Low maintenance commuter

[annirak]

I'm continuing on my quest for a low maintenance commuter.

To summarize,
What I will use it for:

• commuting on tarmac in all weather. Some slight hills. Can't use a fixie because of my knees.
• Towing a kid's trailer (Thule, attachment mechanism)
• Sportives?

If this commuter turns out to be as good as I hope, then it will be my only bike. If not, then I will also go for a sunday bike at some point.

What I want:

• drop bars--I like them better
• Hydraulic disc brakes--stopping power in the wet and low maintenance
• Hub gear or BB gear (like pinion)--less maintenance
• Belt drive or chain case--less maintenance
• Light weight: 15kg max--This is partly about handling and partly about getting it on and off of a bike hanger in my garage; I have a recent shoulder injury.
• Internal cable routing--Just because I like the clean lines.
• Narrow tyres--This is a road commuter, not a gravel bike.

If there's already a bike out there that does all this, great! I haven't been able to find it.

If I'm going to build it myself, then I need to find a frame. So far, the best contender seems to be the Specialized AWOL frameset, though I don't like steel from a maintenance perspective--having to be always on the lookout for rust doesn't sit well with low maintenance, but I'm willing to try. If not the AWOL, then I really like the Paragon Machine Works rocker dropouts. They seem well-suited to this sort of use. I wonder if a custom titanium frame would be the right choice.

The trailer probably rules out carbon. Aluminum might be an option, but there is still the question of metal fatigue with the higher load that comes with a trailer

For a complete bike, I'd like it to cost less than £1500. For a frame, less than £750.

I'd be appreciative of any suggestions for frame or complete bike that matches those specs.

 

[steve292]

Whyte Dorset

 

[annirak]

Whyte Dorset

While the Dorset is nice, it's not hubgear. I really do want that for the lower drivetrain maintenance.

 

[Tim Hall]

Quite a task with your budget and detailed spec.

(Presumably pavement is used in the North American sense, where this side of the pond we tend to say tarmac)

I think you're dismissing the steel frame too easily, and the rust thing is a red (oxide) herring. Paint isn't just decorative, it's protective too.

Although I haven't used them, (hey, this is the internet, where uninformed opinions run free), are you right to say hydraulic discs are low maintenance? Might cable discs be better?

The Woodrup Rohloff Tour can be customised, including a belt drive (I think the lovely Vernon had one) and disc options. They don't show any prices, but I have a feeling you'd bust your £1500 budget easily.

 

[Pale Rider]

The KTM Life Lontano has most of what you require, belt drive, Pinion bottom bracket gearbox, built like a tank so strong enough to tow a trailer.

But it's £3K.

I think your budget is a bit tight for all the goodies on your wish list.

The belt drive needs a split rear triangle, so that all but rules out self-builds.

A Shimano hub gear with a Chainglider could work.

I can't think of a ready made drop bar bike with hub gears, so a self-build may be the only way to get one of those.

http://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/prod/hyb_0042_kt/ktm-life-lontano-p18-2016-hybrid-bike

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/chainsets/38-hebie-chainglider/

 

[vickster]

How about the new single chainring SRAM groupsets if you cant find a hub option?

http://www.planetx.co.uk/news/produ...-time-sram-s-new-1x-rival-and-force-groupsets

Genesis day one? Plenty of budget for upgrades (or physio for knees and shoulder)

http://www.freeborn.co.uk/genesis-day-one-disc-bike-2015?gclid=CJHW5OuW4c0CFTMo0wodKCMCXQ

Oh now only single speed, no Alfine option

Can you really not SS in the flatlands with the right gearing?

 

[annirak]

Pavement: After nearly four years, you'd think I could get that one right. I mean tarmac. That's carriageways, cycleways, or footpaths, but never footways.
Steel: I'm not dead-set against it, I just haven't been impressed with past experience. If it comes down to a custom build, then it's steel or Ti anyway.
Discs: I have virtually no experience with them. I want hydraulic because I understand that they require less adjustment due to self-centering.
Drivetrain: I'm not set on a belt drive--in fact, from what I've read, they're more hassle (and expense) than they're worth. I'd be happy with a chain connected to the hub gear, provided I can put a chain case around it to reduce maintenance.


The Day One Alfine Di2 was a thing of beauty and fit all but my hydraulic disc desire. I could have put TRP Hy/Rd brakes on it but, sadly, they stopped making it.

I have also considered doing something like retrofiting a Cube Hyde Race with drop bars, but I'd have to get Versa shifters to do that since it's an Alfine hub.

 

[vickster]

How about the Cotic Roadrat Alfine build detailed here - obviously getting them to do with drops

https://www.cotic.co.uk/product/roadrat#bike

 

[Drago]

Hydros are indeed low maintenance... until something goes wrong, then you may end up wishing you had a cable adjuster to twiddle occasionally instead.

Other than the drop bars the current Trek Shoo would suit your needs - the closest thing in cycling to a car, just ride and forget.

 

[Tim Hall]

How about the Cotic Roadrat Alfine build detailed here - obviously getting them to do with drops

https://www.cotic.co.uk/product/roadrat#bike

Good call vickster, that's a nice looking bike. How is shifting on the hub gear accomplished with drop bars? My only experience of the Alfine 8 speed has been on straight bars, with a twist shifter. Is there a bolt on do-hickey for drops?

 

[vickster]

Good call vickster, that's a nice looking bike. How is shifting on the hub gear accomplished with drop bars? My only experience of the Alfine 8 speed has been on straight bars, with a twist shifter. Is there a bolt on do-hickey for drops?

Erm I don't know, I just assumed it might be feasible? That's a question for Cotic

 

[jefmcg]

A bike shop I visited years ago suggested replacing the rear wheel of a ss with hub gears.

Could you do that with the genesis or another bike?

For completeness, the shop was Pearson's, the bike was a Ridley. Discs were not involved as it was 2012.

 

[annirak]

Good call vickster, that's a nice looking bike. How is shifting on the hub gear accomplished with drop bars? My only experience of the Alfine 8 speed has been on straight bars, with a twist shifter. Is there a bolt on do-hickey for drops?

@Tim Hall the canonical solution appears to be versa shifters. I am not a fan of the double lever system. They are cable-pull brakes, but as I said, TRP has a solution for that.

A bike shop I visited years ago suggested replacing the rear wheel of a ss with hub gears.

Could you do that with the genesis or another bike?

For completeness, the shop was Pearson's, the bike was a Ridley. Discs were not involved as it was 2012.

I suspect that this is one of the better options!

It looks like my choices are:

• Buy a flat-bar alfine bike and get versa shifters or attach the alfine shifter to the flats.
• Buy a disc-equipped single-speed, swap in a new rear hub, and run the shift cable up to the bars
• Buy a frame and do a scratch build

Alfine is probably the only option in my price range--A Rohloff hub is 2/3 of the budget on its own--unless I want to get into something more esoteric like Nuvinci.

 

[vickster]

Any used day one Alfine di2 bikes around? If it's the right bike...

Like this one for example (56cm)...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genesis-D...897785?hash=item1c69c98139:g:kYkAAOSwOVpXd~~e

Budget saving will pay for a weekend in Cornwall to collect

Or cheaper and closer in Norwich...(52cm)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genesis-D...758796?hash=item465078194c:g:7KEAAOSwZ1BXcOF1

Or Southampton (54cm)...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genesis-D...758796?hash=item465078194c:g:7KEAAOSwZ1BXcOF1

 

[annirak]

I hadn't really considered used day one Alfine Di2. I'll have to look into that.