How to choose road bike hubs?

The hub is the component that acts as the interface between the rest of your wheel and the bike. Here is how to help you select this part without making a mistake.

Standards

• The type of brake: rim brake, 6-bolt disc, Center-lock disc
• The type of bearing: cup and cone or sealed
• Axle width and length (for disc systems only)
• The type of freehub body: CAMPAGNOLO or SHIMANO
• Number of spokes

Which hub should you choose?

The first element to guide your choice is the braking system of your bike: rim or disc. In the latter case, beyond the disc mounting (Center Lock or 6-bolt), it is essential to check the axle length of your fork for the front hub and of your frame for the rear, as there is a multitude of standards (notably 9/100 mm, 12/100 mm, 15/100 mm at the front and 9/135 mm, 12/135 mm and 12/142 mm at the rear).

The hub contains the ball bearings. These can be either: "cup and cone" A type, requiring more regular maintenance but generally reliable over time; or "sealed bearing" B type, which is maintenance-free (simply replace the bearing when it is faulty).

Furthermore, you must ensure you choose a hub compatible with your drivetrain, where two freehub body standards coexist: SHIMANO / SRAM and CAMPAGNOLO.

Finally, regarding the number of spokes, the more spokes you have the stronger the wheel will be, and the fewer you have the lighter it will be. For a standard build, 32 spokes is the norm. Please note that this choice goes hand in hand with the rim — both elements must be designed for the same number of spokes.