Just got a slightly used Challenge Hurricaine. Has 9 speeds and a mountain drive on the front axel. (www.schlumpf.ch/md_engl.htm). I had the local bikeshop put it together. I'm wondering if they could have done something wrong in set-up or if there is another explanation to my problem. The problem is that I basically have one gear (#9). Everything below #9 goes from too easy (#8 and 7) to "maybe if I was going up Mt. Everest this would be good" easy (gears 6 to 1).
I can't imagine a bike with such great reviews would be like this. Engaging the montain-drive only made peddling easier.
Any thoughtd, recommendations or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
[email hidden] (DavesNotHere) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Just got a slightly used Challenge Hurricaine. Has 9 speeds and a mountain drive on the front axel. (www.schlumpf.ch/md_engl.htm). I had the local bikeshop put it together. I'm wondering if they could have done something wrong in set-up or if there is another explanation to my problem. The problem is that I basically have one gear (#9). Everything below #9 goes from too easy (#8 and 7) to "maybe if I was going up Mt. Everest this would be good" easy (gears 6 to 1).
I can't imagine a bike with such great reviews would be like this. Engaging the montain-drive only made peddling easier.
Any thoughtd, recommendations or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks - Dave
It would be helpful to know how many teeth are on the cassette cogs in the rear and the chainring in the front.
Combining a Mountain Drive with a 20" drive wheel is darn strange unless you plan on pulling trucks out of ditches. Are you sure you didn't want a Speed Drive http://www.schlumpf.ch/sd_engl.htm ?
Combining a Mountain Drive with a 20" drive wheel is darn strange unless you plan on pulling trucks out of ditches. Are you sure you didn't want a Speed Drive http://www.schlumpf.ch/sd_engl.htm ?
Jeff
Actually, Jeff, it's not strange at all. I have a MD on my Pharobike, with a 65T chainring and an 11-32 cassette.
This gives me a gear range of something like 17-108 gear inches (depends on the tire I'm using). Much wider than is possible with derailleurs with that size wheel.
The problem with the SD is that the overdrive ratio isn't that large, so you don't get the wide range of gearing (which is really the point of going to the MD in the first place).
I may at some point pick up the new HSD, which gives a 2.5x overdrive...same amount as the MD only in reverse...so I can keep my wide range gearing. It would also save a fair bit of weight and improve the chain lines.
[email hidden] (Andrew Douglas) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
(Jeff Wills) said:
Combining a Mountain Drive with a 20" drive wheel is darn strange unless you plan on pulling trucks out of ditches. Are you sure you didn't want a Speed Drive http://www.schlumpf.ch/sd_engl.htm ?
Jeff
Actually, Jeff, it's not strange at all. I have a MD on my Pharobike, with a 65T chainring and an 11-32 cassette.
This gives me a gear range of something like 17-108 gear inches (depends on the tire I'm using). Much wider than is possible with derailleurs with that size wheel.
The problem with the SD is that the overdrive ratio isn't that large, so you don't get the wide range of gearing (which is really the point of going to the MD in the first place).
I may at some point pick up the new HSD, which gives a 2.5x overdrive...same amount as the MD only in reverse...so I can keep my wide range gearing. It would also save a fair bit of weight and improve the chain lines.
Andy Douglas Catrike
Here's the latest: Took the bike back to my LBS this afternoon. Got someone who was a little smarter about bikes this time. He confirmed that the mountain-drive was not engaging in the direct-drive mode. I'm rolling the dice and hoping they can fix it since they readily admitted it was nothing they knew about. I printed the manual for them, so hopefully that will help. Thanks for your input and suggestions - Dave
Actually, Jeff, it's not strange at all. I have a MD on my Pharobike, with a 65T chainring and an 11-32 cassette.
This gives me a gear range of something like 17-108 gear inches (depends on the tire I'm using). Much wider than is possible with derailleurs with that size wheel....
My Sunset [1] has the same size wheels as the Pharobike Lowfat, but the use of the 13/20 step-up combined with a 44/32/22 crank and 11-34 cassette provides a gearing range of 19-120 inches.
Thank you for providing me with yet another opportunity to post something about my Sunset. 😉
Just got a slightly used Challenge Hurricaine. Has 9 speeds and a mountain drive on the front axel. (www.schlumpf.ch/md_engl.htm). I had the local bikeshop put it together. I'm wondering if they could have done something wrong in set-up or if there is another explanation to my problem. The problem is that I basically have one gear (#9). Everything below #9 goes from too easy (#8 and 7) to "maybe if I was going up Mt. Everest this would be good" easy (gears 6 to 1).
I can't imagine a bike with such great reviews would be like this. Engaging the montain-drive only made peddling easier.
Any thoughtd, recommendations or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
