Chris King hubs

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Obviously supposed to be close to the gold standard but anyone got any firsthand experience? Built onto what rims?

[Rocksteadyeddie]

okgo said:

I cannot tell the difference between £500 Royce hubs and £100 shimano ones, starting to think its mostly just vanity. Dura ace hub spins longer if anything than the Royce one.

I agree re Dura Ace. I have a couple of sets of wheels and they're really excellent hubs. Had one pair for about 25 years and still like new.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

stongle said:

Rocksteadyeddie said:

I agree re Dura Ace. I have a couple of sets of wheels and they're really excellent hubs. Had one pair for about 25 years and still like new.

Is this a sort of rhetorical question?, for someone in Pedal Powered, you know what you talking about (or are least in my opinion). If you are happy with DA, why change to CK at double the cost? Aside from durability, surely hubs in isolation (at DA level and above) must be exceptionally difficult to realise / observe real world gains. I might go with a wider rim is possibly / almost slightly discernibly better in blustery conditions when the yaw angle is just right; but hubs? Its like Princess and the Pea in here.

Maybe, the question should have been – what am I missing with a “monkey” on a set of hubs? Probably nothing, so why are they now so popular? I guess when people are building wheelsets or bikes and going top of the line for frames, group sets rings etc etc; you can get caught in the “weakest link” syndrome so everything is 10/10s (although I just noticed those gold Royce hubs; curses); but I’d also suppose that yes there is an element of vanity involved (and we must not let that get in the way of a wind tunnel proven extra watt).

I can’t feel any real difference between my ENVE wheels and Bontrager Aelous. They both have similar aero profiles, run good hubsets; just the later costs 600 quid less. If I was building new wheels with good rims, I’d spec the best hubs I could afford (relative), but also in respect of the rest of the bike build. It’s not something I’d do in isolation (personally); but I’m lazy so don’t switch wheels around much. Basically, my Racing 1s stay on the AiR for commuting; the Aelous on the Madone and the ENVE’s on n+1 when it finally arrives (although I’m running them on the Madone whilst waiting). I can't tell which ones are the fastest as each bike has a slightly different set-up or use.

In short (cut out the blah blah, slow day here) if you are happy with DA, you're probably not missing much.

Thanks for your reply. The two sets of wheels I have on DA hubs (one a set of handbuilt Open Pros, the other a set of 1380s) are currently employed on other steeds - so this would be a new set not a change to the existing. There is no doubt a bit of "shiny new things" syndrome going on, and the wheels would be pressed into service on my commuting bike. But a) I would like some b) they are likely to last a very long time and c) I spend more time/miles commuting than I do on any other bike.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Right on Q I snapped a spoke on my front wheel on the way home tonight. So smashed out of true it was hitting the brake blocks on both sides with the QR as far off as it would go. So 25 miles on a badly rubbing wheel. It's a sign right?

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Nice looking bike that.

Found an RS80 wheel in the garage so at least I'm back mobile whilst I think about it.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Dowks said:

ChrisMCoupe said:

Not 100% sure about the enve 45 price, but built up onto and Enve SES 3.4 (a better rim IMO) you are looking at around £2,200 I believe. Pricey but arguably the best all round wheel set you can buy.

I just got Enve 3.4 SES Clinchers on red King hubs. Fantastic wheel set. Rims are superb. Other than the loud noise from the freehub I would be fibbing if I said I could tell a difference between any other hub than the King. Look fantastic mind

This is important.