Energy Lab Sports, a company that buys open mold Dengfu rims but claims to engineer and design everything in Canada, just called out Flo on their Facebook page. Check out the video they posted.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=536439726451118
This doesn’t look good for Flo, but it also really speaks about Energy Lab especially since they obviously lie so blatantly to everybody about using Dengfu rims.
What do they mean by, “it can’t really be rebuilt”?
Either it can be rebuilt, or it can’t be. But I don’t see why most any wheel (including a flo) can’t be rebuilt around a new hub.
But this wheel could probably be fixed by just fixing (replacing) the pawls and internals of the hub.
Dont think its calling them out as such, shit happens sometimes, wheels are no different. Jon and Chris would prob oversee warranty on it anyway. If this became a pattern, then there is cause for concern. And your right, 1 shitty FLO wheel (they could have gotten a zipp but they prob knew they would be wasting their time trying to rubbish the product), does not mean one should run to energylab made hubs.
edit: lulz on all the ‘why cant it be rebuilt’ questions beginning to show up on their facebook post
I think it is pretty much impossible that it can’t be rebuilt.
You just put a new hub in!
It the typical fashion of facebook, it looks like your negative comment was deleted by the company.
I agree with you though: The wheel looks like it’s just a re-branded open mould design. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, but don’t slap on double the price tag of a flo wheel and pretend that your product is superior.
I suspect that the freehub pawls are broken on the flo wheel (maybe I’m wrong here). Broken freehub pawls aren’t common, but do happen (my $$ Mavic Crossmax MTB freehub body needs regular TLC). Wouldn’t the fix be a simple replacement of the freehub body? That’s about 10min worth of work for someone who knows what they are doing.
Clearly, it’s unfortunate that this happened. But I doubt that the wheel is toast, let alone difficult to fix.
My Chinese hub manufacturer is better than yours!
The “unique” thing about the Energy Lab hub is that the pawls and springs are in the hub body rather than the freehub. This means that if the pawl carrier wears or breaks, you need to replace the entire hub.
Having the pawls in the freehub is the more common and IMO sensible method. If the pawl carrier wears or breaks you can just replace the freehub… which being aluminum won’t last forever anyway.
But not knowing anything about why this particular Flo freehub is not working properly, I’d guess most likely a clean and relube would fix it.
Energy Lab hub:
Flo hub:
One thing I like about Flo is that they don’t have a chip on their shoulder. They are factual without trying to exaggerate their strengths (aero, cost) or downplay their weaknesses (availability, weight). When I read the energy lab FB I see some chest-thumping and hyperbole and I find that very off-putting. I want facts and honesty because I’ll find out either way. A 40 second video showing me a competitor’s broken cassette body or pawls and a statement saying it can’t be rebuilt with no explanation is a lie.
I would think that as a company trying to sell wheels, the last thing you want to do is make it look like you don’t know anything about wheels by claiming that something can’t be repaired or rebuilt when, probably, it can. It called a fweehub, doofus.
more importantly, when you have a professional business, you leave aside trying to attack other company’s product and focus on showing the positive of yours. That hub can most likely be fix and if not, a rebuild is simple also.
poor buisness practice in my opinion.
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poor buisness practice in my opinion.
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Very poor.
You are effectively telling all Flo likers that ‘you were wrong’. Nothing like rubbing potential customers up the wrong way!
Good for flo. If competitors are “hating” on you, you’re probably doing something right.
One thing I like about Flo is that they don’t have a chip on their shoulder. They are factual without trying to exaggerate their strengths (aero, cost) or downplay their weaknesses (availability, weight). When I read the energy lab FB I see some chest-thumping and hyperbole and I find that very off-putting. I want facts and honesty because I’ll find out either way. A 40 second video showing me a competitor’s broken cassette body or pawls and a statement saying it can’t be rebuilt with no explanation is a lie.
Agreed
I would call BS on this, Jon and Chris stand behind their wheels and would probably cover under warranty replacement.
They should let their product stand up on their own merits and not denigrate others.
This company looks so cheesy, I wouldn’t be surprised if they took the pawls out of that Flo wheel before filming that video.
This company looks so cheesy, I wouldn’t be surprised if they took the pawls out of that Flo wheel before filming that video.
But come on… They use really analytical data promote their products… Check out their photos from the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.533273760074770.1073741840.482635485138598&type=1
This company looks so cheesy, I wouldn’t be surprised if they took the pawls out of that Flo wheel before filming that video.
But come on… They use really analytical data promote their products… Check out their photos from the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada.
https://www.facebook.com/...485138598&type=1
Really classy company. I wonder if Simon Whitfield regrets partnering with them.
Good for flo. If competitors are “hating” on you, you’re probably doing something right.
Agree! Flo builds great wheels at a great price. They really have found a niche in the competitive wheel market. Energy Lab- disgusting business model.
And I doubt Flo would ever have painted women walking around an expo promoting their products. If you have built the business right, people will come to you.
To be fair, there’s a billion things to complain about before you get to the painted women 
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FLO doesn’t need to. They have hoards of people attracted to the price + tunnel results of their wheels. Energy lab is just using smoke and mirrors.
Yup, see no issue for Flo here. Makes Energy Lab Sports look moronic.