Hub geared road bikes are back!

stickman
stickman Posts: 791
edited March 2010 in Road general
Bikes, saddles and stuff

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21720915@N03/
More stuff:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65587945@N00/

Gears - Obscuring the goodness of singlespeed

Comments

  • hub geared roadies are the way forward... i'll probably make one up soon.
  • stickman
    stickman Posts: 791
    I used to have one, cost £15, but the frame was too big. Got a photo on my Flickr, page 8.
    Bikes, saddles and stuff

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21720915@N03/
    More stuff:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/65587945@N00/

    Gears - Obscuring the goodness of singlespeed
  • lae
    lae Posts: 555
    Looking at their traditional design, I wouldn't say that they're 'back', rather that they're 'still here'! :lol:

    Cooper make some bloody good bikes. I'd have one if I wasn't into home builds
  • stickman
    stickman Posts: 791
    Dynamic Bicycles are bringing one out which they claim is the first in the world!!! (I'm sure Sturmey Archer must have had their 1902 hub gears fitted to road bikes by many riders).
    Bikes, saddles and stuff

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21720915@N03/
    More stuff:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/65587945@N00/

    Gears - Obscuring the goodness of singlespeed
  • Big Ted
    Big Ted Posts: 330
    want one
    Big Ted Rides Hard...
  • stickman
    stickman Posts: 791
    And no bar tape in the world looks better than Brooks!
    Bikes, saddles and stuff

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21720915@N03/
    More stuff:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/65587945@N00/

    Gears - Obscuring the goodness of singlespeed
  • plug1n
    plug1n Posts: 204
    A better solution for me at http://www.dynamicbicycles.com/synergy/road.php shame it is in the US
  • stickman
    stickman Posts: 791
    Them Alfine hubs sound great, anyone on the messageboard got one?
    I think the Cooper bikes look better though.
    Bikes, saddles and stuff

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21720915@N03/
    More stuff:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/65587945@N00/

    Gears - Obscuring the goodness of singlespeed
  • ooooo, drop bar hub gear shifters!!!!

    Pity rohloff haven't done something similar, silly germans!
  • http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RALEIGH-METRO-ELI ... 588409c37c

    Alfine hub; hydraulic brakes; rear pannier; stand; retro look saddle and bars... for 429! Been eying this one up for about a week, looks far less blingy than my Pylon8 for teenage cred thieves.
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • I had been looking for a hub geared bike as a ride to work job but those sold in Britain were horrendously expensive (for what I wanted). I always looked when in France but never found anything.

    Eventually my brother got me a Raleigh a couple of years ago in a French supermarche for 200 Euros. Has alloy frame, hub gear, chainguard, dynamo lights, propstand, rack, bell, not much else you need really. The Kenda tyres were rubbish, constantly puncturing, but I've just swapped to Contis so hopefully problem solved.
  • lae
    lae Posts: 555
    ^^ Looks good Nitrous, but hydraulic brakes on a commuter? On a cargo bike yeah, but I think it's a bit overkill for a commuter...
  • I've fallen for hydraulic brakes over the last six months, great stopping power. Also, long term, I'm not wearing the rims out, which will mean a bit of a faff/cost for rebuilding the Alfine hub gear rear wheel at some point. The other thing I like is the almost maintenance free hydraulic setup so far. They no doubt add weight, but I would hardly call myself a twig at ~90Kg either ;)

    For the last few weeks, I have been able to take my Pylon8 inside the work warehouse and lock it in a rarely used room. However, they do want me to start locking my bike in the exposed bike racks with rain shelters.

    I could just buy an Abus Granit-X PLus lock, get some bike insurance and continue to use the Pylon8.
    I could buy either that Pioneer Metro Elite 2, or a Specialized Tricross Singlecross (both at sale prices), get the good lock and insurance.
    I could risk using work's cycle2work (HALfords) to source one of the above or a Trek District/Soho, despite only having just started this job. Insurance and lock would be a must.
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • stickman
    stickman Posts: 791
    That Metro, nothing wrong with Raleigh building quality, this is like a continuation of the Raleigh Superbe. I prefer drum brakes though.
    Bikes, saddles and stuff

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21720915@N03/
    More stuff:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/65587945@N00/

    Gears - Obscuring the goodness of singlespeed
  • I would really like there to be a good quality 3 speed bike.

