Best Gravel hubs

[hansotto089]

Hi fellow Gravel weenies,

I am about to try my hand at wheelbuilding. My aim is to build a set of fast and robust Gravel wheels around the Nextie AGX45 rims. Since they don't offer a whole lot of customization options, I'll just do it myself.

What hubs would you recommend me to look at?

I am 90kg, use case is offroad-Gravel bikepacking (think events like Badlands). Probably going to use Pirelli Cinturato M tires (40mm).

I care about (1) reliability & durability (2) performance (stiffness, weight), and (3) ease of service & maintenance. Let's not think about cost for now

Also, what spoke count would recommend?

Thanks a lot for your ideas!!

[jch3n]

DT Swiss 350, 28h probably.

[CampagYOLO]

DT Swiss 350, 28h probably.

Seconded although given the purpose of the wheels and weight of OP, would consider the 32h ones. Looks like DT Swiss are releasing new 350 hubs which are a bit lighter as well.

[ooo]

2:1 hubs
viewtopic.php?t=167622

[jayjay]

+1 for DT Swiss hubs (350 or 240). I would go for 28 j-bend spokes (not straightpull)

[Visqu]

I'm also building AGX45, I chose 24h and DT 240 Classic for wider DS flange spacing than its straightpull sibling. Looking back, I might have been better off with a 28h rear but all my other wheels are 24h and have been holding up well.

I also considered i9 Torch, Tune ClimbHill/KillHill and Erase Road CL. These would appear to be slightly better balanced in the rear hub but ended up with DT as I got a good deal on those and there were some availability issues with i9 and Erase, also I'm not fully sold on the preload system of Tune.

Use case is "normal" gravel, some one day events and lightly loaded bikepacking (hotels, not tents), I weigh 80kg.

[hansotto089]

What's the advantage of J bend over straightpull? Just the bracing angle?

[Visqu]

What's the advantage of J bend over straightpull? Just the bracing angle?

I guess so, spokes were slightly cheaper too

[Vik61]

DT Swiss 350 24H + DT Competition (2-1.8-2) + brass nipples + nipple washers. Straightpull only.

[Visqu]

DT Swiss 350 24H + DT Competition (2-1.8-2) + brass nipples + nipple washers. Straightpull only.

I'm a novice on wheelbuilding and would like to learn; 24h sounds like a very low spoke count for someone weighing 90kg and doing loaded trips. Could you expand on your suggestion please?

[ooo]

straightpull non blade spokes ≠ ease of service & maintenance

it is more practical to build/service blade spokes

[Vik61]

I'm a novice on wheelbuilding and would like to learn; 24h sounds like a very low spoke count for someone weighing 90kg and doing loaded trips. Could you expand on your suggestion please?

24H spokes strong enough for 90 kg rider with carbon rims such as Nextie AGX45 (it's strong and solid piece of carbon). 28H give you nothing.
Also no problems with service & maintenance for DT Competition spokes.

[satanas]

While DT Comp spokes are certainly strong, they're neither light nor aero. I'd personally be more inclined to use either CX-Rays (which are both light & aero, but expensive), or else D-Lights which are light and cheap. IMHO Comps are overkill for most uses, though reliable and decent value; YMMV. Comps are also a bit more likely to become detensioned on the LHS of highly dished wheels, not that the AGX 45 rims are likely to flex enough for this to happen; with light, shallow rims it can though, and more elastic spokes help prevent it.

[ooo]

Pillar 1420 - I am using this bladed spokes since 2016:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=103936&p=1259271#p1259271

Now, 6.5 years later, this 24h carbon wheel is still in use, including tent touring and singletracks (rim is narrow thou)

I have used shimano deore level front hub from cannibalized wheel, because there was very a few centerlock 24h options in 2016.

It make sense to spend more money on rear hub, and spend less on front hub, you can even mix hubs from different brand.

With straighpull non-bladed spokes you have to use specific metal pliers to hold them (vs plastic holder for bladed spokes). With bladed spokes you can visually control unwinding (and fix it with nipple wrench and spoke holder at any moment)

[Petz]

If you like some colour, you could go for Hope RS4s, otherwise DT 350s will be fine too. Maybe 28h front and rear built with Sapim CX-Ray/Sprint.
I would always choose J-Bend hubs also, since I will never understand what's the advantage of straight pull, except that it can be machine-built.