Parts guide
Peg-Ready MTB Hubs and 29-Inch Wheels: Hub 2 and W2 Explained
Why most mountain bike hubs can’t take pegs, how a 10mm bolt-in rear axle changes that, and how to tell if Hub 2 or the W2 wheelset will fit your frame.
- By
- Collective, London
- First published
- Updated
- Reading time
- 4 minutes
Pegs on a mountain bike sound simple until you look at the rear axle. Most MTB hubs use a quick-release skewer or a thru-axle, and neither is built to have a peg bolted to it. Hub 2 is different: the rear runs a 10mm bolt-in axle, so it takes pegs, on a 29er or a 27.5.
This guide covers what makes a hub peg-ready, how to check Hub 2 or the ready-built W2 wheelset will fit your frame, what high engagement does, and how to compare hubs when you shop. It applies to any hardtail, wheelie bike or dirt jump frame, not just ours.
Chapter 01
Why most MTB hubs can’t take pegs
A peg needs something solid to bolt to.
A peg slides over the axle end and is clamped by an axle nut. That needs a solid, threaded axle sticking out past the dropout. A quick-release hub has a hollow axle and a skewer. A thru-axle sits flush in the frame. Neither gives you anything to bolt a peg to.
BMX solved this years ago with bolt-in axles. Hub 2 brings the same idea to a mountain bike hub: a 10mm bolt-in rear axle that sits in standard 10mm dropouts, with the axle ends ready for pegs. Our Monogram pegs are 14mm and come with a conversion kit for 10mm axles.
Drive side or non-drive side?
On a geared bike, a peg on the drive side can sit close to the rear derailleur. Most riders run pegs on the non-drive side, or check the clearance before riding. On the front, Hub 2 is a 9mm quick-release, so there are no pegs at the front.
Chapter 02
Will it fit my bike?
Three numbers decide it: spacing, axle and brake.
| Check | You need | How to tell |
|---|---|---|
| Rear spacing | Nominal 135mm, for 10mm dropout slots | Measure between the inside faces of the rear dropouts |
| Rear axle | 10mm dropouts (the standard quick-release slot) | Open slots that a quick-release wheel drops into |
| Front | 100mm fork, 9mm quick-release | A quick-release lever on the front wheel |
| Brakes | Disc | A rotor on the hub, a caliper on the frame |
| Drivetrain | Shimano HG-pattern cassette freehub | A cluster of sprockets that slides onto the hub |
| Rims (Hub 2 only) | 36 holes | Count the spoke holes, or check the rim spec |
Not for: frames or forks that use a thru-axle (12mm, 15mm or 20mm, including Boost spacing), or bikes with rim brakes. That still leaves a lot of bikes: most quick-release hardtails, many dirt jump frames, wheelie bikes and our own C100 V3, where fitting Hub 2 or W2 is how you make the bike peg-ready.
Not sure? Send us your frame model and we’ll check.
Chapter 03
What 120 points of engagement does
The gap between pedalling and drive, made smaller.
Stop pedalling and the rear wheel keeps spinning while the pedals stay still. Pedal again and the hub has to catch before your effort reaches the wheel. The number of engagement points sets how far the cranks turn before that happens: 360 divided by the points. A hub with 24 points engages every 15 degrees. Hub 2, with 120, engages every 3 degrees.
On a trail bike you feel it on technical climbs. On one wheel you feel it all the time, because a wheelie is a series of small pedal corrections, and each one lands sooner. And yes, it is loud.
Chapter 04
Hub 2 or the W2 wheelset?
Build your own, or ride it today.
- Hub 2 if you have rims you like, want a 26 or 27.5 inch build, or want a wheel builder to lace it. Any 36-hole rim works. Five colours: black, chrome, gold, purple and oil slick.
- W2 wheelset if you want 29-inch wheels ready to fit: Hub 2 laced to 29 x 1.75 inch double-wall alloy rims, 36 spokes, 14 gauge, Schrader valves. Add your own cassette, rotors and tyres. Black, gold or chrome.
Chapter 05
How to compare hubs when you shop
What to look for, whoever makes it.
- Axle type. Quick-release, thru-axle or bolt-in. Only bolt-in takes pegs.
- Engagement. Points of engagement, or the degrees between them.
- Bearings. Sealed cartridge bearings, and how many. Hub 2 runs four at the rear and two at the front.
- Material. Hub 2 is CNC-machined 7075-T6 aluminium.
- Weight. Hub 2 rear is 287g, front 177g.
- Spoke count. 36 holes builds a stronger wheel than 28 or 32, which matters when the rear carries all your weight.
- Colour. Anodised hubs are a big part of the look, and Hub 2 matches our HX1 headsets, ST1 stems, PX1 pedals and SC1 clamps.
Chapter 06
Questions
Can I put pegs on a mountain bike?
Only if the hub has a solid, bolt-in axle. Most MTB hubs are quick-release or thru-axle and can’t take pegs. Hub 2 has a 10mm bolt-in rear axle that takes pegs with a 10mm adapter.
Will Hub 2 fit a Boost or thru-axle frame?
No. Hub 2 rear is for 135mm frames with 10mm dropout slots, and the front is a 100mm, 9mm quick-release.
Can I fit pegs on the front?
No. The front hub is quick-release.
Does the W2 come with a cassette and tyres?
No. It has a Shimano HG-pattern cassette freehub and disc mounts, so you fit your own cassette, rotors, tubes and tyres.
What size rims can I use with Hub 2?
Any 36-hole rim, so 26, 27.5 or 29 inch.
Will it make my C100 V3 peg-ready?
Yes. The standard C100 V3 rear wheel is quick-release. Fitting Hub 2 or the W2 wheelset gives it a 10mm bolt-in rear axle that takes pegs.
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