industry nine

The Industry Nine vs. Chris King hub debate is one rivalry that has gotten a lot of press over the last couple of years. The rookie, Industry Nine, has stepped in to try to claim the title. In every great match-up, the race is pretty close. I have owned or currently own both of these incredible hubs. How do they measure up?

When a fellow riding friend (FoShizzle) emailed me on this build, I knew it was going to be insane. El Beastro is known to have Spectrum powder coat some extremely original designs onto is frames. This Knolly Endorphin has to be one of the craziest I have ever seen.

Walking into the front door, you come straight into the final assembly and order staging area of the plant. You can see by the pictures below they stock your spokes and hubs in white boxes and the rims go on the other wall. Finished prototypes are hung on one side of the room and the finished boxed wheelsets are stacked all over the place.

What is HIP? An excuse for a bunch of riders with the same interest (Turner Bikes) that get together to ride some killer North Carolina single track. Most own Turners, some are former Turner owners and some are just along for the ride, but it originates on the Turner board of MTBR.com.

Some might argue that a bicycle is simply a tool, a way to get from point A to point B. They’re not wrong, but that utilitarian view misses perhaps the most crucial point: A bicycle, especially one built with passion for passionate riders, is not just a tool. It’s a way out. Out of where? One ride, and you’ll know.