Crank Brothers Cobalt Front Hub.

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This photo shows the front hub on the Giant, Crank Brothers Cobalt's. The machining on these hubs with sealed cartridge bearings surely makes for little maintenance and a solid ride.

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RayMondo

? the principle of strength here

Voted 10/10

despite I pride myself on having an innate sense of engineering dynamics, I can't figure out much about this.

I see the tensile load on the hub is oriented laterally, rather than from the centre, but how might that affect the ride, despite the spokes are more radially strung than usual ?

Posted Oct 3, 2011 3:22 pm


	Wasatchvoyage	Re: ? the principle of strength here
	Hasn't voted	There's 24 spokes per wheel, which Crank Brother's brands as "Twin Spoke," they are side by side rather than the interlaced design of a conventional wheel. The main thing I think that makes up for the spacing of the spokes is the wheel disc itself, very tough! On the Cobalts there is a center rib both internally and externally, as well as another rib internally running the whole perimeter of the wheel to make them UST compatible. They're pretty tough though very light! I've read other reviews about the Cobalts on how they rank on the stiff side.
		Posted Oct 3, 2011 8:15 pm


	RayMondo	Re: ? the principle of strength here
	Voted 10/10	Okay, I got it as far as the wheel rim is configured. Pretty innovative to come up with new stuff, as the status quo often lasts for ages. There's always some bright spark out there. Just wish potential employers would listen to me ! I'll settle for them just being dumb - Ha ha ha.
		Posted Oct 4, 2011 8:56 am


	BeDrinkable	Re: ? the principle of strength here
	Voted 10/10	Ray, the straight-pull vs traditional (j-bend) spoke conversation is interesting. One advantage to the straight is a higher tension is possible. Also, the weak spot (bend) is eliminated. Although I have never broken a spoke at the bend so ... My experience has been that straight pull wheelsets hold true better than traditional. There are so many factors that I don't know the spokes are specifically responsible but it does seem to be a trend. Obviously this is more important for my non-disc brake bikes.
		Posted Oct 4, 2011 12:47 pm


	RayMondo	Re: ? the principle of strength here
	Voted 10/10	I guess if I'd used my head to better think out the reasons, I might have elevated myself to smart ! Though, I should have slept on it - amazing what the subconsciousness can figure out. Anyways, makes perfect sense. Though I did answer some tricky interview questions recently. Not everyday that you get thrown an epicyclic gearbox drawing at you. Got it in 10s. Thanks guys.
		Posted Oct 4, 2011 3:34 pm

ferday

nice pic!

Voted 10/10

i've always liked the look of the cobalts, but i'll only run a traditional spoke setup, as i break spokes too often in the middle of nowhere...

Posted Oct 4, 2011 11:58 am


	Wasatchvoyage	Re: nice pic!
	Hasn't voted	Thanks Ferday, they've performed pretty great. It does pain me somewhat while out riding a more rugged trail, and hear a rock flip up and hit those wheels, nice little nicks in the discs. Oh well, the basics of mountain biking. Crank Brothers has a spare spoke kit that can be purchased, and they claim you can replace the spokes on the trail without even having to pull the wheel off the bike. I can see how it could be done, though both spokes on either side (Twin pair) would have to come off. Fortunately no broken spokes yet.
		Posted Oct 9, 2011 9:24 pm

Malibu

The Blingin'est...

Voted 10/10

...(if that's a word) bike on mbpost.com!

Posted Oct 9, 2011 12:26 pm


	Wasatchvoyage	Re: The Blingin'est...
	Hasn't voted	Thanks Malibu, it's faded a little over this past year but still works pretty good. The rear shock got a rebuild this weekend and it was finally due for a new chain, which got swapped too. Hope to get it dirty this weekend, good forecast so far!
		Posted Oct 9, 2011 9:21 pm


	RayMondo	Re: The Blingin'est...
	Voted 10/10	Blingin'est +1 btw. This new stuff is particularly new to me. Okay, I got the reasoning for the radial insertions, and sussed the tension method. But not worked out what the vacant drillings are on each of the hub lobes ? Enlightened ones. I need enlightening !
		Posted Oct 15, 2011 12:49 pm


	Wasatchvoyage	Re: The Blingin'est...
	Hasn't voted	Not sure about those holes. They're opposite on the other side of the hub as the machined ones for the rotor bolts. I imagine it might be to keep the weight down. Rear hub has those holes also. Might also help keep the bearings cool? They run right along the perimeter of that portion of the hub.
		Posted Oct 16, 2011 8:39 am