Fairweather All Road Hub
Hello hello!
Samba here from Blue Lug Yoyogi Park.
Today, we’ve got a new product from FAIRWEATHER to introduce!
Headsets, bottom brackets, hubs… all those spinning parts that are essential to a bicycle.
They’re constantly under load whenever you’re riding, so naturally, they’re also parts that a lot of us want to spend a little extra money on.
I’m definitely guilty of building dream bikes in my head: “I want Phil hubs… maybe White Industries for the headset… or Chris King would be nice too…” You know how it goes.
Unfortunately, reality isn’t always so kind, and I’m constantly weighing those dream builds against what’s actually in my wallet.
When putting together a new bike, one of the bigger chunks of the budget usually goes toward the wheels — which means hubs and rims.
So I’d been wondering if there was a hub out there that does everything you need it to do, looks good, and still keeps the cost reasonable.
Well, here it is!
FAIRWEATHER ALL ROAD HUB
The hub shell is an original design made to strike a good balance between strength and weight.
One of my favorite details is the shape of the non-drive-side flange. I’ve secretly been calling it “the Harvest!”
Inside are four sealed bearings.
Since the rotating parts of the bearings are sealed off from the outside, they’re better protected against water and dirt, helping them stay smooth for a long time.
The axle is made from durable 7075 aluminum, while the Shimano 11-speed-compatible freehub uses a three-pawl ratchet system.
The result is a hub with the durability and reliable engagement you want for gravel bikes, road bikes, long rides, and plenty of everyday use.
They come in two colors: black and silver.
And if you look closely, the axle colors are actually swapped — a little black-and-silver panda situation.
The clean, streamlined hub shell looks especially good on sportier builds.
Simple without being boring. There’s something nice about that.
And there’s more!
By swapping out the end caps, the hubs can be used with:
- 100mm front / 142mm rear, 12mm thru-axle
- 100mm front / 135mm rear, quick release
Just give the end caps a pull by hand and they pop right off. (Surprisingly satisfying.)
So they’re also a great option for quick-release bikes like older Surly Stragglers, the Preamble, or Velo Orange’s Neutrino.
Tara-chan, our resident long-ride lover, has actually been putting a sample set of All Road Hubs through their paces for about six months now, using them for everything from commuting to longer rides.
Recently, he even rode 450 km from his home all the way to Toyama Prefecture.
He also puts them through a 20 km round-trip commute every day, and so far, he hasn’t had any issues. So if you’re someone who tends to be pretty hard on your gear like Tara-chan, these should be more than up to the task.
I also installed a set on a bike I recently built for myself.
The two biggest reasons I chose them were the price and the design.
My bike can run two different wheel sizes, so there’s a good chance I’ll end up building another wheelset somewhere down the road. With that in mind, I wanted something that offered good value without sacrificing looks.
And honestly? I’m really happy with them.
Now, since we’re talking about hubs, there’s one more thing some of you are probably wondering about…
What do they sound like?
The ratchet has a light, slightly springy sound to it. Personally, I’m a fan.
If you’re curious, just ask one of us at the shop. We’ll happily give one a spin for you!
For anyone looking for a hub that hits that sweet spot between “this is all I need” and “this is exactly what I want,” the FAIRWEATHER All Road Hub might just be it.
Keep this one on your radar!
That’s all from me today.
Samba, signing off!
