[cheepnis]

The new Paul WHUB (front disc hub) has 135mm spacing for fitting forks like Jones, I understand. The center-to-rotor on a standard rear ISO 6 bolt disc hub is 52mm (I'm fairly certain) and the center-to-rotor on the WHUB is 57mm (from Paul direct).

So it looks like the chainline moves out by about 5mm. There is plenty of space to move the cog out by much more towards the stays, so I don't see an issue in the rear. I have an eccentric BB that I can nudge out a few mm, and by using a wider spindle I think I can adjust chainline out to 57mm.

Has anyone considered this or can anyone think of why this wouldn't work so well? I like the fact that this hub should make for a super stiff, but dedicated fixie, wheel.

I'm also not sure about the WHUB availability.

 

[boomn]

Funny, I was just thinking about that yesterday. Besides chainline (which does sound a bit wide) the other issue I thought of and didn't see info about was the axle size. Front hubs are typically a 9mm axle and rear are 10mm, so it might not fit securely enough in a rear dropout. Unfortunately I'm guessing this one really is a 9mm axle based on the comment on their site that "it’s a FHUB that’s been put on the rack and stretched out" and that it is designed around front disc spacing

 

[cheepnis]

Oh, learn't something new again, 9 vs. 10mm. I guess I need to look into that some more, thanks.

I see that Paul's other front hub FHUB has a bolt-on conversion kit. I wonder if something can be fitted to work better with the rear.

Is that 1mm really a deal breaker though with a strong QR?

 

[bgblue1978]

why not just get the paul disc singlespeed rear hub and use the disc for fixed gear? you know it works (at least mine works great) and you always have the singlespeed option. what's the advantage to using the front hub?

 

[boomn]

why not just get the paul disc singlespeed rear hub and use the disc for fixed gear? you know it works (at least mine works great) and you always have the singlespeed option. what's the advantage to using the front hub?

If it would work, why not? As for actual reasons that can possibly be used: it looks cleaner, and the flange spacing is really wide making for an even stronger wheel

 

[cheepnis]

Yeah, I was most interested in the very wide flange spacing and hauling the bear minimum hardware (in true fixie spirit).

BTW,Paul says that there is no bolt-on option for the WHUB, QR only.

Is there really much of a market Paul is going for with their Fixed/Disk WORD hub?
"..want to mount disk brakes on your fixed commuter, the Fixed/Disk WORD has you covered." Uh yeah, just itching to mount up some disc brakes on my rear fixie commuter wheel. That would be so cool.

If anything, going the route bgblue1978 recommends by using the singlespeed version (Disk WORD) would be the way to go by giving the option of freewheeling it in the future. But then I have enough of those hubs.

 

[boomn]

Yeah, I was most interested in the very wide flange spacing and hauling the bear minimum hardware (in true fixie spirit).

BTW,Paul says that there is no bolt-on option for the WHUB, QR only.

Is there really much of a market Paul is going for with their Fixed/Disk WORD hub?
"..want to mount disk brakes on your fixed commuter, the Fixed/Disk WORD has you covered." Uh yeah, just itching to mount up some disc brakes on my rear fixie commuter wheel. That would be so cool.

If anything, going the route bgblue1978 recommends by using the singlespeed version (Disk WORD) would be the way to go by giving the option of freewheeling it in the future. But then I have enough of those hubs.

I don't know how big the market for disc fixed hubs really is, but specialty and unique parts even in small volumes is what Paul's specializes in. They are not a big company at all; quite a small machine shop actually, but cool guys that like to be a bit different. Surly does makes a hub like that now too though, so the market for fixed/disc mtb setups can't be that tiny.

I've tried off-road fixed on my main SS MTB frame before and if I stuck with fixed full time on that bike I would have definitely bought a disc/fixed rear hub. As it is my new fixed bike is v-brake only so I'm no longer worried about that part.

FWIW Paul is across town from me and I've always wanted to support them just because they're local, don't outsource anything, and ride the same trails as me. I'll still consider this thread a success as long as you still get something from Paul

 

[cheepnis]

A rear brake on a fixed mtb bike is not a good idea, IMO. I learned to ride a mtn fixie with a rear v-brake and found out that rear braking with anything other than your legs does not help with control. I thought that the guys that rode fixed mtn were just being bold with just a front brake, but it's more bold to maintain traction while grabbing a rear brake when your feet and legs are attached to the drive-train. It feels natural when changing over from a freewheel but doesn't really well work over time.

If Paul made a rear fixed hub without space for a freewheel allowing for simple, light, and wide, I would have one.

 

[TwigJumper]

I like this idea. I think it would work if you had a good steel quick release. I might do this with my bike that has track fork ends.
If you ran a chainring on the outer, the chainline could easily be perfect.

 

[TwigJumper]

Shouldn't this thread be moved to the Single Speed forum? It's a lovely idea that should be shared over there!