Shimano Alfina internal hub Vs Sram X7/9 gears, advice?
Ferdipeelen
Posts: 3
Hi All,
I'm waiting for the 2009 Cannondale Bad Boy range to hit London shops as I want to buy one of the XL Ultra bikes of that range. (XL models of 2008 range sold out). I will be using it for 25 mile (total back and forth) daily city commute which includes steep (road) hills, busy traffic, shortcuts etc.
I'm an advanced cyclist with competition BMX experience but no experience with internal hub gears.
I know about the Rohlhoff hub thing but that is so eyewateringly expensive that I would rather eat broken glass than spend so much of my hard earned cash for some gears.
So for the same price (roughly 1200 pounds) I can get either the Bad Boy 8 Ultra with the internal Shimano Alfina hub gears (8 of them) or the Bad Boy Ultra with the SRam X7/9 deraillers and SRam X7 trigger shifters with I reckon 24 gears.
One friend recommended getting a single gear bike but I have no interest in that due to hilly commute so don't bother if that's going to be your advice.
My worry about the internal hub is durability and complicated tyre replacement in terms of getting rear wheel off and back on.
My positive expectations of the internal hub gears are the looks, the protection against elements, minimalism and low maintenance. Also I understand it is silent and easy to shift.
However bad write up in terms of irregular gear ratios (on hubstripper).
My worry about SRam derraillers shifters are again durability (read a lot of write ups about them breaking) and don't know how easy it is to get rear wheel off and on. Also they don't look as cool as the internal hub (remember, I have to ride it through London every day of the week, exposing it to arguably the most discerning and trend sensitive fellow biker audience in the world today, half of them ride single gear bikes just to look cool)
My positive expectation is to do with much praised gear ratios, and smooth operation.
Has anyone got advice?
Anyone got long term experience with the Shimano Alfina? (It's been available on the Cannondale Bad Boy for years). Please let me know, Cheers, Ferdi
I'm waiting for the 2009 Cannondale Bad Boy range to hit London shops as I want to buy one of the XL Ultra bikes of that range. (XL models of 2008 range sold out). I will be using it for 25 mile (total back and forth) daily city commute which includes steep (road) hills, busy traffic, shortcuts etc.
I'm an advanced cyclist with competition BMX experience but no experience with internal hub gears.
I know about the Rohlhoff hub thing but that is so eyewateringly expensive that I would rather eat broken glass than spend so much of my hard earned cash for some gears.
So for the same price (roughly 1200 pounds) I can get either the Bad Boy 8 Ultra with the internal Shimano Alfina hub gears (8 of them) or the Bad Boy Ultra with the SRam X7/9 deraillers and SRam X7 trigger shifters with I reckon 24 gears.
One friend recommended getting a single gear bike but I have no interest in that due to hilly commute so don't bother if that's going to be your advice.
My worry about the internal hub is durability and complicated tyre replacement in terms of getting rear wheel off and back on.
My positive expectations of the internal hub gears are the looks, the protection against elements, minimalism and low maintenance. Also I understand it is silent and easy to shift.
However bad write up in terms of irregular gear ratios (on hubstripper).
My worry about SRam derraillers shifters are again durability (read a lot of write ups about them breaking) and don't know how easy it is to get rear wheel off and on. Also they don't look as cool as the internal hub (remember, I have to ride it through London every day of the week, exposing it to arguably the most discerning and trend sensitive fellow biker audience in the world today, half of them ride single gear bikes just to look cool)
My positive expectation is to do with much praised gear ratios, and smooth operation.
Has anyone got advice?
Anyone got long term experience with the Shimano Alfina? (It's been available on the Cannondale Bad Boy for years). Please let me know, Cheers, Ferdi
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Comments
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Alfine is now found on some offroad bikes, so must be a lot of faith in durabilty. Getting the wheels on and off is still pretty simple with hub gears.
You will never get the gear spread of a 3x9 derailer system, so if you have a hilly commute and/or a lot of stopping and starting, the derailer may be a better bet. Singlespeed is really for the very flat, very fit, or very stupid.
Cannondales have never struck me as been the best value. Have you looked at the Giant FCR range?
http://www.ashcycles.com/power/index.ph ... urrency=BP
Great commuter and very light.0 -
look also at Genesis bikes IO or might be ID Think the Alfine is warranted for off road use but not DH or jumping. I think annual maintenance (depending on use) entails removal of gears from the hub and a dunk/soak in oil before reassembly. Far less probs with chainstretch/suck etc. Gives a range of gears similar to a 11-32 cassette. so you just choose a sensible chainring/sprocket size.Look at www.sheldonbrown.com for more info0
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I have got a Bianchi Camaleonte with alfine gears for my commute into Edinburgh (2008 model). Had for 3 weeks now. Seems very fast - no problems with the gears though a couple are a little noisy. Shifting is easier than my old rapidfire with derailleurs. The range is also fine for the area. Quality of finish is amazing and the bike is quite light given the gears. I am looking forward to less maintainence over the winter.The 2009 model has a chain tensioner so not so clean looking.0
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We had a hybrid with a similar Nexus hub gear - it was hopeless so we sent the bike back, got our money refunded and bought a Rockhopper Disk instead.
Heavy, USELESS range of gears (the lowest gear is very high) and clunky.
Stick with the SRAM gear.0 -
Alfine is a different animal to the Nexus with uprated bearings etc. How can you say the equivalent of an 11-32 cassette is useless for commuting? The gearing is dependent upon the chainring/sprocket combination. I'd have thought that 42x16 or 18 would be adequate. I will go with 36x20 for off road use0
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Thanks a lot for the suggestions guys, really appreciate it. I'll be looking at some of the other bikes and, should I stick with Bad Boy choice, still have some deciding to do, will definitely testride both models.0
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Ian - Ferdi mentioned it was a hilly commute.
Honestly the gear range is terrible - highest gear is okay but the lowest is about the same as middle chainring, middle rear gear on an MTB. Yes the Alfine is a little more refined but the ratios are still very similar - and if you change the chainring, you'll shift the entire tiny gear range up or down - not expand the range.
We used the hybrid on roads around here (admittedly pretty hilly) and although we (me and wife) are both pretty fit riders, some hills were almost impossible.
I think the Bad Boy is a lovely bike but I'd stick with derailleur gears.0 -
Basically it is like having a single chainring up front and a 8speed cassette.0
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Ferdi,
On Your Bike in Birmingham have an XL Badboy Ultra - we could transfer this to our London store for you....
Stu0 -
I have the Charge Mixer with the alfine hub, i have had no probs with it so far (5 months use) make a great comuter in the same style as the bad boy cos i looked at them before i bought the mixer http://www.chargebikes.com/products/bikes/detail.php?id=15
I did the london to brighton on it this year and managed the hills on that no problems + i live in the middle of the chilterns and comute on it daily !!! oh and i'm not that fit so i need gears lol
In fact i like the Charge so much i'm looking at getting one of the Charge Dusters with a Alfine rear hub
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Re gear spread - if you check you will find that running a 36x20 or similar you only lose two gears at the top end and three at the bottom. (that's on a 27gear set up) You are telling me you can't get up road climbs on 32x32 or equivalent of 22x24?
I am only considering the Alfine because of ease of maintenance and at the age of 61, (following a broken hip) I find single speed a little difficult on the North/south downs off road climbs0
