http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: How many gears? en Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:37:37 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-159428 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 08:49:20 +0000 i 159428@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There's also <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NuVinci_Continuously_Variable_Transmission">continuous transmission</a> with 360% range. Efficiency is probably around 90% percent, but I like the idea of no gear jumps. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-159426 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 08:30:10 +0000 bueller 159426@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Black for the Metropole pale blue if the Birdie, just wish they did the Birdie with more gears or the Metropole with the same amount of gears but hub gears - sigh ! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-159416 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 17:43:26 +0000 Stickman 159416@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And just as importantly, what colour? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-159415 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 15:12:35 +0000 bueller 159415@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh my, that's a pretty bike.....<br /> I'm leaning towards a bobbin birdie or metropole at the moment.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-159345 Fri, 11 Jul 2014 22:13:10 +0000 Greenroofer 159345@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ah. Now found the price. It's four figures...<br /> <a href="http://www.velorution.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=retrovelo">http://www.velorution.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=retrovelo</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-159343 Fri, 11 Jul 2014 22:07:31 +0000 Greenroofer 159343@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just seen one of these in the bike park at work. A thing of rather elegant beauty, I thought.<br /> <a href="http://www.retrovelo.de/tl_files/bildmaterial/konfigurator/26damen/10-taubenblau.jpg"><img src="http://www.retrovelo.de/tl_files/bildmaterial/konfigurator/26damen/10-taubenblau.jpg"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.retrovelo.de/paula-en.html">http://www.retrovelo.de/paula-en.html</a></p> <p>No idea about price or anything... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-159203 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 14:28:06 +0000 chdot 159203@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Weight on the dapper eight speed in the specificatins is 20kg</p> <p>So pretty light."</p> <p>If you say so!</p> <p>"wheel size is 28 inch so replacing tubes, tyres etc ever so slightly more complicated."</p> <p>Suspect they are just normal 'fat' 700c. </p> <p>"</p> <p>Size designation 37-622 28 x 1.40"<br /> 28 x 1 5/8 x 1 3/8" 700x35c</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.schwalbetires.com/tech_info/size_markings" rel="nofollow">http://www.schwalbetires.com/tech_info/size_markings</a></p> <p><a href="http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html" rel="nofollow">http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-159197 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 13:56:07 +0000 gembo 159197@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Weight on the dapper eight speed in the specificatins is 20kg</p> <p>So pretty light. Maybe not steel tubing? Not sure how reliable the sturmey archer eight spd is. But the price is keen.</p> <p>Three speed chic has a shimano three speed hub, again not sure how reliable range 186per cent compared with 325 on the eight speed.</p> <p>NB wheel size is 28 inch so replacing tubes, tyres etc ever so slightly more complicated.</p> <p>Chic three speed weighs 19.5 kg they are made in holland is the claim.</p> <p>Come with front wheel and pedals detached but should be straightforward to assemble.</p> <p>Two hundred odd quid cheaper than Pashley as I guess no brooks saddle, no marathon tyres, no Reynolds steel. But much lighter and still has lights, frame lock etc. nice.</p> <p>Further investigation reveals the bikes are steel. No mention of Reynolds. However, the lights are not dynamo. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-159192 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 13:31:02 +0000 bueller 159192@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Paulmilne, these do look great and good price, they are a bit cagey on declaring the weight though hmmmm </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-159121 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 12:09:26 +0000 paulmilne 159121@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A sturdy Dutch sit-up-and-beg bike needn't break the bank. I've always liked the look (and price) of these, and they come fully-loaded with all the extras as standard - dynamo lights, kickstand, skirt/coat guard, bell, mud-guards, etc.</p> <p>Oh, and free delivery.