fix gear to hub conversion

[galaxy1]

Hi folks,

I just bought an one one il pompino fixie after tearing the miniscus cartillage in my knee ( maybe not the best possible timing but my other bike needed a lot of costly repairs). I rode it for the first time last week and found my knee hurt for some days after. So today I've been toying with the idea of having a hub geared wheel built for it. would this work? How easy is it to fit the shifters and cable and to tune it in? Also , what sort of hubs are available speedwise and how do they compare to derailliour gears?

thanks

 

[tyred]

The only likely complication I can see would be how wide the drop outs are on your SS bike. I would guess that modern geared hubs are built for more modern wider dropouts, although it may be possible to re-space them.

I like hub gears, although I have only experience of the good ol' Sturmey Archer. Depending on the type of riding you are doing, the SA 3 speed mightn't be a bad a choice. The gear range is a bit narrow but with your knee problem, you probably don't want high gears anyway. If you could gear it so top gear is the same or similar to your current gear ratio, you would then have two lower gears to help you out on the hills. 

Before spending a lot of money, have you considered a lower gear ratio with a freewheel rather than fixed? It might be worth a try.

 

[Chris S]

SA hubs (in 26 inch wheels) are usually available on ebay.

I've got a 1970's Raleigh with a 3-speed hub, I had to put a 22-tooth sprocket on the back to make it more usable.

You're probably better going for a more modrn SA 6-speed hub, these have gear ranges from about 1.0 to 3.2:1

 

[Chris S]

Hi folks,

So today I've been toying with the idea of having a hub geared wheel built for it. would this work? How easy is it to fit the shifters and cable and to tune it in? Also , what sort of hubs are available speedwise and how do they compare to derailliour gears?

Just noticed this - on an SA the thumb shifter is just held on to the handlebar by a small bracket, it's about as complicated as adding a bell! There is another clamp that screws on just in front of the hub to hold the cable end. Adjustment is easy - just look at Sheldon Brown's article or follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Like I said before, get a 6-speed as you'll have gears ranging from about 1:1 to 3.2:1. You should have no problems fitting it to a geared bicycle, they're usually wider at the back than the ones with SA hubs.

 

[Piemaster]

Very doable.
Alfine 8 speed hub and jtek bar end shifter. Job done
As above worth checking spacing at rear, mine is 135mm mtb size (same as alfine). Some pompino frames are road sized.

 

[galaxy1]

Piemaster, That's pretty much what I'm after although I have flat handlebars. How much did the backwheel/hub and shifter set you back?

 

[Howard]

Planet X have 32H Alfine hubs for £150 at the moment. Just add the cost of a rim and spokes and build - so about £200 - £250 all in for a fairly decent rim. Pre-built wheels can be had from Ebay etc. but of course you can't choose the rim.

If you are in London I may be able to build one of these up for you - I'm currently doing one for the lady's tourer.

If your frame is track width (120mm) you could use the Nexus hub instead - it's easier to reduce it to roughly 120mm OLD.

The Jtech bar end shifter is dirt cheap IIRC, but the alfine rapid fire shifter isn't exactly pricey either - £30-£40 IIRC.

 

[Piemaster]

It all came from On-one as part of one of their sales, hub was a bit pricey (about £30 more than elsewhere) but came with a free frame . £200 iirc, but most of the rest of the build went in the trolley too.

Only problem the lbs had was with spokes for the wheel as they are an uncommon length and I ended up sourcing them myself. In retrospect I should have got a full box instead of just enough for the wheel, so would have had enough for breakages/re-build and still ebayed enough spokes to help offset the cost of them.

 

[buddha]

I had a Sturmey 5 speed (XRF5) on my 120mm pompino. The hub was new from ebay (bargain at £50 including the shifter and other bits - that was 3+ years ago though). Apart from building the wheel (LBS did that) everything else was pretty straight forward.
Though I have gone back to single-speed/fixed for the moment.

I would recommend going for an 8 speed alfine though. Much slicker gear change IMO and fewer gaps between gears.