a company is creating products for aerospace purposes they are comfortable working at the highest level of quality and material tolerances. That type of background sets the stage for super high quality items that will follow. What began as a little bicycle related side project eventually blossomed into a full time going concern that concentrated exclusively on bicycle components. These days Hope employs over 100 skilled people and their state of the art factory turns out top flight parts 24 hours a day to over 40 countries. How things have grown!

So what hubs do they make? Lots! Everything from well designed MTB hubs to Fatbike specific, BMX, road and trials. 

Their MTB hubs are all for standard J bend spokes which I personally prefer. The disc brake interface is standard 6 bolt. The Pro 4 Series is available in boost widths and they have chosen German made high quality sealed bearings made by INA. Available in 6 different colours. 

  The Hope Pro 4 rear MTB hub with INA German made bearings. Available in 135mm and 142mm. Machined from forged 2014 T6 aluminium billet. It has a 4 pawl ratchet with 44 teeth of engagement. An approximate weight of 300 grams. Built with a standard 6 bolt disc interface. 

Of course there are options for various different axle configurations. Below is a 110mm front boost hub for thru axle. 

                                 A boost width Pro4 front hub for thru axle. Beautiful in black!

For the BMX rider Hope has a very nice set of hubs. The choice of stainless steel high end German made bearings is a wise one, as BMX riding can really test a hubs durability. Available in 6 different colours and two different versions, one for street and one for racing. Spoke hole counts of either 32 or 36 and 80 points of engagement provides a solid feel. 

            The BMX rider has a few excellent options coming in 6 different lovely colours! 

So how do the road riders make out with Hope's hubs? Quite well I'd say. The road selection is in either a standard J bend spoke configuration or straight pull. There is a centre lock option for disc brakes as well as a standard 6 bolt version and all common axle configurations. The same high end German sealed bearings made by INA complete the package.  

Many well known racers are riding Hope hubs and for good reason. Cognoscenti Cycles will be carrying all of the many options available. If you need to know a bit more about what they offer don't hesitate to give us a call. 

                           Hope's RS4 road hub with centre lock disc brake option. 

Extralite Racing Products. Made in Italy, 100%.

Things got going in 1995 for Extralite Racing Products. Proudly made in Italy with the renown and revered tradition of Italian bicycles components in their DNA. Extralite designs and makes numerous components but today we'll look at their special hubs. Any weight weenie worth his salt will have lusted after a pair of Extralite Cyber hubs. They seem to float above your digital scale and if you are thinking about shaving some weight then these are top contenders for an ultralite set of wheels. Pair these up with some Ax-Lightness carbon rims and things are getting crazy light. Maybe too light for certain riders, but for those with intentions of record breaking rides, a combo like this is up for consideration. 

A pair of the Cyber hubs weigh an almost unbelievable 182 grams in a J bend configuration! Yes, you read that correctly! The front hub weighs 48 grams and the rear is 134 grams. Are these for your daily training wheels? Hell no! These are for "race day only" and are never going to grace your gravel grinder or your cyclocross bike! 

                                                                                           48 grams. The Cyber front hub from Extralite.  

      134 grams! The Cyber rear hub with standard J bend lacing options and Enduro bearings coming stock. It just doesn't get much lighter than this! 

                        If you are running a disc brake set up there's no need to worry. Extralite offers the Cyber hub set with disc options. Here's a photo of their Cyber SPD-2 hub. 

                                                                       The Extralite Cyber SPD-2 hub. The non disc side is for a radial only spoking pattern. 

Extralite has a wide selection of various MTB and road hubs with straight pull spokes. I would suggest that you visit their website if straight pull is a must for you. They have a few MTB hubs with the traditional J bend spoke option that are worthy of your consideration. They also have Lefty front hubs. 

                                                               Extralite's HyperLefty 2 with straight pull on the disc side and radial straight pull only on the other side. 

Extralite makes a very light quick release that is worthy of their ultralight Cyber hubs. Their Alien 4 is made from aerospace grade titanium and can withstand 1300 Kgf of force. The bushings are bronze and are self lubricating. The CNC machined alloy levers have a large cut out window. At 39 grams per set I couldn't imagine how they could make them any lighter!  

