Quantcast
velospace is about bikes and the people who ride them buy / sell photos random












General: Phil Wood Track hubs.. Worth the money?

Bottom of Page

1 to 43 of 43

  1.  
    • CommentAuthortstadum
    • CommentTimeJan 23rd 2009
     
    Hey everyone, i am in the process of building a wheelset and am looking at hubs. I ordered a pair of Dodici rims from Jacopo at vintagepista.com and i am wondering if i should be worrying about the weight of the phil's as the rims themselves are heavvvvy... sooo.. are Phil's really worth the money, are they really thatt good? Thank ya
  2.  
    Personally, I like the Profile hubs much better than Phil Woods. They are lighter, look amazing, totally sealed, and are built from a company that has been making parts nearly as long as Phil Wood. They are also slightly cheaper I believe.

    I ride the purple Profiles, but also think the white are really beautiful also.

    http://www.profilefixed.com/hubs.html
    • CommentAuthorgreg
    • CommentTimeJan 23rd 2009
     
    Can't go wrong with Phil's.
    • CommentAuthorjam guy
    • CommentTimeJan 23rd 2009
     
    No contest....
    phil wood>any hub ever
    • CommentAuthorVman
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2009 edited
     
    http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f15/batman1828/Picture047.jpg

    I rest my case.
    • CommentAuthorbionnaki
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2009
     
    quality
    but bit overrated.

    and your wheelset is going to be heavy and slow as shit.
  8.  
    The Dodici rims are 830g each. Deep V's are 582g. That is a pretty big difference. Although strong, they are one of the heaviest rims on the market. So, pairing them with the strongest, yet also heaviest hubs on the market is going to make one hell of a heavy pair of wheels. The guy above me is right.

    To try to recover some of that weight back, I really suggest going with a lighter set of hubs.

    My Profiles weight in at 270g for the rear, and high flange phil wood of the same length is 417g each. So that is about 294g lighter for a set. You could also use the Profile Ti bolts and save another 30g. If you really care, I guess.

    I checked some other high end hubs like the ZIPP Track hubs, and those are heavier than Phil's.

    Here is a new one to think about however...Paul hubs. http://www.paulcomp.com/frmhubs.html According to their site, they weight less than Profiles, and they are surely just a nice and strong as the best.
    • CommentAuthorwowzah
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2009
     
    Posted By: bionnakiquality
    but bit overrated.


    Overrated?

    That's blasphemy. I have seen 20 year old phil wood hubs spin better than modern hubs.
    • CommentAuthorbionnaki
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2009
     
    ...and spinning wheels in a repair stand does not always translate into better rotation on the road, so that observation may be irrelevant.

    phil bearings are excellent. I recommend just popping them into your less expensive hubs if you do not want to shell out the cash for phils or would like a lighter hubset.

    and I think phil wood produces lovely products, but it is not like their hubs are magical like people make them out to be.

    so, like I said:
    quality product of excellence and precision
    but a tad bit overrated.
    • CommentAuthorwowzah
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2009 edited
     
    you are going to have a tough time convincing me, phils just last forever... like a classic song
    on the road or in the stand, same difference... smooth smooth smooth, like butter
    they will probably out last you

    the bearings, the bearing interface, sealed to perfection, hand crafted with the highest quality materials
    stir it all up into ambrosia

    the only thing better than a phil wood hub is a phil wood bottom bracket
    perhaps the best investment you can make
    • CommentAuthorjam guy
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2009
     
    You guys act like your race and you need to save rotating weight. You ride around on the street. You get hubs that will last forever for that purpose. Profile is too new to the game and paul hubs are alright. My Phils are 5 years old, unserviced, and I bet they spin better than anything on your bikes.
    • CommentAuthorwowzah
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2009
     
    the company also makes the finest wheel chair hubs in america
    that's all you need to know
    you can be spinning on phils your entire life
    smooooovvv

    so lace it up already
  14.  
    Posted By: jam guyYou guys act like your race and you need to save rotating weight. You ride around on the street. You get hubs that will last forever for that purpose. Profile is too new to the game and paul hubs are alright. My Phils are 5 years old, unserviced, and I bet they spin better than anything on your bikes.


