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do the fancier hubs (Phil, Paul, Goldtec) offer more than just looks over Novatecs with upgraded bearings?
The failures/issues we see on hubs at the velodrome are first and foremost axles and nuts and then cog threading.
Mavic axles and nuts seem to go tits up for everyone sooner or later, other brands are susceptible to heavy handed spannering and repeated fitting and removal of the wheel as per proper track use where wheels are in and out the frame several times a session to change gears. I don’t think any brand (other than Mavic) has stuck out as being more or less susceptible to this type of failure than any other.
Cog threading issues do vary from brand to brand. Novatec/Formula etc won’t last long for regular gear changers or big wattage riders, see them with stripped/mangled threads pretty often. Mavic cog threads don’t seem to have any issues, or at least, the axles fuck up long before the cog thread has chance to! Goldtec seem to last pretty well, see a fair few older versions of them still in use. Dura Ace and Campy would be the hubs that really stand out as lasting the distance under riders who are giving them a hard time.
I’ve no idea about longevity of Phil Wood or Paul Comp for proper track use as other than Phils on one set of wheels at one of the UCI events we’ve had, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone using them.
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M_V
HarmanMogul
I've just decided to build a pair of light track wheels as a lockdown project and have ordered some Novatec hubs from AliExpress.
I've generally avoided Novatec as they have a poor reputation for weatherproofing however that seems to be due to the bearing seals.
Given the bearings can be replaced (easily?) for better sealed or ceramic ones is there any other benefit in using a more expensive hub? Geared hubs have freehubs to go wrong as well but for track hubs, do the fancier hubs (Phil, Paul, Goldtec) offer more than just looks over Novatecs with upgraded bearings?