                                                  Extralite's Alien 4 QR's.  A feather weight set of titanium QR skewers that tip the scales at a mere 39 grams. 

Cognoscenti Cycles would love to accept your challenge to build up the lightest wheels you have ever ridden. Give us a ring....

The Powertap G3 hub

Are you trying to sort out how best to maximise your training efforts and be able to quantify those hard miles in the saddle? Enter the Powertap G3 rear hub. Since 2005 Powertap has been steadily improving this hub and is currently on the 3rd generation. The G3 is a power meter with an impressive +/- 1.5% accuracy. It not only measures power but also tracks your cadence precisely. 

                                                                           The Powertap G3 hub weighing in at a mere 320 grams. Comes with a 2 year warranty.

The new field serviceable electronics run on one CR2032 battery. It's compatible with ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart devices. The cassette accepts either Campagnolo or Shimano/SRAM 11 speed set ups. Spoke hole options range from 20 holes up to 32 holes for a more stout training wheel. If you decide you'd like to have a matching set of wheels Powertap makes a front hub that shares the look of their rear one.  

                                                                    The matching Powertap G3 front hub. Available in standard J bend or a  20 hole only straight pull version.

If you'd like the fastest version of a Powertap rear hub you'd be after the Powertap G3C. Things just got faster and a wee bit lighter with an upgrade to CeramicSpeeds ceramic sealed bearings. Its visibly distinguishable by the bright orange axle ends. 

                                                                                                    5 grams lighter with Danish made CeramicSpeed bearings on-board.

What to do if your bike is set up for disc breaks? Not to worry? Powertap also has models that will suit your machine perfectly. Available in 32 holes with either a 135mm Qr version or a 142 X 12mm thru axle configuration. Matching front disc hubs to boot! 160mm rotor is included in the deal. There's even a Powertap hub built just for track riders as well as a  collaboration with HED for a solid disc rear wheel that incorporates the Powertap G3 hub. It has an alloy rim with a carbon aero centre section. 

                                                        The Powertap disc friendly rear hub with a 160mm rotor included. The above model is a 142 X 12 thru axle. 

Cognoscenti Cycles is now carrying the line of Powertap hubs and other products. Maybe your next wheel set could do double duty, keeping you abreast of your power output and doing it on a rather nice looking pair of wheels! 

True Precision Components

True Precision Components are the makers of Stealth hubs. This company is from Goleta California and began making their hubs in 1999 after experiencing disappointment with what was then available. To fully appreciate the expertise of this company one needs to know that True Precision Components is the bicycle component division of True Precision Machining (TPM). 

TPM is a world class contract machine shop specialising in manufacturing parts for customers in the medical, aerospace and telecom industry. Certainly all the expertise gained from supplying products for these various companies has benefited their hub design and production. 

Also, many of the staff are keen cyclists themselves who have ridden in BMX, DH/freeride and cross country. Their personal experience and input has shaped Stealth hubs over the last decade.

So, whats on offer? First off are all the hubs catering to the pro or amateur BMX riders out there. There are 3 basic models to choose from, even a disc version which also has an interchangeable axle giving you the option of a standard 3/8th bolt-on or a 15mm thru axle. Upgrades to light and strong titanium bolts are there for the asking. 

                                                      The Stealth Pro rear BMX hub with the six bolt disc option. 

Another BMX model is the "expert". This hub employs a standard bolt on to secure it to your frame. Several lovely colours are perfectly anodised onto the alloy shell.

                                 The Stealth "Expert" BMX rear hub in a rich bullion gold finish. Upgrade to titanium bolts if desired. 

There are a few things of importance that separate Stealth hubs from the competition. The first thing that springs to mind is their instant engagement and the fact that they run silently, hence the explanation for the name "Stealth". Admittedly there are a small number of hubs on the market that make the claim of "instant engagement", but there are only a few. That type of feel for both BMX and MTB riders is a big draw. I also love the idea of a hub that runs silently. Silence is golden. 

Two other things that I would be remiss in failing to mention would be their 5 year warranty and the option to upgrade to ceramic bearings should that inspire you. Ceramic bearings might be of interest to the road riders among us. 

