A question of durability...

...this winter I've got tired of taking out different bikes and maintaining and doing this n that so I've decided to strip down my stable and have: a fixed/single speed mtb (Got) for off road fun. A nice nippy track bike for summer and long rides out. Poss Steamroller type job with bigger tyres etc for rougher stuff and abuse and a commuting fixed (I may merge these last two into one bike) so I need a few reccomendations that are a bit different to what people usually ask for.

What are the best hubs for low maintenence - is Phil the answer? My commuter will be by far my most used and cherished bike (I always love the rat bike most) but I don't want to be cleaning it and doing jobs on it every night (I'd rather if I only had to give it an MOT once a year). These hubs needn't be the best for dropping stairs or 180's or owt - just not likely to strip, mega sealed bearings and the ability to survive regular skip stops.

I'll put a king headset in as I know you can't go wrong there.

What about BB - phil again?

Cheers all - have used the search etc etc but how many stairs you can drop seem to be the main criteria for hubs.

If you're not going to maintain it, then buy cheap and be prepared to swap. I wouldn't buy expensive 'durable' parts and then not maintain them.

well I'm not totally averse to maintaining - for years i've been buying cheap and keeping running, repacking etc but I fancy trying a different approach. I know there's nowt that'll need 'no maintenance' but what's best for 'very little'?

The weak link is the bearing so what makes the Phil bearing any better and can the same quality bearing not be used in any hub?
For durability it would be down to the sealing/covering of the bearing so any hubs with good sealing would need less maintenance. From the pictures I see I can't see that Phils have sealing above anyone else.
I could well be missing large parts of this somewhere though!

If you're not going to maintain it, then buy cheap and be prepared to swap. I wouldn't buy expensive 'durable' parts and then not maintain them.

+1

+1

see above for response

@Kerley: I've never owned a Phil but it was always my impression that they just kept running. I've just read some pretty good things about Gran Compe's though - and they're much cheaper!

see above for response

@Kerley: I've never owned a Phil but it was always my impression that they just kept running. I've just read some pretty good things about Gran Compe's though - and they're much cheaper!

Still think the bearing is all the main thing to worry about and Phil bearings are available and can fit other hubs;

http://www.philwood.com/products/bearings/

Question is are they even any better than the bearings in your gran compe example?

people rave about goldtec hubs durability.

probably an idea to get an alu frame and parts if you aren't going to clean it.

people rave about goldtec hubs durability.

probably an idea to get an alu frame and parts if you aren't going to clean it.

Good point. Not much on my bike can get affected as built for that. Covered in mud all through the winter.
The chain is the main problem so maybe a belt drive is in order for your build?

bloody hell - i'm not talking mega acid mud here! Just gentle neglect... I'm a luddite in that i HATE aluminium and am not to be convinced otherwise...

KMC make a really really good 3/32 single speed chain that's rust proof so i'll go 3/32, and I think from waht I've been reading either a velosolo bolt on hub or a Gran compe. Chris king headset will last a good few years on there. Probably dura-ace cranks or sugino 75's - royce BB?

Get a titanium frame while you're at it. It won't corrode. Ever.

Get a titanium frame while you're at it. It won't corrode. Ever.

+1 ti FTW

also

+

= job done