http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Wise advice needed en Wed, 13 May 2026 04:16:57 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-271639 Sat, 06 Jan 2018 20:52:01 +0000 Greenroofer 271639@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes - I'd use Taylor Wheels again. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-271636 Sat, 06 Jan 2018 20:28:22 +0000 crowriver 271636@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWRATS, Even if it's not for sale, still a good cause.</p> <p>Taylor Wheels are good: they do dynamo hub wheels too. Glad you got it sorted, Greenroofer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-271627 Sat, 06 Jan 2018 20:11:26 +0000 I were right about that saddle 271627@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>The chappy who accepted it said 'ooo Alfine...'</em></p> <p>Mmmh. Best check it's actually on sale then. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-271623 Sat, 06 Jan 2018 20:09:31 +0000 unhurt 271623@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I am absolutely not saying "thank you for giving it to the Bike Station" in order to see my name in <strike>lights</strike> the five top recent comment spots. <strike>And this is not @Iain McR's fault.</strike> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-271610 Sat, 06 Jan 2018 17:50:57 +0000 Greenroofer 271610@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The new Alfine hub is lovely. Instant shifting, smooth and quiet. Still needs a bit of running in, as it's a bit draggy. I'm expecting that its first oil bath service will fix that.</p> <p>Today I dropped off the old Alfine hub in its wheel and with all the bits (shifter, cables, wheelnuts and non-turn washers) at The Bike Station. The chappy who accepted it said 'ooo Alfine...'</p> <p>If you want to play with a hub gear and don't need the disc-brake bit, then this would be fine for you. It's been carefully looked after and runs very sweetly (although I realise on reflection that it's done considerably more than the 10,000 miles I quoted at the start of this thread: it was on a bike that I commuted 13 miles a day for 7 years...). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-270392 Thu, 21 Dec 2017 09:16:18 +0000 rider73 270392@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@greenroofer - thats cos they drive on the other side of the road to us ;) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-270385 Wed, 20 Dec 2017 23:42:20 +0000 Greenroofer 270385@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In the end I followed Arellcat's advice. Lots of to-ing and fro-ing with two LBS's (thanks @hartscyclery and Bike Morningside) showed that although there were apparently lots of options, in practice there were few and they all cost about the same and would have been inferior to the 8-speed I'd had before.</p> <p>I'm afraid that in the end I bought a built wheel from Taylor Wheels in Germany. It cost less for a complete wheel (Mavic A319 rim, Alfine 8 hub) than for just the hub online in the UK. I'm regretfully sorry to say that, keen though I am to support my local LBS, it just didn't make economic sense. I will, though, take the wheel to Bike Morningside to be re-trued after it's had time to settle down.</p> <p>It arrived today. It's a much newer version of the Alfine-8 than I had before, and I was struggling to install it until I realised that it's a mirror image of the one I had before. The gear cable wraps round it the other way and what was the low gear on the shifter is now the high gear. I'm going to have to completely re-learn gear changes on this bike, which I'm sure is going to take a while. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-269818 Fri, 15 Dec 2017 13:33:31 +0000 chdot 269818@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“would friction shifter do?”</p> <p>Yes, but.</p> <p>You have to be precise to avoid crunching, so proper shifter (various types available) advisable.</p> <p>Good adjustment of hub necessary.</p> <p>Can be temperamental. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-269781 Fri, 15 Dec 2017 10:26:18 +0000 rider73 269781@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>hmmm i need a new rear wheel for my clapped out old full sus MTB - makes me wonder if i could make that into my hackabout commuter using the archer rear hub and nothing else (well brakes of course)</p> <p>do you need a specific shifter for these hubs - or would friction shifter do? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-269758 Thu, 14 Dec 2017 23:58:37 +0000 Arellcat 269758@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If your bike has 10,000 miles on it, then it owes you very little but you owe it a great deal. You don't want to mess with a setup that evidently works extremely well for you. On that basis, were I in your cycle shoes I would want to put another Alfine in there. The wheelbuilding is (or can be) a zero cost activity. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-269756 Thu, 14 Dec 2017 23:30:21 +0000 Greenroofer 269756@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Interesting! Got to call it a night for tonight and resume my searching tomorrow. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-269755 Thu, 14 Dec 2017 23:25:34 +0000 crowriver 269755@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>STOP PRESS! Absolute bargain here! Built into a 26" wheel.</p> <p><a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sturmey-Archer-5-Speed-Hub/152748238832" rel="nofollow">https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sturmey-Archer-5-Speed-Hub/152748238832</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-269754 Thu, 14 Dec 2017 23:18:45 +0000 Greenroofer 269754@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hadn't thought of Gumtree...Good idea! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-269753 Thu, 14 Dec 2017 23:06:40 +0000 crowriver 269753@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>How about this disc-rotor compatible SA 3-speed hub? Pretty reasonable, even with adding a thumb shifter and sprocket:</p> <p><a href="https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/hubs-internal-hub-gear-brake/sturmey-archer-srk3-3spd-disc-hub-silver-36-hole/" rel="nofollow">https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/hubs-internal-hub-gear-brake/sturmey-archer-srk3-3spd-disc-hub-silver-36-hole/</a></p> <p>Of course still need to get the wheel built, but maybe £150 the lot?</p> <p>Or just trawl fleaBay /Gumtry for a lightly used hub geared bike to cannibalise for parts or rear wheel to slot in?</p> <p>e.g. <a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-Alfine-Hub-on-Rigida-Sputnik-Wheel/182961784837" rel="nofollow">https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-Alfine-Hub-on-Rigida-Sputnik-Wheel/182961784837</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-nexus-8-Rear-Wheel-plus-Shifter-and-matching-Brake/152795484293" rel="nofollow">https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-nexus-8-Rear-Wheel-plus-Shifter-and-matching-Brake/152795484293</a></p> <p>This one could have a coaster brake fitted: <a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-PAIR-700C-ALEXRIMS-DH19-BIKE-FRONT-REAR-WHEELS-SHIMANO-NEXUS-7-SPEED-HUB/222721099981?" rel="nofollow">https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-PAIR-700C-ALEXRIMS-DH19-BIKE-FRONT-REAR-WHEELS-SHIMANO-NEXUS-7-SPEED-HUB/222721099981?</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-269751 Thu, 14 Dec 2017 22:52:40 +0000 Greenroofer 269751@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver. It's very tempting: I have the SA 3-speed with hub brake on the Elephant Bike and it's perfect for my needs. The trouble is the astronomical cost of these parts if you try to buy them on their own. It seems to be genuinely almost as cheap to buy a new bike with them fitted already (and throw the bike away) rather than try to buy them on their own.</p> <p>I know this is quite a bicycle-shaped object, but still, it's only about £50 more than building a wheel with an SA hub in.<br /> <a href="http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/apollo-belmont-mens-hybrid-bike-18-21-frames" rel="nofollow">http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/apollo-belmont-mens-hybrid-bike-18-21-frames</a></p> <p>And this is definitely not a BSO, and it's a complete bike with dynamo and three-speed hub. <a href="https://www.decathlon.co.uk/elops-900-step-over-classic-bike-alloy-grey-id_8359415.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.decathlon.co.uk/elops-900-step-over-classic-bike-alloy-grey-id_8359415.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-269750 Thu, 14 Dec 2017 22:41:00 +0000 crowriver 269750@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>How about going for a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed or 5-speed setup? Could get the model with integrated hub brake for rear, stay with disc for front? Weather sealed rear brake *should* be lower maintenance...</p> <p>5-speed with 70mm drum brake a reasonable price at SJS. Clearly need a thumb shifter, cables and a wheel build...</p> <p><a href="https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/hubs-internal-hub-gear-brake/sturmey-archer-xrd5-5spd-aluminium-hub-with-70mm-drum-brake-36-hole/" rel="nofollow">https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/hubs-internal-hub-gear-brake/sturmey-archer-xrd5-5spd-aluminium-hub-with-70mm-drum-brake-36-hole/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-269737 Thu, 14 Dec 2017 20:20:42 +0000 Greenroofer 269737@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So I've now found that:<br /> # A new Alfine 8-speed in a wheel will cost at least £200!!