Road hubs. Stealth has improved their S3 road model and now we have the better S4 version. Same 5 year warranty and instant engagement that everyone loves. The bearing placement has been changed for increased longevity. For Shimano riders it's now compatible with 9, 10 and 11 speed cassettes. 24, 28, and 32 spoke hole configurations complete the package. I should mention that Stealth feels this hub will easily go the distance if tossed into the cyclocross ring. Silently coast by your opponents!

                                                   The Stealth Road hub. Available in any colour under the sun as long as it's black!

The new S4 may only be available in black, but the other models come now in 6 different anodised colours. We are talking green, red black, blue, gold and silver finish. 

These hubs are made entirely in America and might be the perfect option for your next wheel building project. Check out their website to fill your knowledge gaps and get back to me with any questions you may still have. 

Sealed Bearings

Almost any decent hub these days runs on sealed bearings of one type or another. This is why it's important to have suppliers who can deliver top quality sealed bearings. Cognoscenti Cycles relies on a few companies to keep us stocked with some of the best bearings around. Companies like CeramicSpeed, Enduro, F1 Ceramic and Boca Bearings offer what we are looking for.  Bearing technology is quite sophisticated and you definitely want perfectionists making sure that top end materials are being used and that tolerances are as tight as they can be. 

Sealed bearings for bicycle hubs fall into two camps. All stainless steel bearings were both the ball bearing and the ground race are made of the same material. That bearing is very strong but isn't the highest performing bearing out there. Next level bearings move into the world of ceramic balls that can be made almost perfectly round, enabling them to out perform steel easily. Their hardness is also legendary. Many racing cyclists seeking the lowest possible rolling resistance are taking advantage of high speed ceramic hybrid bearings that out perform most everything else. This is why many hub makers are offering an upgrade to ceramic hybrid types. F1 Ceramic is a USA based company that has been making all their bearings in house for the last 13 years. Their bearings have been on bikes that have been ridden in the Tour de France, Paris Roubaix, the World Championships, The Vuelta Espana, the Olympics and numerous National Championships. That's a long list of success's and certainly would fill anyone with confidence in using their top end bearings.

 Below is a photo of Enduro's Zero Ceramic Grade bearing. Made with oversized Silicon Nitride grade 3 balls that roll on races that have been cryogenically frozen to increase hardness and longevity. They employ silicone seals which are more slippery than rubber seals. When reviewed these bearings win independent wattage output tests when stacked against the competition.  The definite "go fast" option! If your curious just how high end a grade 3 silicon nitride bearing is here are a few specs that will impress you. The high precision Grade 3 pure ceramic balls are 3/1,000,000 from exactly round in sphericity! That's no typo either. They are 7 times harder than steel and weigh 60% less. Their friction hovers around zero. Imagine these in your hubs...

                                                                                  Enduro's ZERO Ceramic Grade with silicon nitride balls. Made in California.

Enduro also makes top end ceramic bearing loaded bottom brackets and pulleys for your rear derailleur. So after you've sorted out your hubs you can move onto the other parts that need a speed bump. 

Onyx Racing Products

U.S. Patent No. 9,102,197. This number probably doesn't mean a thing to you, but I am happy that it exists. It belongs to Onyx Racing Products of Minnesota. A company that seems to fly a little under the radar for some people and that shouldn't be the case. With out a doubt this hub manufacturer does some incredible things and they deserve the nod. 

I am completely stoked to be carrying this companies amazing hubs and I am looking forward to building up some seriously cool wheels this season with them.

  I should detail why I think that Onyx is worthy of your consideration. In a word, engagement. Zero degree engagement to be precise.  Onyx hubs use a special German made Sprag Clutch which runs silently and provides virtually instant engagement. It's a system that uses 29 cam shaped wedges that are held there by springs. The photo below helps to show what is hiding under those 7075 alloy hub shells.

                                                                           Instant engagement! The Sprag clutch is dead quiet and completely reliable.

This unique feature is not the only reason to line up for a pair of Onyx hubs. Their hub choices are sufficient to make you a little overwhelmed. Spoiled for choice is no overstatement. Just about every cycling discipline is represented in their catalogue. The only people forced to search elsewhere would be tandem riders and unicyclists. 

Onyx has concentrated their energies on hubs for those who would revel in their sprag clutch design. Their hubs are backed by a solid 5 year warranty against manufacturers defects. MTB, cyclocross, roadies, track, downhill, BMX and Fatbike enthusiasts will celebrate this hub in a big way. 