    Profile is not new, they were founded in 68'. They just celebrated their 40 years, last year. Phil Wood was found in 71'.....so 38 years ago. So, Profiles actually been around longer than Phil wood. Of course, Profile has been BMX, but making BMX components is alot more demanding in strength and durablity, so Profile DOES know about to make strong parts.

    I'm not sure if this guy is racing or not. Maybe he will be. But either way, a lighter bike and lighter wheels always seem faster and easier to ride with. Of course, no one is suggestion like, carbon fiber hubs! Any of the hubs listed above will do just fine and last for a LONG time.
    • CommentAuthorwowzah
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2009 edited
     
    "lighter bike and lighter wheels always seem faster"

    way more important is how smooth the interfaces are at the bottom bracket and hubs... oh yeah and how strong you are

    less friction + more power = more speed

    grams don't mean jack, really a small part of the equation you are better off eating less
    • CommentAuthorbionnaki
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2009 edited
     
    rotational mass is important.

    with his rims + phils + spokes + clinchers + tubes
    he's going to have really harsh, slow, and stupid heavy wheels.
    and I bet he radial laces the front wheel.

    and I like to be fast - even on the street where traffic can be stop and go.
    racers do not have a monopoly on speed.

    eh, it's not a choice I'd make. but then again, im into box rims / low-flange / tubular so perhaps my opinion is a bit askew.

    I'd say the extra weight of the phils (when paired with those rims) just isnt worth their durability. he should go for less weight and replace the stock bearings with phil bearings, if anything.
    • CommentAuthorwowzah
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2009 edited
     
    rotational mass?

    the hubs mean very little.... it's all in the rims, tires and tubes: take a physics class

    you are also discounting the bearing interface, it's not just the bearings that make them smooth, it's quality craftsmanship all around

    most people don't invest in the bottom bracket because others can't see the shiny phil wood label there, i will give you that
  18.  
    Posted By: jam guyYou guys act like your race and you need to save rotating weight. You ride around on the street. You get hubs that will last forever for that purpose. Profile is too new to the game and paul hubs are alright. My Phils are 5 years old, unserviced, and I bet they spin better than anything on your bikes.


    Profile is NOT new to the game. Profile may be new to the fixed game, but not the hub game. The last, they are so damn smooth, and I personally think they look better that many hubs out there. Plus they are comparatively cheap. Phils are really nice, so are Profiles. It seems to me that when you get into the high-end hubs, that they are all of similar quality, so weight, cost, looks, etc. matter more, because they are all going to survive an atomic blast no matter which brand you choose.
    • CommentAuthortstadum
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2009
     
    Just to clear some things up.. I will not be racing, just cruising around campus and having a good time. I do the majority of riding in Minneapolis and Fargo, ND. So its super super flat. So im honestly not too worried about the weight. I just purchased the rims to be different and they look so sick, ill prob polish them up too.

    Anyways, i am leaning towards the profile now for weight and money reasos... but i read somewhere the chainline or whatever it's called is dif then most. Will that be a problem when i pair it with some sugino 75's or dura ace njs. I ride a mercier kilo tt btw.

    Thank you all very much for all of your help. I could not have done anything without you all and your sick rides
  20.  
    I'm running the Profile hubs with Sugino 75's with a Phil Wood 110mm BB, along with a Surly cog....and the guy who set it up for me did not even have to do any fussing around to get the chainline right when installing. It was perfect, and runs totally smooth and silent.

    I was not aware they used a different chainline when I bought them, but it seems to not have affected anything, even in the slightest.
  21.  
    Photobucket
    • CommentAuthorwowzah
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2009
     
    the chain line is going to have more to do with selecting the right length bottom bracket than the hubs

    i have had all the hubs mentioned on this thread and they are all good

    i just find calling Phil Wood hubs "overrated" ridiculous

    the only set of hubs i have owned that are smoother than phils are Campagnolo Pista from the 1970s, but they require more frequent maintenance to stay smooth, they are also not recommended for skid contest (if you base your life around such events)
    • CommentAuthoro_O
    • CommentTimeJan 26th 2009
     
    CHUB HUB.
    do it.
  24.  
    Posted By: o_OCHUB HUB.
    do it.


