http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Change to Internal Hub Gears? en Wed, 13 May 2026 01:33:11 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631&page=2#post-5606 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:39:12 +0000 chdot 5606@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/4519893963">This was my father's</p> <p><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4519893963_301d799a9e_m.jpg"><br /> </a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631&page=2#post-5564 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:18:30 +0000 wee folding bike 5564@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sometimes people think my M6R Brompton is a Chopper because it has wee wheels and moustache bars. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631&page=2#post-5561 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:01:29 +0000 recombodna 5561@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ha ha well I liked them.Each to his own eh? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631&page=2#post-5559 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:04:18 +0000 wee folding bike 5559@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes but you don't want that gear stick digging into you.</p> <p>I used to sometimes borrow a friend's black Commando but don't remember it in pink...</p> <p><a href="http://www.re-buy-cycle.co.uk/uploads/421/L/0.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.re-buy-cycle.co.uk/uploads/421/L/0.jpg</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631&page=2#post-5558 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:39:53 +0000 gembo 5558@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>less likely to go through the handlebars of a Commando.</p> <p>Choppers were clearly form over content but stylish and two on the seat without a backie and risk of ass burn from back wheel? Also dug the gearstick</p> <p>the grifter man that was keech </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631&page=2#post-5556 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:00:24 +0000 wee folding bike 5556@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>No, I mean Choppers were mince. Commandos less so.</p> <p>And Sheldon agreed:</p> <p><em>Also known as a "high-riser", "Stingray", "polo bike", "banana bike", "Chopper". The most horrible children's bikes ever made. Some who had them as children retain a sentimental attachment to them, so there is an active market in "collectible" wheelie bikes, but they were, in my considered opinion, an unmitigated disaster.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_w.html#wheelie" rel="nofollow">http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_w.html#wheelie</a></p> <p>They probably kept Raleigh making bikes for a bit longer but, outwith tehnical grumps, I have the same quibbles with them as I do with the new Beetle. The air cooled one looked like that because of when it was made and where the engine was. The new one looked like that because the old one did. One the many things I like about bikes is how form follows function. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631&page=2#post-5555 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:24:05 +0000 chdot 5555@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"choppers were never mince"</p> <p>Not getting into that argument...</p> <p>Suspect WFB means that owners minced the internals by misuse... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631&page=2#post-5554 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:19:58 +0000 chdot 5554@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I wish the lane sales still existed! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631&page=2#post-5553 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:17:29 +0000 recombodna 5553@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm sorry but choppers were never mince. I had several in the 80's used to pick 'em up at the lane sales for £1 plus VAT......wish I'd kept them now. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631&page=2#post-5549 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:55:00 +0000 chdot 5549@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I'm sure Morrisey had the AM in mind when he "crashed down on the crossbar"</p> <p>More likely AW - but yes, been there! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5547 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:48:42 +0000 wee folding bike 5547@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well they used to be mince or at least on mince bikes like Choppers and Commandos. I had a sensible single speed roadster in those days.</p> <p>I'm sure Morrisey had the AM in mind when he "crashed down on the crossbar". </p> <p>They have improved a lot in quality and choice in the last 10 years. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5542 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:37:24 +0000 chdot 5542@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I've been using hub gears since 2001."</p> <p>Amateur </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5541 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:35:59 +0000 wee folding bike 5541@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So I'm ahead of the curve again. I've been using hub gears since 2001. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5537 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:47:13 +0000 chdot 5537@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hub gears catching on in America too -</p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=512" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=512</a></p> <p>Does that mean they are <a href="http://urbanvelo.org/internally-geared-commuter-bikes-for-2010/">trendy</a>?? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5385 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:41:29 +0000 chdot 5385@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Does the eccentric fit a normal size BB shell? "</p> <p>It'll be similar to many tandems.</p> <p>So it's bigger with a normal BB fitting inside. </p> <p><a href="http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_e-f.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_e-f.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5378 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:24:47 +0000 amir 5378@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Does the eccentric fit a normal size BB shell? "</p> <p>No - don't think so. In fact I think that a normal BB will fit in an eccentric - I hope so since I am sure I will have to replace mine at some point. