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#1
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Internally Geared Shimano Hub + Shaft Drive = Carefree Chicago Winter Bike Commute?
I just left my LBS, now $100 poorer, having replaced my rear derailleur,
cable, housing, etc. The bike now shifts great. But I am reminded that my folder is not intended for winter commuting in Chicago. And I know I am pushing its frame design limits, with my 210 lbs body weight + 30 lbs cargo. (I use my bike for primary transportation, as RBT regulars well know.) I want to avoid 'winter riding conditions' issues with an 'external derailleur system' and the chain itself. I am fed up, and am ready to throw $ at the problem. I am thinking about a 'Crosstown 7' from Dynamic Bicycles http://www.dynamicbicycle.com/buy/Bikes.php?prodid=66 . But my LBS mechanic just now told me, I can expect winter maintenance issues, even with a internally geared hub. For this reason, he says he rides a single-speed bike in the winter. Is this true? Does winter crud in fact work its way into the hub, and from there, pick my pocket? Or is his advice dated, and only applies to old internally geared hubs? My main concern with the Crosstown 7 is frame strength. Is the aluminum frame strong enough for my load? Or is this frame really intended for 160 lb pixies, who don't even know what a backpack is? And what exactly is 'all-weather commuting' anyway? What latitude does that refer to? Are these wheels strong enough for the load? Do I need to spec stronger wheels, which I believe DB will do? DB has told me, they will use Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires. I have zero tolerance for flats. DB will use a front disk brake, as an upgrade. Would this be a good idea? I really want to get away from any variation of rim brakes, because of weather maintenance issues, like daily cleaning of the rims in the winter. That is all I can think of, for now. I don't want to simply substitute my current set of problems, with a more exotic set of problems. Your servant - J. |
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#2
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Internally Geared Shimano Hub + Shaft Drive = Carefree ChicagoWinter Bike Commute?
Jay wrote:
My main concern with the Crosstown 7 is frame strength. Is the aluminum frame strong enough for my load? The frame is probably fine; I'd be far more concerned about the durability and strength of the bevel gear driveshaft. When you add the intrinsic losses of a Nexus 7 hub (which doesn't even have a 1:1 ratio) to the intrinsic losses of two sets of bevel gears, you'll be going noticeably slower than you do now for the same effort. Consider instead a bike with a Nexus 8, SRAM S7 or iMotion 9-speed hub, in combination with a Hebie Chainglider or other full chain case. That would be at least as easy to live with, a lot more efficient, and almost certainly more reliable in the long run. DB will use a front disk brake, as an upgrade. Would this be a good idea? I really want to get away from any variation of rim brakes, because of weather maintenance issues, like daily cleaning of the rims in the winter. Drums are a better match for the low-maintenance city bike role in my opinion. They are not as strong as discs or good rim brakes, but they get better with use and they seem to ask nothing of you in return. Unlike a disc brake's rotors, drums are completely out of harm's way, as well as out of the weather. The Shimano front roller brake has an anti-braking "feature"; do not use it. A SRAM or Sturmey Archer front drum should do nicely, provided you match it to a lever with the proper ratio and cable throw. Chalo |
#3
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Internally Geared Shimano Hub + Shaft Drive = Carefree ChicagoWinter Bike Commute?
Jay wrote: I don't want to simply substitute my current set of problems, with a more exotic set of problems. IMO that is what you would be doing with a proprietary shaft drive setup. Forget about derailleurs if you want low maintenace all-weather performance. A Nexus hub with a stainless steel chain. The Nexus hub and cable can be irritating to take the wheel off if you need to for a flat, particularly with cold numb fingers. Chicago is pretty flat, so I'd go for single speed. No cables so easier to deal with than Nexus if you need to change the tube, and much cheaper and less chance of breaking than a Nexus hub. Joseph |
#4
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Internally Geared Shimano Hub + Shaft Drive = Carefree ChicagoWinter Bike Commute?
On Feb 1, 1:54*pm, "
wrote: Chicago is pretty flat, so I'd go for single speed. No cables so easier to deal with than Nexus if you need to change the tube, and much cheaper and less chance of breaking than a Nexus hub. I was thinking this also. Chicago is as flat as a pancake. If ever a city was made for single-speeds, that is it. Converting an old bike to a single speed is cheap, too. If you really want to throw money at the problem, get some sealed bearing hubs. Add a sealed bottom bracket (~$25) and sealed headset bearings. Then, winter maintenance amounts to cleaning/lubing/replacing the chain plus hosing down the bike. This is how my commuter bike is set up (except it's a fixed gear). Just my opinion, Tom |
#5
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Internally Geared Shimano Hub + Shaft Drive = Carefree ChicagoWinter Bike Commute?
