Wheelsmith 50mm Gigantex / CXRay / Novatec Lite

mfin

Just before I order the above was wondering what anyone thought of them for the money? Handbuilt by Derek McLay www.wheelsmith.co.uk for £475. ...OR... any other suggestions on other buys around that price for 50mm/60mm Tubulars (just for TT ing) before I make the spend? Will be using pair until disc is bought then will just keep rear aside for hillies.

Anonymous

No other suggestions...

I suggest a purchase is necessary.

Unless you can stretch to better hubs from the same place?

mfin

I asked the guy about the PMP Hubs which push the wheels from £474 to £595 and he didn't persuade me it was worth going for... they're japanese instead of taiwanese bearings, for 10s and so on it doesn't much seem worth it to me.

Do you have bad experience of lesser hubs on these kind of things then ? What have you found when going between hubs at these kind of price ranges? Id assume the bearings are gonna be just as good between the two and the freehub not come into it as much cos they're pretty much being pedalled all the time so thats not much of an issue, pickup etc?

If you've had a experience of a few different 50/60mm wheelsets can you offer any enlightenment that might help. Cheers.

Anonymous

Just bling and weight really, for TTs it's irrelevant...

I use zipps but loads of people at my club use the Planet X wheels that use these Gigantex rims with lesser spokes and hubs for similar money. I've never heard any complaints. The Wheelsmith ones should be sooper!

mfin

Well the PMP ones are a few grams heavier, 15 or something but cost more, Tune Hubs would save 80grams but at £225 for that weight saving it seems a bit daft to say the least... there's a lot cheaper ways of saving that weight for sure.

Im sure there are other advantages though. Bling just can't be one of them... bling wont make me any faster it'll just make me feel stupid for riding costly gear if I don't go quick on them.

Think I'll just go with the Novatec ones.

andyp

PMP hubs are superb, beautifully finished and the bearings roll so smoothly. They're far superior to generic crap like the Novatec ones!

Chip \'oyler

The ones you are ordering are exactly the same as mine. And they've been superb all season for me. Igonore the previous poster - the Novatec Lite hubs are a good hub for the money. And you can easily change the bearings if you want to at a later date.

I use mine probably once a week - so they aren't going to get much of a hammering anyway

andyp

Rather than ignoring me, maybe the OP should listen to all opinions and make up his own mind?

I've had a pair of PMP hubs that have been going strong for 7 years. They've been serviced a couple of times, still look as good as new and are superb value for money. PMP components generally are beautifully made and last. I'm not sure the same can be said for Novatec, especially when it comes to durability.

For an extra £100 or so the OP could get a pair of wheels that last him many, many seasons.

chriskempton

Can you back up saying why Novatecs are "generic crap".

If not, I'd say the OP should ignore that part of what you said.

mfin

Interested in this 'debate' 15 grams difference is nothing, but £120 when you're already on the spend is not ridiculous I suppose... are the rims up to the extra spend on the hubs?? I'm open to what people are saying here.

I suppose we're agreed that either would be great cos no-one's said not to buy either and to go for some alternative?

Anonymous

You can always upgrade the hubs at a later date if the Novatec ones give up the ghost...

But yes, buy...

andyp

chriskempton wrote:

Can you back up saying why Novatecs are "generic crap".

If not, I'd say the OP should ignore that part of what you said.

Novatec, like most of the component manufacturers in south east Asia, buy hubs from another supplier and pass them off as their own. This is how they establish a brand in a competitive market. Later on they start investing a bit in R&D and try and differentiate against the competition but the majority of their products are designed and developed elsewhere. That's why I refer to them as generic crap.

Chip \'oyler

andyp wrote:

chriskempton wrote:

Can you back up saying why Novatecs are "generic crap".

If not, I'd say the OP should ignore that part of what you said.

Novatec, like most of the component manufacturers in south east Asia, buy hubs from another supplier and pass them off as their own. This is how they establish a brand in a competitive market. Later on they start investing a bit in R&D and try and differentiate against the competition but the majority of their products are designed and developed elsewhere. That's why I refer to them as generic crap.

Have you ever owned a pair of Novatec's? You said yourself 'you're not sure the same can be said for Novatec' - so I'm assuming you've never seen or owned any.

I'm not denying that the PMP's would be a good hub - but as an owner of Novatec Lite's I would say they are very good value for money. The bearings are very smooth - and if they do get rough, then replacing bearings aint a costly or hard thing to do.

It would also help if you knew your full facts. Novatec are a sister company to Joytech, who are a Taiwan company. Novatec are the high end part of the company - so if Joytech don't make the Novatec hubs, where do they get them from?

http://www.novatec.com.tw/novatec/engli ... e_back.php

http://www.joy-tech.com.tw/

chriskempton

andyp wrote:

chriskempton wrote:

Can you back up saying why Novatecs are "generic crap".

If not, I'd say the OP should ignore that part of what you said.

