For the panel:

Which will be lighter/easier to set up/more reliable of

Surly hub and screw-on (eg. White Industries) freewheel - but will chainline be an issue?

or

Hope (or similar) SS hub with suitable steel sprocket?

Andy

On my MTB single I've got a Hope Trials hub, pretty much everyone else I know with a single MTB goes the free hub + cog route too. On a roadie/track single, of course BMX cog style free cog.

On my MTB single I've got a Hope Trials hub, pretty much everyone else I know with a single MTB goes the free hub + cog route too. On a roadie/track single, of course BMX cog style free cog.

Unless you can get a really light freewheel hub and maybe a Ti based freewheel, it's almost always going to be lighter to use a cassette hub and cog, not to mention that it's easier to adjust your chainline and have multiple gearing combinations without needing as many different length chains. Tune, DT Swiss and American Classic make some of the lighter single speed cassette hubs.

The Hope Pro2 Evo Trials hub is very good though and the steel freehub body is generally a bonus because you can use cheaper steel cogs and not worry about gouging as much. Using cheaper cogs means you can have more of them and change your gear ratio to suit your 'course' which is generally more beneficial than a slight weight saving.

The Hope works very well and being able to adjust your chainline is not a bad idea. If you just use a wide base cog you will have no issues. I did upgrade my Hope to an Industry 9 single speed hub two years ago and its freaking awesome but pricy.

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Why not use Chris King ISO SS or DT Swiss 240

Hope Technology's factory is 30 miles from my house

Andy

The King SS hub is great, but it's about twice the price of the Hope Trials hub (a bit less loud too which isn't a bad thing !)

I too run a Hope SS hub.I cannot fault it to be honest it's extremely reliable,smooth and the engagement is nice and stable.

They are a peice of cake to setup and because of the freehub body you can move the spacers around until you find the perfect chainline too.Not o mention you can pick up some nice aftermarket spacer kits from brands like Velo Solo etc.The steel freehub also holds up extremely well to cogs cutting into the freehub after several years it still has not make a mark on mine.


Not to mention it's made in England