A trip to their website will reveal that they have left no stone unturned. Their bearings are a ceramic hybrid that is made for them in Germany. They come standard on all their models. In an effort to shave some weight off their rear hub they have updated their driver to a lighter alloy version. It can be retrofitted on older Onyx hubs. It saves you 65 grams, if you tend to count such things. Those riding disc breaks will find both standard 6 bolt interface and centerlock options. 

Where things really start to get interesting is your colour choice. Onyx offers the largest number of colours of any hub maker that I am aware of. 24 stock colours! If their fantastic stock colours don't answer your whims then they offer custom colours that can be sought through a company that they work with named Prismatic Powders. Upon visiting the website of Prismatic Powders it became immediately obvious that you are going to find a colour that will turn your crank. There's about a $100 up charge for this platinum service, but for some this is a must do. If all these colours options weren't enough there is still more. You can get free laser etchings of names or logos on your hubs! Let your imagination go to work.

                             A magnificent BMX rear hub in retina popping orange. Get a matching front and hit the road!

                                    Phat indeed! The Onyx Fat R 087807 Centerlock 177 X 12mm thru axle. In glorious gold!

Because Onyx offers things like custom colours its a good idea to build in a few extra weeks in the timing of your wheel order. Special things take a bit longer, but are definitely worth the wait. I can see a pair of Pelham blue Onyx hubs on my own bike soon. I just can't resist. 

What's in a name? Industry Nine has a name that almost any self respecting mountain bike rider knows well. This company is composed of a small group of about 3 dozen bike crazy employees who churn out precision made bicycle hubs daily. This is all happening in their Asheville North Carolina facility. Industry Nine keeps most of it's production in house with the exception of high end ABEC Grade 5 sealed bearings. If you're wondering what the acronym ABEC stands for, that's a good question. ABEC stands for Annular Bearing Engineers Committee. More commonly referred to as the ABEC scale, an industry accepted standard for the dimensional control and manufacturing tolerances of ball bearings. The ABEC scale is numbered as follows, 1, 3, 5, 7, and lastly 9. These numeric references identify the quality of the ball bearing. Each number corresponds to the roundness in the inner and outer races of a bearing. The higher the number, the tighter the tolerance. So a grade 5 bearing is a very high quality one. 

It's attention to details like this that set Industry Nine apart from the competition. But it's not just a matter of building any old hub and adding a top end bearing. 

From the get go I think it's important to discuss the build philosophy of Industry Nine. It's immediately evident when you visit their website that they still believe strongly in the classic straight pull hub design. Because they make both J-bend and straight pull designs no one is written out of the script. Industry Nine's efforts have been divided fairly evenly between satisfying the needs of the road racers as well as the MTB crowd. Fatbike riders are also more than welcome. 

                 Industry Nines i25 TL front hub with a hidden radial spoke pattern. Stealthy!

I think my favourite Industry Nine hubs are their "Classic" line. This line pretty much covers all the bases, including MTB, road, cyclocross and Fatbikes. All of these particular hubs favour the traditional J-bend spoke that allows several different lacing patterns and guarantees that the  owner will be able to source a new spoke at any bike shop they should walk into. That level of flexibility and easy service is very important to many riders. Myself included! 

What about disc brakes? Industry Nine is using the ISO 6 bolt interface on some hubs but also offers the option of centerlock  on other models. So you are covered with both platforms. 

Can I get my favourite colour you ask? I would say you have a pretty decent chance. Industry Nine does not disappoint when it comes to a broad range of bright and beautiful colours. At the moment we have black, red, silver, blue, gold, orange, turquoise, green and lime to choose from. Impressive! 

Industry Nine i25 TL rear hub. 24 holes and weighing a mere 230 grams. A 4 cross straight pull  drive side and a radially spoked non-drive side combination. 

Industry Nines "Classic" MTB hub set. The freehub sports 120 points of engagement with 6 pawls. Available in 28 or 32 spoke holes and numerous axle configurations. 

                                                                                    A detailed exploded view of the internals of a an Industry Nine rear hub. 

We are now carrying Industry Nines complete line of hubs. Shoot us an email if you have any questions about building up a set of very nice wheels. I'd be honoured to build them!

