Hope Pro3 Hubs

[CyclingSouth]

Hello Everyone!

We have been looking into buying a Sherpa / Nomad for an upcoming trip, we will be traveling around 20,000 over all different kinds of road, and we are currently debating which hubs will be best.

In the Sherpa / Nomad catalogue it seems that Thorn considerably rate the Hope Pro 3 hubs, however looking on the hope site it appears these hubs are aimed at road use, something thats a bit odd considering the nomad is billed as being a go anywhere do it all bicycle..

We are just a bit confused, if anyone could shed some light on this it would be really appreciated! : )

Perhaps there are two different versions? Road & MTB,...?

Thanks,

Cemal & Martin

http://www.cycling-south.co.uk

[Danneaux]

Hi!

The Pro3 seems to be a direct development of the Pro 2. One concern I would have relates to the availability of replacement bearings or the entire Hope line. They are widely available from UK-based stockists, but seem to be difficult to get elsewhere. If you go with the Hopes and plan to travel the world, I would suggest carrying a spare set of bearings with me, or planning ahead for a shipment to arrive from the UK.

For this reason, many world tourists go with simpler Shimano kit, thanks to easy serviceability and widespread availability of replacement parts, perhaps going so far as to carry spare cones or even freehub bodies, according to several accounts I've read. Remember, most custom cassette hubs also use their proprietary freehubs (freewheel mechanism and pawls). If this goes bad, well, it's bad as one will have to await a replacement via FedEx, DHL, or other worldwide carrier at the cost of time and money.

The above comments are in no way intended to slight Hope products, which are of extremely high quality and are renowned for their reliability. It is simply that extended global touring in remote regions brings with it the spectre of parts failures and replacements, and with that in mind, sometimes "simpler" and "available" beats "sophisticated" and "delayed".

Wishing you a safe, wonderful happy trip of a lifetime. Please keep us posted as the time for departure draws near.

All the best,

Dan.

[E-wan]

I have a set of hope hubs on my MTB and a set of Phill Wood hubs on my Fixed gear bike.  I think Phil Wood are slightly more durable/higher quality than hope, I've never had to touch the barings on my Phill wood parts but have had to service my hope hubs.

When ordering my Nomad I got Thorn to build up the front wheel with a Phil Wood hub which I supplied instead of the hope hub.  Thorn used to offer their bikes with Phil Wood hubs but have stopped doing so now.

I 've used a Phill Kiss off front hub as it has a slightly larger flange.
http://www.philwood.com/products/hubspgs/KISSmtbhubs.php

can't imadgine that you would need to touch the bearings on a Phil Wood hub in the first 20,000 miles if ever!

Ewan

[Danneaux]

...can't imadgine that you would need to touch the bearings on a Phil Wood hub in the first 20,000 miles if ever!

Ewan,

I have well over 35,000mi/56,000+km on one of my three sets and they're still good. The later Phil FSA (Field Serviceable Axle) designs offered in the last decade or so allow roadside bearing replacement as well. Hard to beat. Their BBs and pedals (the latter no long made, unfortunately) are/were similarly long-lived with similar mileage in my all-weather use over decades.

Best,

Dan.

[NZPeterG]

I have a set of Old Hope Hubs which are still going like new (1992!)
But I like My Phil Wood hubs for ez of service on the road side/touring away from home.
the bearings are almost the same, the PhilWood are better build and I have had my Phil Wood hubs on old MTB still goimng strong after years of off road racing (2005)
My new touring wheelset also are Phil Wood and were going strong in Africa this year before I got very sick and almost died! after 2000kms wheels good. Body almost ok again.

NZPeterG