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#1
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Broken hub, replacement options?
I've had a pair of Phil Wood hubs for over thirty years and just noticed
some wobble in my rear tire. My bike shop (a trustworthy place) reports that the hub is broken and they'd recommend replacement. I don't have a high-end modern bike. It's a parts hybrid assembled in the early seventies that includes an Allegro 531 frame, some Campagnolo gear and a few pedestrian components that I really should get around to replacing (Universal 61 centerpulls, that sort of thing). But my immediate concern is a new hub. I ride for fitness, usually not more than 12-15 miles a day, all urban cycling on surface streets. I don't need anything fancy but don't really want something that would be inappropriate with the upgrades I'm gradually doing. Would someone like to recommend something and let me know what price I'll need to anticipate? Do I need to replace both hubs or just one? Thanks in advance for any suggestions. ---- |
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#2
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On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:04:25 +0000, saki wrote:
Would someone like to recommend something and let me know what price I'll need to anticipate? Do I need to replace both hubs or just one? Thanks in advance for any suggestions. First thing to do is contact the Phil Wood company--they're truly amazing--and find out what to do. Perhaps the hubs are quite salvageable, perhaps not. If it's just a shot cartridge bearing or axle--that's relatively cheap and easy. Your shop may be trustworthy, but not as familiar with the particulars of Phil's hubs as you think. Worth a shot getting a second opinion, and would probably help if you can send or post some digital images to go along with your query. Building a new wheel around a fresh Phil Hub is going to cost a pretty penny (you'll get a damn fine wheel in return of course) but perhaps it's time to take stock and see if that money would be better invested towards a more basic wheelset or new bike, or if sentimental value trumps all...just go for it. Let us know how it goes. |
#3
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maxo wrote: First thing to do is contact the Phil Wood company--they're truly amazing--and find out what to do. Perhaps the hubs are quite salvageable, perhaps not. If it's just a shot cartridge bearing or axle--that's relatively cheap and easy. Your shop may be trustworthy, but not as familiar with the particulars of Phil's hubs as you think. Worth a shot getting a second opinion, and would probably help if you can send or post some digital images to go along with your query. Excellent advice, thanks. I'll see what Phil Wood might have to say. Building a new wheel around a fresh Phil Hub is going to cost a pretty penny (you'll get a damn fine wheel in return of course) but perhaps it's time to take stock and see if that money would be better invested towards a more basic wheelset or new bike, or if sentimental value trumps all...just go for it. I'm very nostalgic about the frame, perhaps foolishly, but I recognize that things have changed during the past thirty years. This is something I'll have to consider carefully. Thanks very much! ---- Let us know how it goes. |
#4
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I agree that the first thing you should do is contact Phil Wood. Phil
can be very reasonable with repairs of its products. With regard to your frame, hey, it you're nostalgic and the frame fits you, no need to change it. You can "upgrade" your frame with modern components should you choose. Modern components may require you to spread your dropouts to fit 130mm standard, but other than that, you should be able to use it! If you need to build a new wheel, and a new Phil is too expensive. Take a look at Shimano or Campy's hubs. Both are excellent and will easily take 8, 9, or 10 speed cogs should you decide to make your bike more modern. Alternatively, freewheel hubs and complete wheels can be found fairly cheap on ebay, craigslist or your local bike shop bulletin board as most riders today don't use this form. Lots of ways to go. Good Luck! |
#5
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"bfd" wrote in news:1106164131.578512.297150
