Velo Orange Cassette Rear Hub
The Velo Orange hub is the sensible choice for a touring, city or classic road wheel that wants polished looks without boutique money: a machined aluminum shell in polished silver or black, sealed cartridge bearings, a cassette freehub on the rear, and quick-release or 6-bolt disc versions in 100mm front and 130 or 135mm rear, with a 142mm thru-axle option on the disc rear via included end caps. It comes in 32 and 36 hole and it matches Velo Orange's rims and the rest of its range. This page covers the Velo Orange Cassette Rear Hub.
The Velo Orange hub is the hub for Voyager and Enterprise wheels, and it is not sold bare. You choose the rim and the rest of the build in the configurator, and it ships from our shop in Georgia laced, tensioned and trued by hand.
Design and construction
Velo Orange keeps the Velo Orange hub simple: a shell shaped like the classic mid-flange hubs of the 1970s, sealed cartridge bearings in common sizes that any shop can replace, a pawl freehub with a Shimano HG body, and a polished or black finish. The disc version adds a 6-bolt rotor mount and ships with end caps for 135mm quick release and 142 x 12mm thru-axle. Flanges are J-bend in 32 and 36 hole.
How it rides
A Velo Orange hub rolls smoothly and quietly, and a Velo Orange wheel on a Voyager rim asks for nothing. It suits touring, randonneur, commuting and classic road wheels, and its polished finish matches a Voyager or Enterprise rim for a wheel that looks like a set. For a lifetime hub the Phil Wood or White Industries is the step up; for a good-looking, reliable hub at a fair price, the Velo Orange is the one we recommend.
Specifications
| Position | Rear |
|---|---|
| Axle options | QR 5x130mm Rear, QR 5x135mm Rear |
| Driver bodies | Shimano HG 8,9,10,11 & Road 12spd (no spacer included), Campagnolo 9,10,11 & 12spd (+$35), SRAM XDR 10,11 & Road & MTB 12spd (+$35) |
| Drillings | 32h, 36h |
| Spoke head | J-bend |
| Brake | rim-brake |
| Left flange diameter | 58 mm |
| Right flange diameter | 58 mm |
| Weight | 272g |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Finishes | black, silver |
This listing
This is the rim-brake version: QR 5x130mm, QR 5x135mm, 32h, 36h drilling, about 272g, in black, silver. Same internals and flanges as every other Velo Orange hub; only the mount and axle differ.
This is the rim-brake Velo Orange hub, with no rotor mount at all: a lighter, simpler shell for road, track and classic frames that stop on the rim. It builds into the lightest wheel the model can make and it is the version to choose for a rim-brake bike; the disc versions of the same hub have their own listings.
Sizes, fit and compatibility
The Velo Orange Cassette Rear Hub comes in the drillings listed on this page with the axle and brake options shown in the configurator. J-bend spokes in any gauge; we build most Velo Orange hub wheels with DT Champion or Competition and Sapim Race spokes and brass nipples.
It pairs naturally with the Velo Orange Voyager and Enterprise, H Plus Son TB14 and Archetype, Velocity Dyad and Chukker and Mavic A319 rims. Pick touring, randonneur or road as your bike type in the configurator and it recommends a spoke count and lacing pattern.
What Velo Orange says about testing
Velo Orange hubs are made by a partner factory in Taiwan that Velo Orange has visited and documented. It states the factory has "several cold forges for hub shells and freehub bodies" and has forged in-house "for many decades"; shells are cold-forged on "A massive 650-ton press", then CNC machined for rotor mounts. Spoke holes "are actually punched rather than drilled", leaving a chamfer Velo Orange states is "best for J-bend spokes to prevent creating a stress riser at the elbow". On quality control it states: "Every hub is tested for smoothness and play before packaging—every single one." No impact, fatigue or ISO figures are published.
the Chronos rear uses a "floating ratchet system"; Velo Orange states "we've moved away from traditional pawls to provide excellent engagement that handles high torque loads with ease". The endcaps and freehub body "can be removed by hand" for roadside drive-side spoke replacement; the hub converts between 135mm QR and 142mm thru-axle, weighs 307g with a Shimano body, and takes Shimano 11-speed, Microspline, Campagnolo or SRAM XD bodies.
From Velo Orange
Certifications
- Made in Taiwan (partner hub factory) — Cold forging of hub shells and freehub bodies done in-house at the Taiwan partner factory; every hub tested before packaging (2025 factory visit) (source)
Sources on Velo Orange's site:
- Behind the Scenes: Velo Orange's Factory Visits in Taiwan
- Chronos Rear Disc Hub
- Chronos Front Disc Hub
- Disc Rear Hub - Silver and Noir
- Velo Orange Hubs collection
The figures, certificates and media above are Velo Orange's own. ProWheelBuilder does not run these tests; our part is the wheel we build on the hub.
Building it at ProWheelBuilder
Velo Orange makes the hub; ProWheelBuilder is an independent custom wheel builder in Georgia and not the manufacturer. Every Velo Orange hub wheel we build gets spokes cut from the measured ERD of the rim, staged tensioning with a gauge, stress relief and a final true before it ships.
In the configurator you will only see parts that fit this drilling; combinations that are not made are struck through, and the price updates as you pick.
Warranty
Manufacturer's warranty. Velo Orange warrants this product against defects in materials and workmanship. The duration, conditions and claim process are set by Velo Orange and can change without notice, so ask us and we will confirm the current terms before you buy.
ProWheelBuilder. Wheels we build around this part are covered by our own one-year warranty alongside the maker's. Within the year: broken spokes replaced regardless of cause, and the labor on the wheel - truing, re-tensioning or a complete rebuild - included. A manufacturer-covered rim or hub failure is a claim we make and manage for you; one they will not cover is answered with an eligible replacement at 25% off retail. Shipping each way is yours. Parts you supply yourself fall outside it.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
Cassette Rear Hub questions
Can I use this hub with disc brakes?
No - this is the rim-brake version and it has no rotor mount at all, which is exactly why it is lighter and simpler. It is the one for a rim-brake road, track or classic frame. A disc frame needs one of the disc versions of this hub, which are listed separately.
Which freehub body does the Velo Orange hub take?
Shimano HG, which fits Shimano and SRAM cassettes up to 11-speed.
Is there a disc version?
Yes, a 6-bolt disc rear in 135mm quick release or 142 x 12mm thru-axle with the included end caps, and a disc front.
Polished or black Velo Orange hub?
Both; polished matches the Voyager and Enterprise rims.
Is the Velo Orange hub rebuildable?
The bearings are sealed cartridges in common sizes and replaceable anywhere; the freehub body is a standard replaceable unit.
Which axle spacing does it fit?
QR 5x130mm Rear or QR 5x135mm Rear. Measure between the inside faces of your dropouts if you are unsure, or text us.
Does it need special spokes?
No. It takes standard J-bend spokes, which the configurator offers in every gauge and finish we stock.
Not sure? Text or leave a voicemail on 470-253-0929 or email info@prowheelbuilder.com — you will be talking to the people who build the wheels.