On Feb 1, 5:15 pm, "
wrote: On Feb 1, 1:54 pm, ...@ gmail.com wrote: Chicago is pretty flat, so I'd go for single speed. No cables so easier to deal with than Nexus if you need to change the tube, and much cheaper and less chance of breaking than a Nexus hub. I was thinking this also. Chicago is as flat as a pancake. If ever a city was made for single-speeds, that is it. Converting an old bike to a single speed is cheap, too. If you really want to throw money at the problem, get some sealed bearing hubs. Add a sealed bottom bracket (~$25) and sealed headset bearings. Then, winter maintenance amounts to cleaning/lubing/replacing the chain plus hosing down the bike. This is how my commuter bike is set up (except it's a fixed gear). Just my opinion, Tom No, it's not _just_ your opinion! That's what I would have suggested too, preferably fixed gear. See: http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed and: http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion and: http://sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed Sheldon "Coasting Is Bad" Brown +------------------------------------------------------------+ | I'll be appearing in the chorus of the Sudbury Savoyards' | | Production of Gilbert & Sullivan's Yeomen of the Guard | | Sudbury, Massachusetts, February 22 through March 1 | | http://sudburysavoyards.org | +------------------------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 http://harriscyclery.com Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide http://captainbike.com Useful articles about bicycles and cycling http://sheldonbrown.com |
#6
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Internally Geared Shimano Hub + Shaft Drive = Carefree ChicagoWinter Bike Commute?
On Feb 2, 12:02*am, Sheldon Brown wrote:
On Feb 1, 5:15 pm, " wrote: On Feb 1, 1:54 pm, ...@ gmail.com wrote: Chicago is pretty flat, so I'd go for single speed. No cables so easier to deal with than Nexus if you need to change the tube, and much cheaper and less chance of breaking than a Nexus hub. I was thinking this also. *Chicago is as flat as a pancake. *If ever a city was made for single-speeds, that is it. Converting an old bike to a single speed is cheap, too. *If you really want to throw money at the problem, get some sealed bearing hubs. *Add a sealed bottom bracket (~$25) and sealed headset bearings. *Then, winter maintenance amounts to cleaning/lubing/replacing the chain plus hosing down the bike. *This is how my commuter bike is set up (except it's a fixed gear). Just my opinion, Tom No, it's not _just_ your opinion! *That's what I would have suggested too, preferably fixed gear. See:http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed and:http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion and:http://sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed Sheldon "Coasting Is Bad" Brown I was thinking fixed too, but I figured based on the previous discussions of gearing, considering the location, that jumping to a fixed might be too exotic for the OP, thus the single speed suggestion. But certainly nothing beats fixed in terms of almost solid-state low maintenance. I don't even bother hosing mine off, let alone cleaning the chain. Joseph |
#7
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Internally Geared Shimano Hub + Shaft Drive = Carefree ChicagoWinter Bike Commute?
On Feb 1, 3:54 pm, "
wrote: Jay wrote: I don't want to simply substitute my current set of problems, with a more exotic set of problems. IMO that is what you would be doing with a proprietary shaft drive setup. Forget about derailleurs if you want low maintenace all-weather performance. A Nexus hub with a stainless steel chain. The Nexus hub and cable can be irritating to take the wheel off if you need to for a flat, particularly with cold numb fingers. I've done 30K miles in Chicago with a Nexus 7 and nickel plated chains. It's the perfect combo. Heck, even a Nexus 3 might be enough. If you run decent tires, flats will be extremely rare, I got one every 10K or so, and for the rear, didn't have to pull the tube. It's a non- issue. Fixed or single is fine for short jaunts, but I hauled various amounts of gear, sometimes up to 50# of ****, so various ratios are nice. |
#8
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Internally Geared Shimano Hub + Shaft Drive = Carefree Chicago Winter Bike Commute?
On Fri, 1 Feb 2008 15:02:26 -0800 (PST), Sheldon Brown
wrote: On Feb 1, 5:15 pm, " wrote: On Feb 1, 1:54 pm, ...@ gmail.com wrote: Chicago is pretty flat, so I'd go for single speed. No cables so easier to deal with than Nexus if you need to change the tube, and much cheaper and less chance of breaking than a Nexus hub. I was thinking this also. Chicago is as flat as a pancake. If ever a city was made for single-speeds, that is it. Converting an old bike to a single speed is cheap, too. If you really want to throw money at the problem, get some sealed bearing hubs. Add a sealed bottom bracket (~$25) and sealed headset bearings. Then, winter maintenance amounts to cleaning/lubing/replacing the chain plus hosing down the bike. This is how my commuter bike is set up (except it's a fixed gear). Just my opinion, Tom No, it's not _just_ your opinion! That's what I would have suggested too, preferably fixed gear. See: http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed and: http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion and: http://sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed .... My suggestion as well. Chicago is flat; you're commuting not racing; this is a case of simple being better. Though there's a small learning curve involved, many -- I among them -- come to enjoy the elemental experience of riding a fixie. And the minimal maintenance requirements recommend that choice all the more. |
#9
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Internally Geared Shimano Hub + Shaft Drive = Carefree ChicagoWinter Bike Commute?
