Building a wheelset. Are red hubs faster?

[ceolwulf]

So I'm going to be getting parts soon for a wheelset for my Merckx. They will be polished Archetypes laced with silver spokes (undecided which yet) to (almost certainly) Bikehubstore hubs and here is the question: the original plan was all silver, but I kind of like the idea of red hubs (picking up the highlights from the frame), but, it almost seems like that would violate all good taste and decency and create a rift in the style-time continuum from which my velo life might never recover? What say ye style-masters?

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3949/15575928681_6ce0ff2301_o.jpg

[R3awak3n]

personally I would do HplusSon TB14 instead of the archtype and I would go with silver over red.

I dont think red would be bad but i think silver would be nicer. Also would be awesome if it was some campy hubs but I know the price of those nowadays is prohibitive.


also, that bike is awesome, I think I already said that on the gallery but the only thing that I didnt like about it is the wheels, g3 pattern doesn't agree with me, specially on a vintage steel bike.

[makoti]

Red is WAY cool..usually. On this, I'd go silver.

[thirdgenbird]

I'm not anti-red hub, but I think I would go silver hubs, silver spokes, hard ano rims on that bike.

[fiamme red]

Red hubs go well with a vintage bike, so long as that bike is a BMX. ;)

[thirdgenbird]

Red hubs go well with a vintage bike, so long as that bike is a BMX. ;)

Or a set of helium wheels.

[R3awak3n]

I'm not anti-red hub, but I think I would go silver hubs, silver spokes, hard ano rims on that bike.

yes, hard ano for sure. Like I said TB14 but archtype hard ano would also look good.

[Bstone]

36 hole Mavic hubs with MA40 tubulars.

[firerescuefin]

Red has its place for sure....but not on that bike

BTW...really like what you've got there.

[kramnnim]

I don't think the shade of red used on hubs would match the red on the frame very well.

All silver wheels would be a lot of silver, though...

[alexstar]

sweet bike... silver hubs would look great. Red hubs... they'd look good but not as good as silver.

[Cicli]

That bike needs silver hubs, silver spokes and hard ano rims.

Even a black rim dosent look right. Nice bike BTW.

[scho74]

Silver! I think something like this would look nice.
http://www.velomine.com/images/archetypeckbs1.jpg

This is too much silver:
http://www.velomine.com/images/archetypesilverchrisking1.jpg

[thirdgenbird]

Yep. Hard ano is even better than black too. It has a softer and more classic look.

[Deucer01]

I'm partial to Beyond Black and Falcon Grey. :banana:

[Ralph]

Not my business, and your bike, etc.....but if those are Zonda's on their now, I think they are better faster wheels than the ones you are thinking about building. Certainly better hubs IMHO. But I'm more into function than looks. Good luck with your decision.

[thirdgenbird]

His current wheels are khamsins. Solid wheels with sealed bearings. Zondas are a different ballgame.

[R3awak3n]

still, on that bike I would still rather do a nice handbuild TB14 to some white industry hubs or something pretty like that :)

[thirdgenbird]

Of course. If that were my bike:
Silver white industries hubs
Silver Dt comp spokes
Hard ano archetype or tb14 rims
Silver Paul skewers

[lhuerta]

...don't do it!

As has been said before, anodized parts (other then silver or black) are for beach cruisers and BMX bikes. Keep your beautiful Merckx looking like a Merckx without too much matchy-matchy.

BTW...I have a set of Record (9-10-11 speed) silver hubs in 32 hole in perfect condition that would fit your all silver build idea. PM for pics ad details. Lou

[AngryScientist]

on the flip side, i think blue hubs would look better on that bike than red.

http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/chris-king-cielo-bicycle-09.jpg

[r_mutt]

red hubs are much faster - but not on that bike!

[illuminaught]

I agree with Stan (scho...) Silver hubs with black rims would be the optimal aesthetic IMHO.

[ceolwulf]

Thank you gentlemen you are all just as full of sense and wisdom as I expected.

I must now deeply consider TB14s and hard ano.

And yes current wheels are Khamsins, which have many virtues especially including being strong and cheap but were always a temporary measure until I could get a wheel build underway.