Profile 55th Anniversary High Flange Hubs — Available Now.
In celebration of Profile’s 55th Anniversary, we’re releasing a limited run of High Flange Cassette Hubs in Gold.
Shipping to our bike shops as we speak.
Here’s a little history on our High Flange Cassette hubs…
An original Gyrolite II print advert.
After an almost 10 year hiatus (from Profile’s Gyro-Lite Hubs in the early 80’s), our factory brought back a High Flange Freewheel hub with a much newer aesthetic. The initial prototype is below, named “The Kegger” (appropriate for it’s shape).
The Profile “Kegger” prototype.
Although The Kegger never went into production, its basic aesthetic would alter into Profile’s Iconic, Dimpled/Scalloped hub design.
Soon after “The Kegger” prototype, our High Flange freewheel hubs went into production. Corey Alley brought several Spring/Pawl design ideas to the table (some from the MTB/Road industry and some design aspects from a VERY early 80’s bmx cassette hub that never caught on).
Our High Flange, Freewheel hubs; predecessor to our High Flange Cassette Hubs.
With wizard skills, a medley of arcane ideas were mixed into the Profile cauldron. And conjured from that stew, the High Flange Freewheel hub was modified into the first Bmx Cassette hub circa 1996/1997.
What were the advantages of a cassette hub versus a Freewheel hub?
Much easier (and less expensive) to switch cogs/gearing than having to switch a whole freewheel.
Use of sealed bearings instead of loose ball bearings: a much more durable option. *Noted: Though now we make a sealed bearing freewheel.
Lighter in overall weight.
The original internal design was much the same as they are in 2023, with the exception of the driver being a 3 Spring/3 Pawl (today, ours is a 4/4 (Mini) and a 6/6 (Elite)) and our driver is a two piece.
One of our original High Flange, 14mm Hubs.