CHUB Review

The CHUB HUB Review

I’ve always been a tech head and in searching for new upgrades to my ride nothing really struck as particularly innovative as the Chub Hub. So – after careful negotiation with the significant other on how this particular piece of technology would dramatically improve <our> relationship and increase my fitness level, yadda yadda … I was able to go purchase one – just in time for the Mt. Fuji Hill Climb.
The Chub Hub is BIG.  Everyone asks what’s in there and of course you HAVE to answer (ala Adam Sandler .. you can keep your w… in there!)  HAHA! Or just claim that its actually a ‘mechanical doping’ device. In any case – there is absolutely NOTHING in there – and thats the point. It is just a very large circumference HUB.
Why?  To quote the folks at Hive — “The answer is by increasing flange diameter,and dramatically increasing the torsional stiffness of the hub shell the result is a hub that more efficiently transfers pedal force from the drive side to the non”drive side, increasing wheel strength by reducing spoke stress..” If you want to learn more – just check out the Hive.
I had my LBS (where I bought the hub) lace it up to a Mavic Open and managed to get the completed wheel just in time for the Mt. Fuji Hillclimb.

Prior to the race, I rode from Takao up to Mt. Fuji , so I had a good chance to shake it down. The first thing I noticed was that I pulled to the top of the first hill we hit coming out of  Takao at higher gear (42/17) loaded with a backpack at higher than my ‘normal’ rate. On hard standing climbs at high torque – typical of the lower rpm stuff you encounter on a road fixie – the CHUB definitely felt more solid on the road. It’s like the pedal motion was resulting in pavement transfer rather than wheel slush. I loved it, and my personal mechanic gives it her approval.

The CHUB is definitely an attention grabber. The only issue or complaint I have with this wheel is that the builder chose 3x rather than 2x. The Chub puts lower spoke loading – so you can easily spoke 2x or even radial. And he didn’t put rim plugs in the wheel! besides that – its a perfect build and a fun addition to the ride.