    Not 5, or 7, or 8. Just 3. Direct drive, plus a third, and minus a quarter, in the traditional Sturmey-Archer fashion, but on a decent frame and wheels and not looking like something your granny would ride.

    I ride single speed, but have to choose my gear to allow for the big hill at each end of my ride. A traditional S-A 3 speed is like 3 single speeds, because the gears are too far apart to keep snicking from one to the other. For normal riding, too many close-ratio gears jsut leads to laziness, and a disconnection from the terrain.

    Many years ago, my dear old Dad told me: 2nd gear for the flat; 1st gear for uphill; 3rd gear for downhill.

    Before derailleurs, club cyclists raced and did huge distances on 3 speeds - or even on close ratio 3 speeds.

    Simple, clean, and little to go wrong.

    But they only put them on granny bikes.
  • stickman
    stickman Posts: 791
    You can have a S.A. 3-speed put into whatever wheel you want, simple! (As long as number of spoke holes match, S.A. hubs are 36 holes nowadays)
    Bikes, saddles and stuff

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21720915@N03/
    More stuff:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/65587945@N00/

    Gears - Obscuring the goodness of singlespeed
  • lae
    lae Posts: 555
    Yeah I'm definitely considering building a 3-speed 1930s-esque racer thing at some point in the future.

    Mind you, I'm considering building just about every type of bike possible :shock: :lol:
  • There was a nice looking Raleigh Elan on Rutland's ebay store that would fit the reto 3-speed bill for £190.

    I came so close to buying it... But then it vanished, I had no idea there was a pending deadline on the advert! :?
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • I keep think of selling my Russ with a SA ASC hub (3sp fix).

    But then I keep thinking how nice it rides.

    Always open to very generous offers
    Recipe: shave legs sparingly, rub in embrocation and drizzle with freshly squeezed baby oil.
  • I seem to remember an advert from early in the last century that featured a Sturmey Archer 3 speed in the Tour de France.

    You can even get a three speed fixed wheel hub gear from S-A now.
  • You can even get a three speed fixed wheel hub gear from S-A now.

    Mine has June 1950 (06/50) stamped on the hub shell, in nice polished alloy
    Recipe: shave legs sparingly, rub in embrocation and drizzle with freshly squeezed baby oil.
  • Gav2000
    Gav2000 Posts: 408
    I had been looking for a hub geared bike as a ride to work job but those sold in Britain were horrendously expensive (for what I wanted). I always looked when in France but never found anything.

    Eventually my brother got me a Raleigh a couple of years ago in a French supermarche for 200 Euros. Has alloy frame, hub gear, chainguard, dynamo lights, propstand, rack, bell, not much else you need really. The Kenda tyres were rubbish, constantly puncturing, but I've just swapped to Contis so hopefully problem solved.

    What about the Revolution Courier Nexus from the Edinburgh Bike Coop?

    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f_ProductID=9452&f_SupersetQRY=C432&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c003155c018333c018336

    I got mine for £299 in their sale a few months ago, the only thing I have changed is to move to thinner tyres for road use, it now rolls well and is so easy to clean.

    The range of the 8 gears is also very good, when I checked its very similar to the range of my 20 speed raod bike with 50:34 and 13-29 on it. So far (700 miles) the Nexus gearing has been fine.[url][/url]
    Gav2000

    Like a streak of lightnin' flashin' cross the sky,
    Like the swiftest arrow whizzin' from a bow,
    Like a mighty cannonball he seems to fly.
    You'll hear about him ever'where you go.
  • stickman
    stickman Posts: 791
    Bikes, saddles and stuff

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21720915@N03/
    More stuff:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/65587945@N00/

    Gears - Obscuring the goodness of singlespeed
  • And I feel I have to add a link to this lovely little number from Pearson. Not at the easily affordable end of the scale but a smart road bike with a SA 3 speed fixed hub. Mmmmmm!
    Never be tempted to race against a Barclays Cycle Hire bike. If you do, there are only two outcomes. Of these, by far the better is that you now have the scalp of a Boris Bike.