Alfine 11 Conversion Completed

technut
technut Posts: 19
edited January 2011 in Commuting general
I just completed my wifes Alfine 11 conversion. This was a Specialized Globe with entry level components. The new parts came from River City Bicycles, Universal Cycles, and my bonepile.
The rear wheel is a Mavic A319 with DT Comp spokes, the front wheel is stock, and the tires are Continental Contact 700 x 37c. I used the Alfine tensioner, with a KMC X9.93 chain, Regina America crank, Origin 8 chainring, Salsa Crossing Guard, and Shimano PD-A530 combo pedals. Up top, are a Ritchey Comp 120mm adjustible stem, FSA XC 280 bars, Alfine shifter, Tekto Eclipse brake levers, and Ergo GP1 soft grips. Out back is a Raux Gel saddle, and a Topeak RX post-mounted Quick-Track rack system. This is a very comfy chick bike. The chainline is nearly perfect, with no adjustment in chain length. The adjustible stem allows her to sit more upright. Setup at 44/20 it climbs hills nicely and doesn't spin-out on the downhills. It shifts very smooth and quite. The lack of deraileurs, chainrings, and shifters make it a very clean looking bike. No complaints so far, I'll post a tech review once we put some miles on. Here's a link to some photos:

http://s1081.photobucket.com/albums/j344/RioRenovation/

Technut

Comments

  • couldashouldawoulda
    couldashouldawoulda Posts: 186
    Technut - I'm dying to try an 11 (for a winter mtb) - but the uk is still lacking in stock , apart from full builds.

    If you want - email me and I'll host & link them on google/picasa. You should learn for yourself tho!
  • couldashouldawoulda
    couldashouldawoulda Posts: 186
    Edit - What I really meant to say is that you should get your own site (eg google / picasa for free!) and go mad! If you want help let us know.
  • Pessable
    Pessable Posts: 32
    I'd be very interested in a blog-style post on how the conversion went and the hurdles you faced, as well as costs. In terms for the mechanically challenged!! :lol:

    I'm starting to think that my bike collection needs to have a singlespeed, an Alfine and a dérailleur bike in it. Thinking I'm going to buy a Genesis Day One Drop Cyclocross SS and maybe convert my hybrid to Alfine later when I can afford it.
  • technut
    technut Posts: 19
    This was by far the easiest conversion I've done from a mechanical perspective. The only real challenge was developing the patience to wait for the 11-speed hub to hit the US market. My LBS (River City Bicycles) sourced it through KHS, after Shimano gave them a two month leed-time.

    The install is very straight forward, the cog and cassette joint install is simple. The non-turn washers are common sense once you see the cassette joint orientation as related to the chainstay cable route. The tensioner bolts onto the deraileur hanger, and gets threaded in the usual way. The shifter and cabling is easy, but you'll need to trim the shift cable housing near the shifter end, and the cable near the hub end, because it ships pretty long.

    The only variables are finding a crank setup with the correct chain line, and adjusting the gearing by changing cogs and/or chainrings. I used a scavenged square tapered crank, and the chainline is off a tiny bit, but it's negligable. I'm building another bike with an excentric bottom shell and the Alfine crank, so no tensioner and the chainline looks perfect. Some miles on hilly roads will determine whether the 44/20 setup is low enough. My other bike will start out as a 45/20. Shimano only makes the Alfine cogs (with the black plastic guard) in 18T & 20T, and chainrings in 39T & 45T. So to go lower you're into a 39T chainring and perhaps back to an 18T cog. As an engineer, I should be able to trust the gear charts on Sheldon Browns' website, but I needed to feel the gearing. Personal preference will determine your setup.

    I paid around $720 for the hub, cog, small parts kit, tensioner, and shifter.

    Hope this helps,

    Technut

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