Chris King

For anyone even remotely knowledgable about boutique high end bicycle parts the name Chris King is synonymous with cutting edge design and legendary reliability, Chris King has led the way for the last four decades. 

Many were introduced to Chris King with the debut of their incredible headset. I can personally attest to the impressive lifespan of a CK headset as my Merlin has one and that bike left the Merlin factory in 1993. Still going strong! 

Though CK offers numerous lovely components I'd like to concentrate here on there impressive line of hubs. As a wheel builder ones reputation stands or falls on reliability. Therefore I tend to gravitate to using components that have proven themselves time and again. It may be said that you are only as good as your last wheel set, so high quality is always at the forefront of my wheel designs. 

Companies like CK hold themselves to extraordinarily high standards and that makes my job easier. Lets look at what they are up to these days. My current fave is the R45. This hub could find itself on several different wheel types. An obvious choice for the roadie who wants a hub that will perform at the top end and keep on going for many many seasons. With a centerlock disc option the R45 could easily be found on a gravel grinder machine for those who choose a less travelled path. Those same set of wheels could do double duty on your cyclocross bike easily. The R45 uses the CK patented Ring Drive that offers 45 points of engagement for virtually drag free operation. Chris King makes their sealed bearings in house to maintain tight quality control. The R45 comes with a confidence boosting 5 year warranty. A ceramic bearing upgrade is yours for the asking. What about axle options? CK offers all the current popular axle configurations. The alloy freehub is compatible with either Campagnolo or Shimano/SRAM gears. 

I will be carrying all the necessary CK special tools to enable rebuilding your hubs when the time comes. 

Colours. CK has a enviable choice of different colours to keep things interesting. Black, silver, red, pink, pewter, navy blue, mango, turquoise, green and gold. Now and then there are limited edition hubsets that are done in unique colours. 

The Chris King R45 rear disc hub in the limited edition colour of Sour Apple. 

Chris King also has hubs that are suitable for several other cycling disciplines. Tandem riders, BMXers, cycle tourists, single speed junkies and triathletes have been taken care of. I suggest that you take a look at their comprehensive website for additional details on those other options. 

                                 Chris King has some specialist tools for their R45 hubs. These are required to perform a complete overhaul. 

                Numerous axle options from Chris King. 

Cognoscenti Cycles is very proud to be carrying the entire Chris King line of hubs! If proven design and bomb proof reliability are high on your list of priorities then a CK hub is a no brainer. With a long list of interesting rim options, there are many ways we could go in building up some very cool CK wheels. Lets chat and come up with something utterly killer. 

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                                                                                   Chris King ISO 142 X 12mm thru axle rear hub. Is black the new orange? Maybe...

Project 321

Project 321 sounds like a code name for a top secret spy ring in an MI5 operation.  But It's not.  Then again some might still say it's a well kept secret, unless of course you happen to be a serious MTB rider. 

Project 321 hails from Fresno California. These guys seem to have a wonderfully myopic vision for making top end MTB hubs in a variety of flavours. They do more than just hubs of course, but I will concentrate on those offerings for the moment. 

Decked out in a plethora of lovely vibrant colours are several notable models. First off, the G2 Mountain rear hub weighing in at just 274 grams. Available in numerous axle lengths and configurations, like 135mm QR, 135mm x 10mm TA, 135mm x 12mm TA, 142mm x 12mm TA or 135mm bolt on. Their new freehub has an option of either 144 or 216 points of engagement. This new freehub also boasts 68% less drag than the previous one. You even have a choice of how loud it is. A simple change of pawls will determine it's volume! They have chosen two angular contact bearings for more lateral load capacity. Coming stock with Enduro ABEC 5 bearings with an upgrade option to Enduro Ceramic Hybrid bearings if you like. Spoke hole counts are either 28 or 32. With a nice CNC engraved logo and a 3 year warranty, what's not to like? 

Project 321 has covered the bases with other popular options like boost width hubs as well as their Lefty Supermax.

The DH hubs come in either 150 or 157mm widths and are of course 12mm through axle configured.  32 or 28 holes are available. The DH hubs use the same freehub as the G2, which has an increased its warranty time to 3 years. The same bearing options as the G2 are found on the DH hubs. 

