Hubgear-de-jour

Colin Blackburn said:

If I was to look for a hub gear for use in a hack bike for a hilly
city what should I consider from the options available today?

I'm looking for something relatively cheap and with a reasonable
range. Much as I'd like a Rohloff this will be going on an old hybrid
frame and the bike won't be in constant secure storage. At the other
end of the scale I don't know if a 3-speed 'roadster' hub will be
enough to tackle the hills of Durham.

What would the panel recommend?

A speedhub 🙂

Well, if you insist on using something else then I guess the obvious
answer is the Shimano Nexus 7 speed hub.

Paul Rudin <[email hidden]> wrote:

: Well, if you insist on using something else then I guess the obvious
: answer is the Shimano Nexus 7 speed hub.

Hard to argue with really. The only other option to look at are the Sachs
5 and 7 speed hubs.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt
Don't get me wrong, perl is an OK operating system, but it lacks a
lightweight scripting language -- Walter Dnes

Colin Blackburn said:

I'm looking for something relatively cheap and with a reasonable range.
Much as I'd like a Rohloff this will be going on an old hybrid frame and
the bike won't be in constant secure storage. At the other end of the
scale I don't know if a 3-speed 'roadster' hub will be enough to tackle
the hills of Durham.

It rather depends on the chainwheel and drive sprocket combo. The Brom
has a SRAM 3 which with standard Brompton gearing is completely hopeless
for Dundee, which has no shortage of hills and some pretty wicked
examples. But with the -18% option achieved by just down gearing the
drive to the hub it's okay. Don't expect to break the speed limits
cycling down the hills, as with the reduced 3rd gear you spin out quite
quickly (mine is fine on gentle downhills, or on the flat with a minor
tailwind), but if it's just a hack bike for A to B without sweating much
then a 3 is actually enough.
Not to say that more wouldn't be better, but 3 is enough with the right
front end.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Paul Rudin said:

Colin Blackburn said:

If I was to look for a hub gear for use in a hack bike for a hilly
city what should I consider from the options available today?

I'm looking for something relatively cheap and with a reasonable
range. Much as I'd like a Rohloff this will be going on an old hybrid
frame and the bike won't be in constant secure storage. At the other
end of the scale I don't know if a 3-speed 'roadster' hub will be
enough to tackle the hills of Durham.

What would the panel recommend?

A speedhub 🙂

Well, if you insist on using something else then I guess the obvious
answer is the Shimano Nexus 7 speed hub.

I think this year's is 8 speed, but I'm not sure. I'm reasonably happy with
my 7 speed after some problems, which on reflection were probably my fault.

With a 44 tooth chainring and 22 tooth sprocket (and 26 inch tyres), it
seems to go low enough for me to get up hills and not spin out when going on
a reasonable downhill (20-25 mph). It won't be supplied with anything bigger
than a 16 or 18 tooth sprocket, though.

I'm picking up my dynohub later in the week, which is exciting. I've got one
with a coaster brake, but I'll be keeping my rim-brake compatible rim
anyway. Looking forward to not getting my hands caked in aluminium powder
whenever I try to put a cable lock through the front wheel.

A

Colin Blackburn said:

If I was to look for a hub gear for use in a hack bike for a hilly city
what should I consider from the options available today?
I'm looking for something relatively cheap and with a reasonable range.
Much as I'd like a Rohloff this will be going on an old hybrid frame and
the bike won't be in constant secure storage. At the other end of the
scale I don't know if a 3-speed 'roadster' hub will be enough to tackle
the hills of Durham.

I too built a hub gear into an old hybrid last year. The hybrid was an old
Edinburgh connection and the gear is an nexus 7sp. - I wanted the 8sp but
it was not yet in the catalogues that the bike shops had. I have a 46 tooth
chainring and 21 tooth sprocket which would be tough if your hills are steep.
I have also fitted a surly chain tensioner which makes it easier to remove
the chain/wheel.

I use the bike for commuting ~7 miles across Edinburgh. No probs yet but I
only use it a couple of days a week.

In article said:

Paul Rudin said:

Colin Blackburn said:

If I was to look for a hub gear for use in a hack bike for a hilly
city what should I consider from the options available today?

[...]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What would the panel recommend?

A speedhub 🙂

Well, if you insist on using something else then I guess the obvious
answer is the Shimano Nexus 7 speed hub.

I think this year's is 8 speed, but I'm not sure. I'm reasonably happy with
my 7 speed after some problems, which on reflection were probably my fault.

Sheldon reckons the 8 speed is a major improvement over the 7 speed, though
he doesn't go into details why.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/shimano-nexus.html

http://groups.google.co.uk/groups?selm=41FFFF2F.4040109%40sheldonbrown.com
says "the 8-speed Nexus is touted to be rather more efficient than the 7-speed"
and better shifting under load.

Colin Blackburn said:

If I was to look for a hub gear for use in a hack bike for a hilly city
what should I consider from the options available today?

I'm looking for something relatively cheap and with a reasonable range.
Much as I'd like a Rohloff this will be going on an old hybrid frame and
the bike won't be in constant secure storage. At the other end of the
scale I don't know if a 3-speed 'roadster' hub will be enough to tackle
the hills of Durham.

What would the panel recommend?

Shimano Nexus Inter-8.

Ooops...I was going to add that 38 x 21 is a useful gear combination for
this hub.

Alan Braggins <[email hidden]> wrote:

: Sheldon reckons the 8 speed is a major improvement over the 7 speed, though
: he doesn't go into details why.
: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/shimano-nexus.html

The 7 speed suffered from excessive drag in certain gears. 1st wasn't that
different to 2nd, nor 6th from 7th.

--
Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt
Don't get me wrong, perl is an OK operating system, but it lacks a
lightweight scripting language -- Walter Dnes

Dunno if your hybrid bike fits 700c wheels, but if so and it's an 'old'
frame with 7spd (126mm ish) spacing this could be the auction for you!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=58089&item=7139659138&rd=1

I might add this has nothing to do with me, just spotted it tonight as I'm
on the lookout for a rear road hub for a wheel rebuild and thought you might
be interested.

Paul

"Colin Blackburn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

If I was to look for a hub gear for use in a hack bike for a hilly city
what should I consider from the options available today?

I'm looking for something relatively cheap and with a reasonable range.
Much as I'd like a Rohloff this will be going on an old hybrid frame and
the bike won't be in constant secure storage. At the other end of the
scale I don't know if a 3-speed 'roadster' hub will be enough to tackle
the hills of Durham.

What would the panel recommend?

Colin

In message <[email hidden]>, Arthur Clune
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Alan Braggins <[email hidden]> wrote:

: Sheldon reckons the 8 speed is a major improvement over the 7 speed, though
: he doesn't go into details why.
: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/shimano-nexus.html

The 7 speed suffered from excessive drag in certain gears. 1st wasn't that
different to 2nd, nor 6th from 7th.

I've used both Sachs (as was) 7 speed, and Nexus 7 speed hub gears, not
really very much in it.

I found the hub gear fine for hauling me and the bike around Leeds, but
once I started pulling a kiddy trailer as well I added a double chain
ring for a bit lower gears
--
Chris French, Leeds

Why do I keep reading the thread title as "huggybear du jour?"

Cap'n Doby would surely not approve!

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

Has to be the new 'premium' version of the 8 Speed Nexus hub. This
version uses some roller bearings in place of plain bushes, much like
the Speedhub.