</p> <p><a href="http://www.dutchie.co.uk/dutch-bikes/" rel="nofollow">http://www.dutchie.co.uk/dutch-bikes/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-158979 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 09:27:27 +0000 sallyhinch 158979@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Spotted on Twitter </p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/KarlOnSea/status/486423311162036224" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/KarlOnSea/status/486423311162036224</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-158961 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 21:01:56 +0000 Dave 158961@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I wonder if anyone has done studies with continuously variable transmissions to see how much people change gears by when they can choose any amount for themselves.</p> <p>Personally I quite like having big jumps, especially at the top and bottom end. 20% means a cadence shift from 110RPM to just under 90 (or vv) which is often quite manageable.</p> <p>In the middle I do appreciate closer spacing, it's true. When you are in a sort of steady-state and just want to tweak things, it's nice not to be interrupted by a gear shift.</p> <p>Luckily with modern transmissions you can have it all. My 10 speed 11-32 is literally like an 8 speed 11-25 with two even bigger cogs... magic! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-158948 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 18:01:38 +0000 Roibeard 158948@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@CB <em>Did the engineers at SA not think that they were wasting their time building a 115% hub?</em></p> <p>Rohloff seem pretty proud of their 14% steps, and have some <a href="http://www.rohloff.de/en/technology/gear_system_comparison/index.html">arguments to defend that spacing of gears</a>.</p> <p>Basically, they think you don't notice a step of &lt;10%, whereas steps of &gt;20% are two big a jump. 15-20% is doable, but not for smooth transitions.</p> <p>My current Brompton setup (6 speed BWR) has 23/27% jumps, which I can't really distinguish, but it was shipped with 18/33% jumps (i.e. 18%, then 33%, then 18%, etc) and these were noticeably different.</p> <p>So, yes, I'd suspect that having only ~8% between each of the three gears would be pointless except for the racer.</p> <p>&lt;wanders off to check&gt;</p> <p>Yep, Sheldon records that such ultraclose range hubs were made for timetrials and racing!</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-158946 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 17:09:41 +0000 firedfromthecircus 158946@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>CB, if you read his bit on 'gain ratio' it makes sense. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-158934 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 16:02:11 +0000 kaputnik 158934@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Why does Sheldon's gear calculator include crank length?</em></p> <p>It doesn't change the ratio but it changes the actual gear length - maybe to help people looking for specific gear lengths using available hubs, sprockets, chainwheels etc.? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-158932 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 15:58:05 +0000 wingpig 158932@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If Rohloffen had a few sturdy loops spread evenly around their middles for threading a lock through they'd look a bit more useful for general-purpose use, rather than never-leave-it-unattended use. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-158923 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 15:36:15 +0000 cb 158923@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Sturmey Archer 3 speed - 115-178%"</p> <p>Did the engineers at SA not think that they were wasting their time building a 115% hub?</p> <p>Why does Sheldon's gear calculator include crank length? Does it make a difference? It doesn't seem to affect the results. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-158898 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 13:57:09 +0000 I were right about that saddle 158898@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A Rholoff hub is a trinket, a carbon racer is a bauble, sweetie. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-158895 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 13:50:24 +0000 chdot 158895@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Or the sort of bank balance that makes this a mere trinket"</p> <p>To some extent, but if you look at 'lifetime cost', will be better value than a series of carbon racers <em>if yours is the sort of riding/use that would suit a Rohloff</em>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-158893 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 13:42:38 +0000 I were right about that saddle 158893@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Only if you have the sort of usage that can justify the price!" </p> <p>Or the sort of bank balance that makes this a mere trinket, darling. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-158892 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 13:33:28 +0000 chdot 158892@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"The Rohloff looks like a very neat replacement"</p> <p>Only if you have the sort of usage that can justify the price! