It is quite possible that if you have been a cyclist few any number of years, you have a number of bike parts and frames hanging around the garage. Some of these frames might have been held onto for sentimental value or inherited from others, but for some reason they are still around. If the dream of building one of these back into a working bike has been inhibited by the lack of components that fit, Paul Component Engineering may have a product to come to the rescue – at least with regards to the rear wheel. Paul Component Engineering has a rear hub that offers the flexibility to fit multiple bike frames, spanning decades of production years. Not only is the Jono Hub a high quality hub, but it is accompanied by the parts needed to properly adjust the hub to the rear spacing of that ‘project bike’.
First and foremost, the Jono Hub is designed to get an older bike back on the road. Throughout the years, the rear frame spacing, the part of the frame that the rear wheel attaches to the frame, has become wider. This means that a new 11-speed rear wheel will not likely fit into a road bike frame from the 1970s. The Jono Hub is designed to use and comes with a number of different axle spacers to adjust the Jono Hub to the unique spacing of the classic frame hanging in the garage.
Along with fitting that unique rear spacing of one frame, the Jono Hub allows one rear wheel to be built and swapped between multiple bikes just as long as the same rim size is used on each of those frames. Even if the rear frame spacing is different, just swap the axle end caps and spacer; swap the freewheels; and adjust the dish if required. It is not as quick as changing a tube, but it does allow the flexibility of having one nice wheel for multiple project bikes as opposed to many lower grade wheels.
The multiple, changeable end caps that are included with the Jono Hub is the key feature that allows this hub to fit frames with an axle spacing from 121mm through 135mm. It also comes with all of the necessary fittings to allow this to fit this hub to a variety of chain-lines. Along with not only fitting decades worth of frames, the Jono Hub is designed to work with five, six, seven and even some eight speed freewheels.
The Jono Hub has the same design characteristics as their other High Flange hubs, including quick-release compatible axles. It comes in either 32 or 36 hole drilling and is available in anodized black, anodized silver or high polished aluminum that has a look similar to chrome. This means that not only can users build a high end wheel solution for the rear of a classic, but can also have a front wheel built to match.
And this product certainly do not necessitate a number of frames hanging around either. It just needs to have a classic frame that requires a high end hubset to finish the build. The Jono Hub can be purchased directly from their website or ordered through a bike shop. They retail between $166 – $177 depending on the finish. Paul Component Engineering produces some of the nicest components and unique solutions in the bike business – all designed, manufactured, quality checked and tested all under one roof in Chico, California. The Jono Hub won’t be an exact match for the Campanolo N.Record or Gipiemme Hubs, but they will at least allow the bike to be ridden.