For you road riders who cap off your season with some mud soaked cyclocross there's the CX1 hubset. This disc hubset offers a front hub in 20, 24 and 28 holes. The rear in 24 and 28 holes. The axles are offered in 9mm QR, 15mm TA, 20mm TA and a rear OLD width of 135mm. The freehub is good for either 10 or 11 speed set ups. Lots of colours to choose from, all of them blending well with mother earth. 

Lastly, and not to be left out are the single speed enthusiasts. Project 321 hasn't forgotten you. The G2 Single Speed rear hub sits on the scales at 285 grams and has all the same axle options as the regular G2 hub. Also the same bearing configuration is exploited. Comes with either 32 or 28 spoke holes. 

As for disc specific bikes, all Project 321 disc hubs use the standard 6 bolt interface. 

So if you are dreaming of some very cool new MTB or cyclocross wheels with hubs that provide a boat load of options and colours, you might want to dial up their website to see how they all look, especially those killer colours. 

Cognoscenti Cycles is now a dealer for Project 321 and we can get anything that your heart desires. Call us for a quote. Spring is coming faster than you think...

             Perfect in purple. Project 321 CX1 Cyclocross hubs.

The Rohloff Speedhub 500

For over 2 decades this German company has produced a most unusual hub. One sporting 14 internal gears staggered precisely by 13.6% with a 526% overall transmission ratio. The Rohloff Speedhub 500 has no equal in the world of internally geared hubs. 

Built with typical German precision, this hub is the perfect answer for cycle tourists and off road enthusiasts who like the idea of all their gears hidden away in a sealed environment free from dirt and contamination. 

The Rohloff hub builds up with absolutely no dish in most applications, which is a real plus when it comes to wheel strength. This enables it to easily sustain heavy loads without a issue. 

Another feature is the ability to run a Carbon Gates set up. Imagine a perfectly clean and silent belt that replaces your dirty and noisy old chain. Sublime.

The Fatbike crowd and MTB riders can rejoice that they to can enjoy the Rohloff experience. Available in several popular axle widths like 135mm, 142, 148, 170, 177, 190, and 197mm. 

Maintenance is quite reasonable with only a periodic oiling to keep all those gears well lubed. Rohloff suggests some attention every 5000 km or about once a year. 

Disc brake devotees are covered with a 4 bolt disc design. Custom frame builders who are experienced with the Speedhub will incorporate the necessary frame fittings to enable a proper Rohloff set up. 

Handle bar shifters are numerous with a few different companies offering their own unique versions. 

The Rohloff Speedhub is available in both 32 and 36 hole spoke counts. Ample spokes to build up a bombproof wheel. Three different finish options are on offer. Silver, a deep lustrous red and a stealthy black. 

Cognoscenti Cycles is now carrying this unique hub, so bend our ear if a Rohloff hub is in your future. 

                                                                                        A rich red Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 with a 4 bolt disc brake interface. 

Boyd Cycling. The Handcrafted Revolution

Boyd Cycling came along in 2009 and was the work of Boyd Johnson who had ridden professionally as a racer in years past. His passion for racing is manifest in his products. Boyd Cycling has developed a line of carbon as well as alloy rims that have risen in popularity in the last few years. 

They have both carbon clincher and tubular models that range in depth from 28mm to a very deep 90mm and these are also available as disc specific models as well.  The 90mm version is ideal for triathletes or time trial specialists. It has a 25mm width and weighs in at 635 grams. 

                                                                                 A deep 90mm carbon tubular rim from Boyd Cycling 

One of my personal favourite rims is an alloy clincher called the "Altamont". Following the trend of slightly wider rims, the Altamont has an internal width of 19.86mm and was developed with a 25mm tire in mind, though it works well with a narrower 23mm tire or something much wider should you fancy some additional girth. The 2016 version has been modified and is slightly rounder with a 30mm depth, for enhanced stiffness and a better tire profile. It has a welded seem for ultimate strength and weighs 485 grams. Lastly is the bead blasted finish which is more than merely cosmetic. The bead blasting process is done before the rim is anodised. This improves the anodisation bond and further increases rim strength. These rims can be run tubeless should you desire that. The new "Altamont LIte" has a depth of 25mm and an external width of 24mm. It weighs in at a very reasonable 435 grams. A weight that I feel is good for a variety of cycling disciplines. There is an updated "second generation" version that will be available in January 2018. Boyd has said that the ceramic coating will be even further improved. 