@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com: I agree that the first thing you should do is contact Phil Wood. Phil can be very reasonable with repairs of its products. I appreciate the advice. For the short term my local shop installed a temporary hub (a Normandy, I believe) and I can at least get around on the bike till I can find out what Phil Wood would charge to repair the old hub. With regard to your frame, hey, it you're nostalgic and the frame fits you, no need to change it. You can "upgrade" your frame with modern components should you choose. Modern components may require you to spread your dropouts to fit 130mm standard, but other than that, you should be able to use it! Will spreading the dropouts create metal fatigue on the frame eventually, or isn't the spread that significant? If you need to build a new wheel, and a new Phil is too expensive. Take a look at Shimano or Campy's hubs. Both are excellent and will easily take 8, 9, or 10 speed cogs should you decide to make your bike more modern. Alternatively, freewheel hubs and complete wheels can be found fairly cheap on ebay, craigslist or your local bike shop bulletin board as most riders today don't use this form. Lots of ways to go. Good Luck! Thanks very much for the details. With the prospects of facing permanent retirement for my bike I realized how nostalgic I actually am for that Allegro frame. The only other bike made today that I could embrace might be a Rivendell, if I could afford one. But I don't know how they rate next to more modern models. I sure like their look, though. ---- |
#6
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In article ,
saki writes: Will spreading the dropouts create metal fatigue on the frame eventually, or isn't the spread that significant? This article explaining frame spacing, by Sheldon Brown, might be of interest to you: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html cheers, Tom -- -- Nothing is safe from me. Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca |
#8
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Saki asks:
Will spreading the dropouts create metal fatigue on the frame eventually, or isn't the spread that significant? You may want to read the Bicycle FAQ "frames going soft" and "frame fatique": http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bicycles-fa...ection-46.html http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bicycles-fa...ection-45.html With the prospects of facing permanent retirement for my bike I realized how nostalgic I actually am for that Allegro frame. The only other bike made today that I could embrace might be a Rivendell, if I could afford one. But I don't know how they rate next to more modern models. I sure like their look, though. I think you need to look at what will fit YOU and your type of riding. If your Allegro fits and is in "good shape". I would ride it, especially if money is tight. Upgrading parts is easy. If your frame has the old 120 or 126mm spacing, it can be spread to fit the more modern 130mm standard. If you don't know how, find a good shop to do it. Worth the money. Alternatively, you can always "upgrade" to a new frameset. It doesn't necessarily have to cost alot. Obviously, if you want a "Riv" or high custom-made in America lugged steel bike, be prepared to fork out $$$$ for a frameset, e.g., Rivendell customs *start* at $2500 with a 2 year wait; others like Eisentraut, Bruce Gordon, Steve Rex, etc. are about that and don't ask about a Richard Sachs - $3K, 3 year wait list. There are some cheaper alternatives. Rivendell sells its Romulus bicycles (complete) for $1500; Rambo frameset, made in Japan by Toyo cost about $1400. Other brands that are a bit cheaper include Jitensha studios' Ebisu, Waterford, and Heron all in the $1k price range. You can get a English-made Mercian for a little less, depending on the strength of the dollar, which we all know is sucking right now, at about $800-900. However, maybe the best deal in lugged steel framesets is Matthew Gramm's Kogwells. Made in China, a frameset can be found for about $600-700, with room for fenders. A great buy: www.kogswell.com Good Luck! |
#9
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"bfd" wrote in news:1107553004.129712.132610
@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com: I think you need to look at what will fit YOU and your type of riding. If your Allegro fits and is in "good shape". I would ride it, especially if money is tight. Upgrading parts is easy. If your frame has the old 120 or 126mm spacing, it can be spread to fit the more modern 130mm standard. If you don't know how, find a good shop to do it. Worth the money. That may be the way to go for the future. I do like the frame...so does my son, to whom I've promised the bike when I'm too old to ride it. :-) You can get a English-made Mercian for a little less, depending on the strength of the dollar, which we all know is sucking right now, at about $800-900. However, maybe the best deal in lugged steel framesets is Matthew Gramm's Kogwells. Made in China, a frameset can be found for about $600-700, with room for fenders. A great buy: www.kogswell.com I've bookmarked this site. Nice to know there are still vendors out there producing good-quality steel-frame lugged bikes. Many thanks. ---- |
#10
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On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 20:31:43 +0000, saki wrote:
Thanks, very helpful, if painful-looking. the 2x4 and chair method is actually downright fun in my experience. mmmm, primal bending. :P |
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