ROLHOFF SPEEDHUB

[AGENTGRAPE]

has anyone out there ever used one of these. ive broken 2 derauillers on rocks and its getting tired. they have 14 gears internally shifted. it supposedly has the same use as a 27 speed set. why have these not taken off as a hot product or are they too expensive. any help will be appreciated

[Adam]

Oh yessss. I got tired of snapping chains, bending cassettes, and adjusting my drivetrain every few rides. I spoke w/ several satisfied Speedhub users, and had Sheldon Brown & Harris Cyclery build me up a D321 wheel with a new Speedhub this fall. So far it's been great-there are a few things to worry about re: chain tensioner if you're on a full-suspension rig, but the rest has been worry free.
As for taking off as a hot-product, they're starting to gain more acceptance in the commuter & DH/FR community. They're heavier than a conventional drivetrain, and at $900/pop it can be prohibitive unless you're building up a new bike from scratch.
Pictures of my setup are at http://www.freerideclub.com/rohloff.htm. There have been a number of Speedhub threads on the drivetrain tech forums on mtbr.com also. Cheers,

Adam

[AA]

Adam,

Very slick setup. The internal hub intrigues me. It seems logical to not have a derailer dangling off your bike. I am not a weight weenie but being an occasional racer I am interested in how much does the hub really weigh vs. derailers, cogs, one shifter, additional amount of chain etc.

Also would a singulator work for a chain tensioner on a FS bike or do you really need to use a derailer.

AA

[Adam]

My current setup is using a 'half' XTR derailleur (spare left over from a few seasons ago) serving as a chain tensioner only. The limit screws are set to keep the chain in one position laterally while tucked up close to the chainstay for low-profile tensioning duties.
Rohloff makes a tensioner that I used when the Speehub was new-it was defective and I have yet to mount on a new one.
A Surly (QBP) Singleator would work on some frames, but it's not long enough to use on mine since it doesn't extend below the chain/seatstay pivot.
The bike I'm running it on is a 7" travel FR frame, so I'm not concerned about the weight that much. It's ~2lb heavier than my existing XTR setup, but then again-the D321 rim was heavier than my old rear rim also.
As for racing-I plan on getting a second shifter for my Tracer for next season in order to race Clydesdale XC on it. I could shed two pounds with a cup of coffee & the Sunday Globe, so it's no big deal at this point with the benefit being rock-solid drivetrain reliability. It's been great in snow riding the past couple of weekends-I just hose off the bike & keep the chain lubed. Cheers,

Adam

[splat]

I like It ! I have a Couple of Sturmey Archer 3 speed hubs , Have one Road 3 speed built up, was thinking of making a comutting rig , with a 3 speed in the back and put on a triple chain ring , and make a 9 speed commuter.

How does the Rolhoff compare to the Nexus ?

[AGENTGRAPE]

adam some questions how is climbing with the speedhub?are there any problems in technical sections. i understand you can actually shift while standing still. have you crashed or banged the hub? is it tough? i dont care about the weight issue only how it works i want to put it on my bullitt 37 lbs

[Adam]

IHow does the Rolhoff compare to the Nexus ?



I don't have any experience with the Nexus-from what I've heard the Rohloff is able to withstand more rugged use & it has more gears.
-Adam

[Adam]

adam some questions how is climbing with the speedhub?are there any problems in technical sections. i understand you can actually shift while standing still. have you crashed or banged the hub? is it tough? i dont care about the weight issue only how it works i want to put it on my bullitt 37 lbs


Climbing is fine for a bike with an overall weight that's mid-high 30# range. It all depends on how you build up your rig. We're pushing FR machines around (my Uzzi SLX is probably 38+ w/ DH tires on it), but I know one of the Rohloff USA reps in CA is riding a 24 lb Speedhub-equipped hardtail.

I have yet to take the Uzzi on any seriously long climbs (like 3000' Sierra Nevada types) since I got the Speedhub, but I've ridden my usual MA/NH haunts with it.
Climbing in technical sections is a highlight-you can shift standing still and/or pedaling backwards. Picture entering a technical section with some momentum and losing it after the first couple of rocky hits. You can 'ratchet' the pedals while shifting and take off in a lower gear, without a dab. This pisses off my friends who're riding behind me, since they have 1 shot at clearing some things in the gear they're in.

I have banged the hub a couple of times-one time I hosed up coming off a rock on a wood 'ladder' & banged up the bike hard enough to rip off the tensioner. Footage at http://www.freerideclub.com/bikeporn/busted.wmv. So far so good-
I intend on ordering a spare rear rotor, since the hub's size requires a special 6" Hayes, and it's tough to ride far with a warped disc.
-Adam

[C.P.]

How does the Rolhoff compare to the Nexus ?

RE:Nexus. No Comparison. The Nexus will blow apart on the trail, it is designed for leisure/commuter market, the torques a mtn bike set-up subjects the drivetrain to, will damage it. I should know, two winters ago I picked one up cheap on ebay, and laced it up for my aging Stumpjumper (hardtail), thinking I could ride it off road.It was the 7 speed model, with no brake. Yes it was a great concept, easy cleaning and maintenance - especially in winter, shifting is not even a thought, can be accomplised under "light" pedal load, while coasting, stopped or even backpedaling, but after not more then 10 rides, it was sending me signals that it was becoming the weakest link in the drivetrain - it was getting noisy and starting to mis-shift. (I followed front chainring sizing recomendations so as to not go over the torque limit - something the Rolhoff has as a requirement as well) It is also heavy in weight. The Rolhoff is a great concept, and can handle the off road abuse. You might find more info at Sheldon Browns website regarding the Rolhoff and the Nexus.
Good luck
PS - my nexus is now on the grocery getter / sunday paper/coffee-run bike, it's perfect for that application, since I never want to even think about even maintaining that bike.

[splat]

CP thanks for that Info. I was actually thinking of the Nexus for a winter road Commuter. Sounds like it might be well suited for that Application .