<br /> # My bike only has disc brake mounts (i.e. nothing for brakes on the seat stays) so it's disc brakes or hub brakes of some kind.<br /> # Disc brake single speed hubs cost silly silly money<br /> # A two speed automatic hub with back-pedal brake is cheaper and tempting, but is too narrow for my bike and a chap called Dave McCraw <a href="http://mccraw.co.uk/sturmey-archer-s2c/">rubbished it online</a></p> <p>It's crazy, but it's beginning to look seriously as if the most cost-effective option is to buy a new (or second hand) bike and swap across the other bits. All because a single piece of aluminium has split.</p> <p>I'm hoping that @hartscyclery has something up his sleeve... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-267936 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 09:39:39 +0000 I were right about that saddle 267936@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Greenroofer</p> <p>There are occasionally Nexus hubs in the Bike Station which might serve as shell donors. Nexus is now at the age when they come in as donations. There was an eight speed for £20 the other day.</p> <p>If you can find one I will build it into a wheel for you <em>pro bono</em>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-267925 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 08:13:54 +0000 gembo 267925@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@greenroofer. How very annoying. When this happened to me with the nexus 8 I was given an expensive but ultimately good deal from lovely Mark at the bike chain. I still see him as we cross commute. To replace the nexus 8 with the ever reliable sturmey archer three speed. If that is what is on your heffalump bike then you know whether your knees are bearing up. This did need spacers as SA3 not as wide as Nexus 8. The lovely Brad who carried out the work was less pleased as was a lot of Work and the bke not in great Nick. SA-3 probably £50? I was after the old style switch for changing gears but ended up with the grip shifter which over the years has become flaky so need to fix this at some point. As if can't get the twist to get out of third I am goosed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-267917 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 00:35:26 +0000 unhurt 267917@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not wise, but - would someone maybe, perhaps buy both bike (as a project?) and specialised servicing equipment together? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18410#post-267915 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 00:02:27 +0000 Greenroofer 267915@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The bike I used to use for daily commuting has been laid up since last winter*. In fact, it still has its studded tyres on. This bike has front and rear hydraulic disc brakes, fancy dynamo and an 8-speed Alfine hub. I've done 10,000 miles on it, so it doesn't owe me anything, but on the other hand last year I spent a considerable amount of money on a proper Shimano Alfine hub bath and servicing kit, and replaced several components in the hub. It's the only bike in the household with hydraulic brakes, and I have spent good money on a bleed kit. So, on second thoughts, it <em>does </em>owe me something: I've got lots of specialised servicing equipment for it.</p> <p>Today I attempted to recommission it for the winter. I replaced the rear 6-bolt rotor with a Centrelock rotor, as the existing rotor was worn thin. While tightening this into place, the thread on the Alfine hub disintegrated. You may accuse me of incompetence, but I was <em>not</em> applying excessive force (recommended tightening torque for this component is 40Nm, which is going some, even with a big spanner). Whatever the reason, the rear hub shell is now irreparable.</p> <p>I have several options:<br /> 1) Go to a friendly LBS and ask them to rebuild my wheel using a new hub shell and the internals of the existing hub along with my existing disc rotor. Problem is it doesn't look as if the hub shell is available as a spare.<br /> 2) Get a new Alfine 8-speed hub (£150 on rosebikes) and ask a friendly LBS to build it into a new wheel. Total cost ~£200+.<br /> 3) Get a friendly LBS to convert the bike to a single speed (with hydraulic brakes and a dynamo!) I'm worried about my knees, though.<br /> 4) Scrap it and start again, getting a new Alfine-hubbed hydraulic disc bike. Seems quite extravagant.<br /> 5) Other options I've not thought of.</p> <p>Any wise advice gratefully received. The thing is, I do need a bike to put studded tyres on.</p> <p>*Did I tell you I had an Elephant Bike (which is sitting there smirking gently at present, and which I don't plan to fit studded tyres to) </p>