                     Boyd Cycling's Altamont rim profile.

         The new Altamont Lite which is lighter by 50 grams.

Here's a clincher rim that you might consider for your next set of cyclocross wheels or for your gravel grinder machine. 

Cognoscenti Cycles will be carrying the entire line of Boyd Cycling rims in 2017. Whether you are looking at some nice alloy rims or investing in some high end Carbon wheels, give us a shout and we'll sort you out! We should mention that Boyd Cycling has recently included Cognoscenti Cycles among their list of recommended custom wheel builders. We are honoured to be listed with those other renown builders. 

Royce hubs. British engineering at it's finest.

In the last century some great hub makers have come and gone in Britain. Some notable names come to mind like Bayliss Wiley, Harden and Airlite. These hubs had to compete with makers from the continent and they did rise to the occasion. Indeed the competition was daunting but the Brits did not disappoint. In Europe we had French makers like Maxi Car and Italian hub makers like FB who eventually were making hubs for a new kid on the block named Tullio Campagnolo. All the while top British riders were winning gold medals and breaking time trial records on British made Airlite hubs pre and post war. Eventually the European makers like Campagnolo garnered respect from top continental pros and the peloton was largely riding hubs from Vincenza, home of the swiftly growing Campagnolo factory. This seemed to bring to an end the prominence of British hubs.

Some time would elapse before another talented designer would surface. Fast forward to 1980 and we see a new company with the name Royce. I remember when I started seeing these beautiful hubs and cranks and other assorted bike parts coming out of the UK. They had an impressive finish that told you right away that these parts were indeed special. And they were. 

A few years ago at the London Hand Made Bicycle Show I got the chance to finally meet Cliff Polton who is the man that put Royce on the map. I took the opportunity to pick his brain on all things Royce. Cliff was more than keen to share his insights on the perfect hub design. I was all ears.

As a wheel builder I was fascinated to learn what made them tick and why they are made in the way that Royce engineers have chosen to build them. 

Riders who own Royce hubs are usually fiercely loyal to the brand and probably wouldn't ride anything else. A closer look at any model of Royce hub will quickly tell you why. They exude quality and good design sense with a perfect finish. The freehubs are made from titanium for ultra durability and some weight savings over steel. The hubs run on top quality sealed bearings that spin quietly and smoothly for tons of worry free miles. 

For those willing to shell out the big bucks there is an option for hubs with titanium flanges and a ground lacquered carbon fibre shell. If that is not enough then there's an upgrade to have the titanium flanges plated with a gold coloured titanium nitride finish. You have to see these hubs in person to see what this level of quality is all about. 

So it's no surprise that world class cyclists like Chris Boardman chose Royce to supply key parts for their world record breaking bikes. Boardman's Hour Record machine had Royce hubs.

Royce's top hub is their "Venus". Available for Shimano or Campagnolo cassettes in either a straight up road hub or a disc friendly version.  Axle widths are available from 135mm to 160mm for both hub's. 

Their track hubs are gorgeous with the option of titanium cogs should you demand the best. A special titanium cog with the option of a  titanium nitride finish will be hard to beat by any manufacturer. 

Custom ideas will be considered by Cliff and his small team of in house engineers should you fancy something out of the ordinary. Keep in mind that custom orders can have a several month waiting time.

Cognoscenti Cycles would love to build you a pair of wheels with some superb Royce hubs. We hope 2017 will see some adventurous souls investing in a pair of wheels that will be the envy of the peloton. 

                          Royce "Venus" hubs with a titanium nitride finish and lacquered carbon fibre sleeve. 

Rims from H Plus Son

This Asian rim manufacturer has really captured the imagination of all kinds of cyclists all around the world. Just as many fixie crazed riders as road only riders have fallen in love with the H Plus Son rim. You may be wondering why... Is it that unusual name? Can't just be a funky name. No, its defiantly more. H Plus Son have a few things up their sleeve that make them a go to rim for all kinds of riders. First off, they offer some very different rim profiles that are seductive.  The graceful and beautifully tear dropped shape of the Archetype is immediately attractive. This model has also embraced the "wider is better" theme that several notable rim designers have been telling us is the way to go.  That slightly wider rim changes the profile of your tire, making for a more plush ride. It enables you to traverse more challenging road surfaces with ease. Gravel grinders are already hip to this and know the the benefits of that additional width. 