    Sooooooooo ugly and completely pointless! When someone looks at your bike, all they would see is this excessively large mass on the back wheel! What a stupid idea for a hub. The front one is nice however!
    • CommentAuthortstadum
    • CommentTimeJan 27th 2009
     
    Sooo.. im thinking bout getting the dura ace HF track hubs now... I can get them for a good price and im not too worried about the upkeep cause I enjoy working on my bike. I like the look too. And i wont be riding in the rain too much. how does that sound?
    • CommentAuthortstadum
    • CommentTimeJan 27th 2009
     
    No chub hub either.. haha
  27.  
    I just sold a pair of wheels laced with Dura Ace 7600 HF hubs. They looked amazing and felt so nice! If you can find them in all black, they are really pretty! Check the Best Hubs thread for a picture.
    • CommentAuthortstadum
    • CommentTimeJan 27th 2009
     
    Yeah, i think i have seen em.. so you think the profiles are better or comparable??
  29.  
    Comparable. I like the Profiles better because they are completely sealed and maintenance free, which not only is nice, but also looks very clean and nice. The Dura Ace still have the nuts on the side to adjust the bearings.
  30.  
    I like my Phil to Open Pro.


    Weight really doesn't mean shit on the street. Even in racing, super light only really matters when you start doing hill climbs.



    I think you made a bad rim choice, to be honest. I'm doing messenger work on the Phil to Open Pro, and it's holding up just as good as my Formula to Deep V did, and I'm like 220lbs. It's just smoother and lighter than the Deep V/Formula.



    Personally I wouldn't spend that much money on a campus bike. Formulas would do you just fine.
    • CommentAuthortstadum
    • CommentTimeFeb 5th 2009
     
    yeah, i know what you mean about the rims, not the besttt choice but i got them and that's that. I just wanted to be dif and try something new. they look sick btw. And my bike will pretty much be my car for the next four years so i want something nice... Im thinkin of the DA high flange now, i can get a deal on them and i dont want to spend that much on phil's.... yes the phil's are sealed but i dont mind working on my bike and the maintenance of the DA's. and they're superrr smooth i hear. Thanks for the input btw!
  32.  
    PAUL ftw
  33.  
    Get whatever is cheapest and works for you.

    I have Phil Wood hubs, I have Formula hubs, I have Van Dessel hubs, I have mavic, HED, old Zipp.... Phil's are overkill pretty much other than the fact that they show you're willing to spend a bunch on hubs.

    My Phil+Deep V+DT spokes, setup is pretty nice, but seriously it's not worth the price for a set of street wheels. For that price you can almost afford a used set of Zipp 404's, or a NEW set of Mavic KSyrium SL's... You can pretend to justify it in your head all you want that they're going to last forever, but honestly, who gives a shit? Everything and anything can last forever. I know shitty 70's ten speed bike boom hubs that still spin super smooth.

    For street usage that you wanna throw DEEP VEEPZ on, just get a formula X vee setup and spend the rest of the money on stuff that matters, like a good saddle, good fitment, a set of clipless pedals and shoes, a better frame, etc... And to be perfectly honest, you do not need super NJSZZZZ Dura Ace/Sugino cranks (especially on a fucking Kilo TT. Come on!)

    Shit, my HED3 and Zipp disc TOGETHER (abit used) cost less than a Phil X Velocity build.
    • CommentAuthorjam guy
    • CommentTimeFeb 7th 2009
     
    Posted By: octopus magicGet whatever is cheapest and works for you.

    I have Phil Wood hubs, I have Formula hubs, I have Van Dessel hubs, I have mavic, HED, old Zipp.... Phil's are overkill pretty much other than the fact that they show you're willing to spend a bunch on hubs.

    My Phil+Deep V+DT spokes, setup is pretty nice, but seriously it's not worth the price for a set of street wheels. For that price you can almost afford a used set of Zipp 404's, or a NEW set of Mavic KSyrium SL's... You can pretend to justify it in your head all you want that they're going to last forever, but honestly, who gives a shit? Everything and anything can last forever. I know shitty 70's ten speed bike boom hubs that still spin super smooth.