Novatec, like most of the component manufacturers in south east Asia, buy hubs from another supplier and pass them off as their own. This is how they establish a brand in a competitive market. Later on they start investing a bit in R&D and try and differentiate against the competition but the majority of their products are designed and developed elsewhere. That's why I refer to them as generic crap.

blah blah blah you've said nothing about the quality of the hubs (like Chip says, because you've probably no experience of them) therefore no reason there for the OP not to buy them. Thanks for the lecture on outsourced production and brand development though

Anonymous

C'mon ladies, handbags away ?

andyp

Chip \'oyler wrote:

Have you ever owned a pair of Novatec's? You said yourself 'you're not sure the same can be said for Novatec' - so I'm assuming you've never seen or owned any.

I bought a pair of their road disc hubs back in 2007 for a cyclo cross bike I was building, and it took a fair bit of time to track them down. The rear hub cracked on the non-driveside flange after 4 months, hence my antipathy towards Novatec hubs.

Your experience obviously differs to mine, so let's hope their quality has improved across the board.

Chip \'oyler

andyp wrote:

Chip \'oyler wrote:

Have you ever owned a pair of Novatec's? You said yourself 'you're not sure the same can be said for Novatec' - so I'm assuming you've never seen or owned any.

I bought a pair of their road disc hubs back in 2007 for a cyclo cross bike I was building, and it took a fair bit of time to track them down. The rear hub cracked on the non-driveside flange after 4 months, hence my antipathy towards Novatec hubs.

Your experience obviously differs to mine, so let's hope their quality has improved across the board.

Fair enough - you've had a bad experience so I can understand your opinion.

TBH - I was a bit worried about the Novatec's on my wheel build. I'd originally specced some different hubs but couldn't get campag freehub bodies - so went with the Novatecs. But I've been pleasantly surprised with them.

mfin

That was weird Andy, you went back and forth there being asked to backup why you think they're rubbish and after a few replies you remember to mention you had one that went wrong. Im surprised it didn't occur to you to drop that in earlier!

I'm going to guess that this guy Derek offers builds using them cos they're good hubs though and not becasue they're the cheapest of the cheap. He certainly seemed to rate them and I'm assuming he's built and serviced a fair few. I'd guess you've been unlucky. That extra £120 for the PMP's is quite a bit still, I'll make a decision today on one or the other and order.

Chip \'oyler

Your right mfin.

Derek tries loads of different hubs and will only stock ones he thinks are good.

He obviously stocks the Novatecs because he rates them and offer a different price point within his range

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simon t

i bought a gigantex/novatech front wheel from wheelsmith last season.its has performed flawlessly.as a wheel builder i would use derek again.

personally i would just get a front instead,the rear will become redundant when you buy a disc anyway(and no you wont use it for hillies!)

aarw

when giving feedback on wheels please also provide weight (rider) and typical terrain. riding style wouldn't be a bad thing either.

Chip \'oyler

phips wrote:

Chip \'oyler wrote:

The ones you are ordering are exactly the same as mine. And they've been superb all season for me. Igonore the previous poster - the Novatec Lite hubs are a good hub for the money. And you can easily change the bearings if you want to at a later date.

I use mine probably once a week - so they aren't going to get much of a hammering anyway

Bump.

You got any pics of your wheels Chip'?

Thanks

The photo top left on Derek's Gallery are the same spec Mr Phips

http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/pricelist.htm

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magliaceleste

After much thought I've also decided on a Novatech front hub on my wheels from Wheelsmith. Originally I was going for an Extralite. Rear is a PT. Cadence Aero rims with CX-Ray though.

Derek recommends them and they weigh similar to am Extralite SL. As the Novatechs take standard bearings, just like many of the other "pimpy" hubs I can't see a reason not to use them on the front.

Chip \'oyler

magliaceleste wrote:

After much thought I've also decided on a Novatech front hub on my wheels from Wheelsmith. Originally I was going for an Extralite. Rear is a PT. Cadence Aero rims with CX-Ray though.

Derek recommends them and they weigh similar to am Extralite SL. As the Novatechs take standard bearings, just like many of the other "pimpy" hubs I can't see a reason not to use them on the front.

Funnily enough I've just emailed Derek an order. Originally I wanted Novatecs, but he suggested a higher spoke count - so I've gone for 24/28 Ambrosio's on Aero Cadence/CX Rays. I'll swap the heavy skewers for some KCNC ones.

What exactly is a PT hub?

redddraggon

Powertap

magliaceleste

Yeah sorry it's Powertap SL+ rear. I've gone for 20/24 spokes on the Cadence Aero 30mm rims.

disgruntledgoat

BUMP!

I ordered the same wheelset on the PMP hubs last week. Nap D should be put on commission. I'm super excited though.

mrc1

Was looking at Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLs recently but have emailed wheelsmith with my requirements to see what they come up with as the Cosmic's are pretty heavy considering (down to the clincher build i suppose).

Can someone reassure me that moving to tubs is not a mistake?

Anonymous

mrc1 wrote:

Was looking at Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLs recently but have emailed wheelsmith with my requirements to see what they come up with as the Cosmic's are pretty heavy considering (down to the clincher build i suppose).

Can someone reassure me that moving to tubs is not a mistake?

Moving to tubs is not a mistake.

As long as you aren't using them everyday...