Models like the Archetype and the Hydra sport widths of 23 and 25mm respectively. If your frame has sufficient clearance, then I'd say a slightly wider rim is worth exploring. You can still run your fave 23mm tire if you wish or experiment with a 28mm or 30 plus mm tire for a completely different feel on the road. The Hyrdra is their new disc friendly model. Weighing in at a very respectable 440 grams with a proper welded joint and tubeless compatibility, this rim could answer your off road yearnings perfectly.  Both of these rims are made from G609 alloy and from my research G609 is reputed to be 20% stronger than 6061 alloy. 

For the MTB crowd there's the Todestrieb which has a 32mm width and additional internal support to strengthen the rim for more punishing off road miles.

The fixie fiend has several deep V shaped rims for a very different look. Available in both 650B and 700C sizes. 

For the 2017 season Cognoscenti Cycles will be carrying H Plus Son rims. Maybe its time to consider a slightly wider rim for that extra plush ride. Give me a call and we'll match these rims up with some worthy hubs. 

             H Plus Son Archetype rim in a stealthy black anodised finish.

The Filament Spin Evolution. FSE carbon rims.

These days carbon rims are ubiquitous in the Pro peloton, and steadily growing in popularity among serious amateurs. Its got to the point that if you aren't riding them you're probably starting to feel you should be exploiting their advantages. The  best quality ones are normally quite pricey and the technology needed to produce them usually involves extensive hand work, skill and many man hours. That all may be changing soon if people like FSE have their way. This American company has thrown out the rule book in favour of their newly patented process that has literally rewritten the book on how to make carbon fibre rims. 

Instead of a complicated and tedious process of hand laying up of carefully cut carbon fibre sheets, FSE uses a completely different method to build a carbon rim. Their approach uses computer controlled machines to guide resin impregnated carbon fibre onto an electronically charged mandrel. This method is highly accurate, devoid of human error and highly repeatable for ultimate accuracy and quality control. 

The claimed advantages are several. FSE says their rims are about 40% stronger , with 40% increased lateral stiffness, and up to 200 grams lighter than a conventionally made carbon rim. It all sounds very impressive and it caught my attention when I first looked into their work. 

I recently enjoyed a lengthy conversation with Dan Kellerby from FSE. He explained to me how their new patented process came about. Several years of prototypes later and extensive in house testing brought their current rims into being. They apparently caused quite a stir at Interbike this year. 

Cognoscenti Cycles will be offering these rims in 2017 for many of our custom carbon wheel builds. If you are thinking of upgrading your wheels to ones with carbon rims, these may be worthy of serious consideration. If you require more information please call me or send me an email and we'll talk carbon!

                                                                            Their unique patented process has produced rims with UCI certification.

  The EVO 79T tubular rim.

Paul Component Engineering

For the last 25 years Paul Component Engineering has been steadily evolving. These days plying their trade out of their converted 1926 Texaco warehouse in Chico California. Things have grown a lot since their start in Paul's garage in 1989. 

In comparison with the big guys in the industry Paul's is a small boutique manufacturer who turns out stylish bicycle components for the high end parts junkie. 

They're  located in Butte County, home to some beautiful and challenging off road cycling country where many of their components saw extensive testing. 

Though Paul makes a variety of lovely bike parts, my interest lies in their hubs. For the single speed purist they gave us a rear hub called the W.O.R.D. This odd acronym stands for "Wacky One Speed Rear Device".  It's designed with wide spaced flanges which builds up a super strong dishless wheel. Made from 6061 alloy and sporting spoke hole counts of 28,32 and 36, the W.O.R.D will answer your single speed needs with aplomb. 

Nowadays the single speed phenom has crept into the world of cyclocross which has a separate category for the multi speed challenged.  Paul's special hub might be the perfect option. Cognoscenti Cycles is now carrying the entire line of Paul's hubs, so If you are a single speed purist they may be ideal for your next set of wheels. Give us a call for a quote.

                                                            Paul Component Engineering's W.O.R.D rear single speed hub in black anodised finish.