    For street usage that you wanna throw DEEP VEEPZ on, just get a formula X vee setup and spend the rest of the money on stuff that matters, like a good saddle, good fitment, a set of clipless pedals and shoes, a better frame, etc... And to be perfectly honest, you do not need super NJSZZZZ Dura Ace/Sugino cranks (especially on a fucking Kilo TT. Come on!)

    Shit, my HED3 and Zipp disc TOGETHER (abit used) cost less than a Phil X Velocity build.


    Overkill? This coming from a guy running a Hed3 and a Zipp disc. Granted, Phil hubs are quality. They are the Honda of the bike world. You dont do shit to them and they run forever. People who get phil hubs for the trend of it are probably the same people who will sell them in a year anyway when they move on to something new.
  35.  
    Yeah, I have them [hed3/disc] for time trial (AKA RACING) purposes?

    Look, I bought the hype/drank the koolaid for Phil's, and I think they're overrated unless you're pounding mileage day in and day out, and even then they're still expensive. This is not to say they're bad hubs at all, not at all!

    Fact is, you can jam their bearings in pretty much any cartridge hub, and not have to do anything with them. No, they don't come all anodized pretty, nor are they going to be nicely finished, but I'm going to say that as far as FUNCTION goes, you don't have to spend Phil Wood hub money to get the same performance, or spend less for better applied hubs. I haven't done anything to my old Van Dessel hubs either, riding them through winter salt/sand/snow, and they're doing just peachy. I wouldn't compare Phil Wood to Honda, I'd put them more in the class of Lexus/Mercedes. You're spending the extra money for a luxury, more exclusive item. They're luxury parts, through and through.

    The nice thing about Phil's is the fact you can get custom rear spacers for the hubs in case you have an oddball spaced rear end like my CRB, but you can just put washers on longer axle hubs as well, and there's a ton of back dated parts. It's also nice that they're made right here in the good ole US of A.

    So, yeah, for a street ride, I'd say that Phil Wood hubs ARE the best you can buy. But putting them on a Mercier? There's a ton of things that I'd do first (one of which is buying a better frame).....
    • CommentAuthortyler215
    • CommentTimeJul 7th 2009
     
    CommentAuthorbionnaki CommentTimeJan 24th 2009 quote
    quality
    but bit overrated.

    and your wheelset is going to be heavy and slow as shit.


    not true at all
    • CommentAuthordeermatt
    • CommentTimeJul 7th 2009
     
    I've had em , sure , theyre nice, but super heavy. I also have a set of grand compe hubs, spin forever , great hubs. Profile makes a light , super nice track hub too. I really like their low flange hub for front wheels , Theyre not my first choice for hubs (pricey and heavy) but the built quality is deffinately great.
    • CommentAuthorfixedpuch
    • CommentTimeJul 7th 2009
     
    I dig my phil, havent had a problem yet. spin forever
  39.  
    That does it! I'm going to get some Phil's now.
    • CommentAuthordanzap209
    • CommentTimeJul 8th 2009
     
    What is the lightest aluminum track hub?
  41.  
    Posted By: danzap209What is the lightest aluminum track hub?


    American Classics, I believe.
    • CommentAuthorjam guy
    • CommentTimeJul 8th 2009
     
    I just sold my wheels for 400. Black phils laced to Mavic open pros. Sexy wheels. I loved my phils but it was time to see them off. With the amount of debt my life of living with bike luxuries is over.
    • CommentAuthordanzap209
    • CommentTimeJul 8th 2009
     
    I'll look them up ! Thanks
  44.  
    Checkout my wheelset. You'll never go back. The absolutely smoothest ride you'll ever have. Don't settle for less and splurge the extra bucks. I ride in NYC so Lord knows I need the durability.

1 to 43 of 43

  1.  
 


about, FAQ & policies | contact | blog | status | resources | site map | graphic design
© 2005-2009 velospace. All Rights Reserved.