Hub recommendations?

[waynemyer]

Cassette is definitely the superlative system, but I find freewheels to be plenty great enough.  Plus, I am frugal.  Like you, I prefer to buy it once and not futz with it.  There are decent new freewheels to be had, as well as plenty of NOS freewheels still circulating in the world.

I recently picked up a bunch of NOS Shimano FW for $5 each, as well as a couple of the IRD Defiant FWs.  The Defiant freewheels have profiled teeth and shift nicely.  They probably won't last as long as an unprofiled cog, but I haven't worn out one yet.  At my current rate, I probably have enough freewheels to get me through the next 30 to 35 years.  With Velo-Orange coming out with their cartridge, threaded hubs soon (forgot about those earlier), I suspect that freewheels are here to stay.  I wouldn't be surprised if VO comes out with their own FW within a couple years or starts stocking IRD's FWs.

[lonerider]

Gosh, waynemyer, you make perfect sense to me as I still have two freewheels in my stash (burn through one every year) and can get them easily enough. The 10 speed systems are not nearly as robust as even the 9 speed before it, but nothing compares to the 6 and 7 speed systems I still use today. Good for long hauls and lots of torque load. Will look into the Phil Wood stuff this coming week. Perhaps I can take some motorcycle money and get at least a rear hub (yes, I use an envelope system to manage my disposable income). The local shop should be happy to order it for me plus spokes which they will cut to length.

[waynemyer]

Gosh, waynemyer, you make perfect sense to me as I still have two freewheels in my stash (burn through one every year) and can get them easily enough. The 10 speed systems are not nearly as robust as even the 9 speed before it, but nothing compares to the 6 and 7 speed systems I still use today. Good for long hauls and lots of torque load.

Say it from the hill, Brother Lone.  I was running 9-speed, but just didn't like it how persnickety it was and how quickly I wore out cassettes.  Interestingly, the chains were lasting unusually long.  I have dropped down to 8-speed on my cassette bike and I love how inexpensive even good parts are.  But nothing beats the long-wearing life and cheapitudeness of the freewheels and a Wipperman 5-speed chain.

Will look into the Phil Wood stuff this coming week. Perhaps I can take some motorcycle money and get at least a rear hub

Blasphemer!  Shame! 

The local shop should be happy to order it for me plus spokes which they will cut to length.

When you know your spoke length, drop me a line.  I may have the spokes you need either in DB or straight-gauge.  I bought a rather significant quantity of spokes from a shop liquidation.  I got plenty of value out of the lot already, and now many spoke lengths are just sitting there; I'll probably never get to them.  I would be happy to send you what you need if I have it in stock.  Gratis, of course.  This offer applies to the rest of you AC forum regulars, too.

[lonerider]

Thanks for the offer, exceptionally generous of you. Now I just need to decide on a rim. Likely a Velocity. Hoo-boy, it never stops!