The Hub
In the direct center of your wheel is the part called the hub. The hub holds both the bearings and axles of your wheels.
The Flange
The spokes of your wheel will attach to the sides of your hub at the location known as the flange. A bike wheel has a pair of flanges.
High-Flange and Low-Flange
Most wheels today are low-flange hubs so the flange is as tall as it needs to be to provide a place for holes to be drilled out for the spokes. To decrease weight, high-flange hubs have larger flanges and are preferred by track cyclists because of the additional wider bracing they provide. The flanges also come in different size diameters depending on the type of wheel.
Article Written By Courtney Johnson
Courtney Johnson is a freelance sports writer and photographer based in California. Her articles and photos appear regularly in newspapers and magazines such as "Triathlete" and "Cross Country Skier." Johnson graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in media production and minor in writing. She is studying for her copy editing certificate at the University of San Diego.