Jay wrote:
I just left my LBS, now $100 poorer, having replaced my rear derailleur, cable, housing, etc. The bike now shifts great. But I am reminded that my folder is not intended for winter commuting in Chicago. And I know I am pushing its frame design limits, with my 210 lbs body weight + 30 lbs cargo. (I use my bike for primary transportation, as RBT regulars well know.) I want to avoid 'winter riding conditions' issues with an 'external derailleur system' and the chain itself. I am fed up, and am ready to throw $ at the problem. I am thinking about a 'Crosstown 7' from Dynamic Bicycles http://www.dynamicbicycle.com/buy/Bikes.php?prodid=66 . But my LBS mechanic just now told me, I can expect winter maintenance issues, even with a internally geared hub. For this reason, he says he rides a single-speed bike in the winter. Is this true? Does winter crud in fact work its way into the hub, and from there, pick my pocket? Or is his advice dated, and only applies to old internally geared hubs? My main concern with the Crosstown 7 is frame strength. Is the aluminum frame strong enough for my load? Or is this frame really intended for 160 lb pixies, who don't even know what a backpack is? And what exactly is 'all-weather commuting' anyway? What latitude does that refer to? Are these wheels strong enough for the load? Do I need to spec stronger wheels, which I believe DB will do? DB has told me, they will use Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires. I have zero tolerance for flats. DB will use a front disk brake, as an upgrade. Would this be a good idea? I really want to get away from any variation of rim brakes, because of weather maintenance issues, like daily cleaning of the rims in the winter. That is all I can think of, for now. I don't want to simply substitute my current set of problems, with a more exotic set of problems. Your servant - J. The Dynamic bike is a rip. First of all, how long is the shaft drive guaranteed for? Ask to see their stock of spare parts. If it breaks and you can't get it fixed, you can't fit another bottom bracket and a chainwheel and sprocket because the frame has been specially machined. Next, that bike is several hundred dollars of equipment away from being a commuting bike or a town bike or even a leisure bike. It is a like an automobile manufacturer charging you extra for the lights and the trunk and the fenders and parts of the engine. The shaft isn't a solution. The chain isn't a problem. Get hub gears and a full chain case or a Hebie Chainglider and lube with White Lightning wax and you'll never again have dirty hands or a rusty, worn chain. Nexus hub gearboxes last and last. They are serviced when they break down, after tens of thousands of miles. You can do it yourself; Shimano publishes English instructions with step by step photographs; Sheldon also had the same instructions on his site. But you want the Nexus 8-speed, not the cheaper 7-speed. You don't want rim brakes, for sure. The disc brake also has problems: the disc itself wears and eventually has to be replaced, the pads have to be replaced frequently (I got only about a thousand klicks out of mine though it is true I live amid hills), and checked constantly so that they don't wear down and start scoring the disc, and adjusted constantly as the pads wear. I have a disc brake on the front of a Nexus equipped bike http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/B...20Bauhaus.html and it was great after rim brakes on other bikes but the roller brake on the back gave more satisfaction, so on my next Nexus bike http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/B...%20Smover.html I got roller brakes front and rear. The latest Shimano roller brakes are as strong as a disc brake and a little more controllable. They are serviced when they become rough or noisy by pulling out a rubber bung and squeezing in some Shimano gunk and putting he rubber bung back, thirty seconds two wheels and clean hands. I suggest you find someone in the States who sells Gazelle bikes or if you can't, someone in Holland who will export one to you. Right now is a good time to buy the overjarige (last year's) model, for instance this guy, http://stores.ebay.nl/BIKERS-STORE_F...ftidZ2QQt Zkm whom I've dealt with before, offers a top of the line Gazelle Saphir for 725 Euro, a 37 per cent discount. Compare to the prices of similar bikes from the same maker if you want this year's model (usually nothing more than a name change and a new paint scheme...) http://www.gazelle.nl/nl/ Even with carriage, that Gazelle Saphir will look like a bargain against the Dynamic by the time you've specced the Dynamic up to the Saphir's level -- and then the Dynamic will still never be nearer than several stepes below the first league. The fellow at Bikerstore used to ship to the States, so try him. The Gazelle store in York in the UK -- click on the British flag on the Gazelle entry page -- also ships to the USA but you have to pay the full price. Search German Ebay ebay.de and yatego and Google (Google gets you the Dutch dealers who this time of the year has some really nice old model deals) for Gazelle and ask the dealers in turn if they will ship; I bought both my Nexus-equipped bikes off the internet from dealers several countries and two seas away by simply calling up or writing and asking if they would ship to me; in both cases I got free shipping as a form of discount or additional discount. (A