Cycling UK Forum

Converting a Spec Rockhopper for touring, had it powdercoated and now sourcing bits to build, Can anyone offer advice as to some 26"/36 hole MTb wheels that would be ok for touring please. I have spoken to Spa and SJS to have some Sputniks built but there seems to be a problem getting LX hubs at the moment which I particulary wanted. Seems they won't be available till July and I would rather not have XT as there seems to have been probs with them. I have contacted several builders but they seem quite expensive compared to Spa. So any advice on other wheelsets please? Regards barbelfisher.

personally I think the issues with current XT hubs have been overplayed, but it is your money....

Reports of freehub failure appear to be confined to the first batch of hubs (about three years ago) and then only by MTBs for the most part. I suspect teething problems with manufacture of the new design, which should have been stronger, with more, larger pawls.

There is a lot of chat about 'weak hub bearings' but I've not seen any premature failures first hand or otherwise. The rear hubs have more balls that are slightly smaller in them than the previous version. Having used a tandem with a rear hub that had an similar arrangement of identically sized balls in it, I feel I can say with some confidence that there is no intrinsic weakness associated with having these slightly smaller balls in the rear hub. A lot of campagnolo rear hubs also use the same size balls, and people don't exactly go mithering about how they wear out too quickly, either....

If you must have the previous -highly regarded- M750 version of XT (with 1/4" balls in the rear bearings and fewer, smaller, pawls in the freehub), IIRC they are still listed at SJS.

hth

cheers

I had the same problem of LX hubs not being available. My LBS opted to build on Deore (36 hole Sputniks) as I didn't want the new XTs.

What do Spa say about using Deore?

I used Deore hubs on my husbands Cannondale without any problems.
It might pay to check the bearings are greased properly.
Other than that, the Deore hubs are good.
No problems so far after a couple of years of use.

Regular Deore hubs have kept me happy over the years - just service them depending on your riding/weather/mileage/etc. LX are shinier. But simple maintenance can save one grief as well as money. I have zero experience of them off road.

i too have just found out about the lack of lx hubs. Can't decide what to do! XT or Deore? or are there any other options in the same price range?

edit: found some lx hubs in stock (in germany!)
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/shim ... aid:287763
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/shim ... aid:287767

Managed to find some LX hubs on ebay and have purchased some Rhynolite XL's and having them built up for me. Most of the bits are new LX sourced from ebay. I have also managed to get some Thumbies as the 8 speed shifters I got from ebay had to be returned. Will post a pic when it is finished. Cost a few hundred I think but still a lot cheaper than a full blown expedition bike.