Got Questions? We've Got Answers!
The Helix-01's helical gear engagement ensures seamless power transfer, giving you a performance boost like never before, while the large angular contact bearing makes sure that the hub rolls freely under load, not just in your hand. Helical drive forces the ratchet rings together much more tightly than is achievable by simple spring tension ensuring virtually zero energy loss. Angular contact bearings are designed to handle off axis loads that cause increased drag in normal bearings.
Unlike common hubs, the Venn Helix-01 offers excellent machining precision and parts durability, owing to extensive use of automotive grade steel for transmission gears, and the same type of surface hardening treatments as required of car gearboxes. We relied on forging wherever possible - the hub shell is cold forged, while the ratchet gears are hot forged, then CNC machined and coated with manganese phosphate to reduce friction and enhance lubrication.
Yes, the Venn Helix-01 is designed to be compatible with road disc brake bicycles, mountain bikes and mountain bikes that use Boost spacing.
Maintaining the Helix-01 is a breeze with its user-friendly design and high-quality materials, making it a low-maintenance yet high-performance hub. Disassembly is straight forward while the gears require minimal maintenance due to good protection from the elements, and anti corrosion treatments. Ensure that lithium based grease is used during service.
Angular contact bearings have one service requirement that does not affect standard industrial bearings, they need to be preloaded to ensure there is no free play while not applying so much preload to cause the bearing to roll poorly. Preload adjustment on the Venn Helix-01 hub is simple: tighten the non-drive side preload collar using your fingers until there is no side to side movement of the wheel, and cinch the bolt to secure the collar. After the initial adjustment, preload will not need to be adjusted again in normal use because the bearing will "settle" into its final working state.
The hub and bearings are entirely made in Taiwan and leverage the immense industrial strength and precision supply chain that is already in place. We did not need to recreate the technologies, or invent solutions for problems that have already been solved in other industries that are active in Taiwan - forged gears come from the automotive manufacturers, coating from semiconductor manufacturing. Our manufacturing partner has been making hubs since 1982 and has established leadership in precision hub manufacturing over the many decades. Venn Helix-01 is not a new direction, or concept for them or for us, but a synthesis of the best available know-how and well established technologies and supply chains.