Saphir, or a bike like my Gazelle Toulouse or my Trek "Smover" are a hell of a long way up the product tree, like a car dealer stuck with a Rolls-Royce convertible.) If you want a familiar name (nothing wrong with Gazelle, who are known as the Rolls-Royce of bicycle makers for a good reason but you won't necessarily know or care about that) like Trek, here are some references to suitable Trek bikes, unfortunately for you offered by Trek Benelux rather than Trek USA. From the Leisure Series, here's the Trek L600 which comes with the stunning Bontrager wheels I like so much on my own Trek: http://www.trekbikes.com/nl/nl/bikes...leisure/l600e/ and the Trek L400, which is cheaper but fitted with the same Rigida wheels as on my Gazelle bike: http://www.trekbikes.com/nl/nl/bikes...leisure/l400e/ If you're interested you could ask Trek Benelux for a list of their dealers, then work your way through them until you find one who will ship; maybe Trek Benelux wants to supply you direct. If you want to write to me privately at my fiultra mailbox at Yahoo, I'll give you the name of the Belgian dealer who supplied my Trek; the arrangements went through smoothly, but their afterservice was altogether absent (which is why I don't give them a public plug), so I asked Trek Benelux who helped me with parts (nothing broken, I just wanted longer cables and some spares because I would have to do the work on the bike myself) and a smile and even gifts of lubes and better pedals. While we're talking about service, I also had occasion to ask Gazelle for advice and instructions, and they too helped me with a smile. Finally, though I suggest Gazelle and Trek because I know them, they are at the top of the pile and they price accordingly. By searching for Nexus rather than the elite brandnames, you will soon find a whole raft of European manufacturers who make perfectly competent bikes with much the same equipment up to a third cheaper than Gazelle and Trek. Many of them, particularly the Dutch ones, belong to the same conglomerate as Gazelle, so you very likely get the same frame made in the same place, and just a slightly lower quality of Shimano parts, and you don't get the Gazelle custom parts (special toolless adjustable seat, toolless adjustable stem angle and handlebar rotation, special lights, even special and in my opinion superb handlebar grips -- Gazelle is very big on functional ergonomics which really work); if the frame comes from the same place, do you really want to pay what could amount to 10 per cent of the total price for Gazelle's ten (or whatever irrelevant number) year guarantee on the frame? Another good brand with lower prices is Giant, who is very big in The Netherlands in city bikes -- search for Giant and Nexus together. You ask about tyres. I use Schwalbe's Marathon Plus and haven't had a flat in over 3000km with them. For comparison, on the bike on which I use them, over the previous 200km I spent EUR 125 on puncture repairs and new tubes and labour for fitting same at my LBS (that's roundabout a buck a mile) before I decided to stop paying off his mortgage and bought the Marathon Plus off the net instead. On my Trek I have the possibly cheaper (I've seen them advertised for half the Marathon Plus price) but equally good Bontrager Satellite Elite Hardcase tyres, 1600km on the same roads with zero flats; I imagine they come on the Trek bikes above, at least on the more expensive one. However, these are slick tyres, inflated very hard; they're not going to be much chop in slush or snow. I do run on about my enthusiasms. HTH. Andre Jute http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/B...20CYCLING.html |
#10
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Internally Geared Shimano Hub + Shaft Drive = Carefree ChicagoWinter Bike Commute?
Chalo Colina wrote:
Jay wrote: My main concern with the Crosstown 7 is frame strength. Is the aluminum frame strong enough for my load? The frame is probably fine; I'd be far more concerned about the durability and strength of the bevel gear driveshaft. When you add the intrinsic losses of a Nexus 7 hub (which doesn't even have a 1:1 ratio) to the intrinsic losses of two sets of bevel gears, you'll be going noticeably slower than you do now for the same effort. Consider instead a bike with a Nexus 8, SRAM S7 or iMotion 9-speed hub, in combination with a Hebie Chainglider or other full chain case. That would be at least as easy to live with, a lot more efficient, and almost certainly more reliable in the long run. DB will use a front disk brake, as an upgrade. Would this be a good idea? I really want to get away from any variation of rim brakes, because of weather maintenance issues, like daily cleaning of the rims in the winter. Drums are a better match for the low-maintenance city bike role in my opinion. They are not as strong as discs or good rim brakes, but they get better with use and they seem to ask nothing of you in return. Unlike a disc brake's rotors, drums are completely out of harm's way, as well as out of the weather. ... It should be noted that hub brakes become more effective with a reduction in wheel diameter, which is another reason for staying with a small wheel bicycle. Is there a dynamo hub that includes a drum brake? -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia "And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people." - A. Derleth |
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