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-158891 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 13:27:13 +0000 I were right about that saddle 158891@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Roibeard</p> <p>Thanks! That has motivated me to do the arithmetic on my bike, and conclude that I have twelve gears on the ratty nineties hybrid;</p> <p>Front Rear Metres<br /> 1 ......1......1.99<br /> 1.......2......2.60<br /> 1.......3......2.94<br /> 1.......4......3.38<br /> 1.......5......3.97<br /> 2.......4......4.43<br /> 2.......5......5.21<br /> 3.......4......5.49<br /> 3.......5......6.45<br /> 3.......6......7.31<br /> 3.......7......8.44<br /> 3.......8......9.97</p> <p>out of a possible twenty four, allowing for duplication and fouling of the chain on the front mech cage. </p> <p>The Rholoff looks like a very neat replacement, given that I almost never use 3:8. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096&page=2#post-158881 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 11:54:04 +0000 Roibeard 158881@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sturmey Archer 2 speed - 115-140% (depending on model)<br /> Sturmey Archer 3 speed - 115-178% (depending on model)<br /> Shimano Nexus 3 - 186%<br /> Sturmey Archer 4 speed - 145-190% (depending on model)<br /> Shimano Nexus 4 - 184%<br /> Sturmey Archer 5 speed - 225-256% (depending on model)<br /> Shimano Nexus 7 - 245%<br /> Sturmey Archer 7 speed - 280%<br /> Sturmey Archer 8 speed - 305-325% (depending on model)<br /> Shimano Alfine 8 - 307%<br /> NuVinci Continuous Variable - 350-360% (depending on year)<br /> Shimano Alfine 11 - 409%<br /> Rholoff - 526%</p> <p>Derailleur 24/44 chain ring 12/34 cassette - 519%</p> <p>(Although one could perhaps go more extreme than this.)</p> <p>Courtesy <a href="http://sheldonbrown.com/internal-gears.html">Sheldon</a> and <a href="http://www.rohloff.de/en/technology/speedhub/gear_range_comparison/index.html">Rholoff</a></p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096#post-158857 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 10:49:09 +0000 kaputnik 158857@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>1 is sufficient, but it is actually 2, i.e. the GOaW (Get Off and Walk )gear, for town/city riding. </em></p> <p>I've always imagined it was 3 - sitting, standing and pushing! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096#post-158854 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 10:41:32 +0000 I were right about that saddle 158854@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Derailleur...great range of gears, but what lunatic exposes their gear box to the elements? Serviced my bike at the weekend, and both chain and rear casette have been destroyed by about 2,500 miles of Edinburgh commuting. If a component of a car lasted that long there would be uproar.</p> <p>I am seriously tempted to get a belt drive bike with hub gears for use around town. I have tried a friend's Focus Urban and been impressed, but I still get a bit of 'gear range anxiety' with hub gears. Need to actually find out what their range is... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096#post-158840 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 23:16:30 +0000 gembo 158840@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Derailleur also good for touring (e.g. Easier to fix them) and also hills. Hub gears require a heavier back wheel package generally. Commuting on canal towpath then three speed sturmey archer the bees knees. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096#post-158789 Sat, 05 Jul 2014 13:43:06 +0000 cb 158789@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>'splash any cash on a Pash'</p> <p>Yes, that would be rash. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096#post-158787 Sat, 05 Jul 2014 12:03:09 +0000 steveo 158787@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>How many gears? Usually just one lower than the one I'm currently dragging myself a steep hill on! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096#post-158779 Sat, 05 Jul 2014 09:31:42 +0000 firedfromthecircus 158779@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Derailleur gears are rubbish for the majority of applications, but because they are the best for racing that is what most adult bikes come with, even though they will never race!</p> <p>3, 5 or 8 speed hub gears will be ideal for you by the sound of things. If you want an upright I say get one. Having a bike you feel good about riding is important while you build the addiction to cycling.</p> <p>If you are looking at an upright the paper bicycle looks pretty good, and made in Scotland too. Get one at Laid Back.<br /> <a href="http://www.paper-bicycle.com/hustle/" rel="nofollow">http://www.paper-bicycle.com/hustle/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13096#post-158763 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 21:14:01 +0000 559 158763@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>1 is sufficient, but it is actually 2, i.e. the GOaW (Get Off and Walk )gear, for town/city riding. </p> <p>Further afield 3 or 5 on bike, gears is fine. </p>