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5369 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:42:49 +0000 wee folding bike 5369@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Does the eccentric fit a normal size BB shell? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5346 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:54:19 +0000 amir 5346@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"eccentric bottom bracket - not to be confused with eccentric bottom.</p> <p>I suspect you have something like a Surly.</p> <p>What are the advantages in theory/practice over conventional horizontal dropouts? "</p> <p>Not sure - suspect that taking the back wheel off is easier. I have a Bianchi Camaleonte - formerly a nice "celeste" colour. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5342 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:30:21 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 5342@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Planning on a new single chainring up front, so can go for either 1/8 or 3/32. It'll be the 'dreich and worse' weather bike - probably still fixed wheel it on the nice days (such as this morning) - rack and guards just really aren't going to happen on that frame.</p> <p>Need to pick a hub, and a rim, and then call up on an offer made a wee while back to show me how to build a wheel. I actually sorted a buckle, not completely, but enough that the wheel wasn't banging on the rod brakes anymore, yesterday for the first time - it's the first time the method has ever 'clicked' with me).</p> <p>p.s. got a spare chain tensioner in the parts drawer... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5321 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:41:30 +0000 Dave 5321@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You can run 1/8th chain on 3/32nd rings/cogs, as the pitch of the chain is identical either way. So if you had newish rings you didn't want to swap out, they would still work until they wore down normally.</p> <p>Thinking about it though, you'd have to use a tensioner rather than re-using a rear mech, so it might not be worth the hassle. I did always get way more life out of the 1/8th stuff on my Pearson though (in fact, it's still on the original cogs/chainset after about 6000 miles, with no sign of wear). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5311 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:15:07 +0000 chdot 5311@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>eccentric bottom bracket - not to be confused with eccentric bottom. </p> <p>I suspect you have something like a Surly. </p> <p>What are the advantages in theory/practice over conventional horizontal dropouts? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5308 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:05:53 +0000 amir 5308@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've got Alfine gears - plenty of range for commuting around Edinburgh. They're great for winter - much less cleaning. But in summer it would be nice to have something lighter and quicker - and so I sometimes go in on my racer. My hub-geared bike has a eccentric bottom bracket. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5278 Sat, 10 Apr 2010 11:06:03 +0000 LaidBack 5278@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Alfine seems not bad as long as you ease off at change point. </p> <p>Circe use a modified drop out with tensioning bolts as the same frame is shared with derailleur models.</p> <p>Worth having look at Anth.</p> <p>Rohloff does take time to break in. One on my 'other' tandem is stiff to change but that's more to do with cable length. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5275 Sat, 10 Apr 2010 09:31:22 +0000 gembo 5275@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Shimano replacing Nexus 8 with Alfine. Alfine has a dust cover and a proper seal. Why the nexus 8 didn't have these is curious and of course annoying for me. The Rohloff 14 speed internal hub apparently takes a year to break it in? That might just be rumour was £625 about 5 years ago just for the hub. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5176 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:16:39 +0000 chdot 5176@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"(plus, if the tensioner works on 1/8th chain, it would be much better than the mech option)."</p> <p>I'm assuming Anth will retain existing front rings(s) which will be 3/32". If he gets something else then MUCH more choice with 3/32". </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5175 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:13:35 +0000 Dave 5175@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's somewhat ironic that it costs more to get a tensioner than an entire mech! Still, that's fashion for you I suppose (plus, if the tensioner works on 1/8th chain, it would be much better than the mech option).</p> <p>Eight gears will almost certainly be fine - my third choice commuter (the MTB) has no rear shifter so I've jammed it onto a midrange cog for the time being. I can get around town quite nicely on a chainset 3 speed!</p> <p>(Of course it is agonisingly slow if you're in a hurry, but that has more to do with the bike than the gearing). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5173 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:41:36 +0000 wee folding bike 5173@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes, you will probably need one. That's one reason why I haven't put a hub gear on my old mountain bike. It doesn't have a back wheel of any kind just now so it's up for grabs but it would need a tensioner.</p> <p>Rohloff ones are spendy, Shimano is more reasonable:</p> <p><a href="http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Shimano-Shimano-Alfine-CT-S510-Chain-Tensioner--Silver-21763.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Shimano-Shimano-Alfine-CT-S510-Chain-Tensioner--Silver-21763.htm</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5172 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:41:30 +0000 chdot 5172@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"No, vertical drop-outs - I was envisaging having a chain tensioner on there?"</p> <p>Just use a normal short arm derailleur. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5171 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:39:27 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 5171@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>(and because of that not going for one of the 'fixed hub' options) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=631#post-5170 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:38:46 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 5170@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>No, vertical drop-outs - I was envisaging having a chain tensioner on there? </p>