HUBS: American Classic
American Classic makes some of the most exquisitely light and well engineered hubs available. American Classic hubs are lighter than DuraAce, Record, or XTR and are used by many top racers and pro teams around the world. On its rear hubs, American Classic uses a patented six pawl cassette mechanism that makes it stronger than traditional cassettes. A set of American Classic road hubs retails for US $325; disc hubs retail for US $370. We love these hubs because they are so fast and light!!

Reprinted from American Classic's catalog:
"American Classic rear hubs are different than our competitors hubs. Our flange spacing is narrower than ordinary hubs. You'd think this would make the wheel weaker, but instead it makes the wheel sturdier. The drive side flange is as close as possible to the sprockets for the best triangulation. Our non-drive flange is closer to center; therefore, the spoke tension is more balanced than in ordinary hubs. Since the non-drive side spokes are tighter, they actually strengthen the wheel. This means the non-drive side spokes are sharing a larger percentage of the total load compared to designs using wider spaced flanges. This increases the expected fatigue life of all the spokes and makes a lively, responsive wheel. The American Classic narrow flange spacing design builds a better, stronger rear wheel." U.S. Patent # 6,155,394.