Low maintenance winter/hack bike

[Howard]

For my take I would add that, though I had the Pompetamine, I did prefer the look of the Genesis but having now experienced trackend dropouts I wouldn't use them again. I'd rather go vertical and have a chain tensioner than use them with mudguards etc.

If you are happy with just the eight or eleven speeds you can go with a frame that has an eccentric BB, like the Charge. It's a neater(er) solution than the tensioner. Trackends and tektro cable pull disc brakes? Hmmm in hindsight that should set the alarm bells ringing.

Regarding mechanical disc brakes I can report that, so far, the Avid BB7s have been flawless, some minor adjustments over the first 30 miles or so. Haven't had to touch them for the 500 miles they've done since. As I now have my third set of them(MTB version this time), ready for the new frame, then I think you could say I like them.

This makes me more confident about the BB7s I'm going to put on my Ti cross build. Good news indeed.

 

[MacB]

Sorry. you said that already. Does it have to be an evans off-the-shelf bike or can you build it up from bits through them?

I'd fantasising about a Croix de Fer with BB7's a carbon fork and an 11 speed alfine rear hub.

Now there's a build I could get excited about, I'm just a bit hesistant on the alfine 11, some negatives about setup and indexing. It was enough that I altered my order from A11 to A8 and will get the A11 at a future point when any problems are ironed out. In the meantime that price reduction led to funds being available for a SON Delux hub front wheel

 

[MacB]

If you are happy with just the eight or eleven speeds you can go with a frame that has an eccentric BB, like the Charge. It's a neater(er) solution than the tensioner. Trackends and tektro cable pull disc brakes? Hmmm in hindsight that should set the alarm bells ringing.



This makes me more confident about the BB7s I'm going to put on my Ti cross build. Good news indeed.

I did go down the EBB route on the Vaya, which has the I-9 hub gear, it's just a standard frame but I used one of the mini EBBs that fits a standard shell. There was the choice of Excentriker, Forward Components and a Phil Wood version, all of which required a hollowtech II style chainset to work. I went with the FC version and it's been great but they are now currently unavailable as he's a one man band and has ceased production pending a new model release. There's also another Phil Wood version expected out that will work with a square taper, I believe the new FC one is expected to work with traditional cranks as well.

My first thought on the new bike was a Rohloff with the FC EBB, but the price, or more importantly all the other goodies I could get instead, put me off. The Rohloff's nice but it really doesn't give any improvement in the gears available in the main riding range. If you look at the 14 gears from a Rohloff spread and subtract gears 1, 3 and 14 then you have the Alfine 11.

I don't rule out a future upgrade to a Rohloff but suspect, if it pans out ok, then an alfine 11 is the more likely upgrade from my double chainring 8 speed setup. either way it would be a move to a mini EBB at the same time, the tensioner decision was purely based on wanting to keep costs down and run the double chainring.

 

[gadgetmind]

The CTW rules say that it has to be a bike, but you can then add certain accessories and clothing. Last year, I got a nifty custom Brompton, but this is because Brompton have a system for ordering a new bike in the spec you want.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Regarding the Alfine I'm actually awaiting a wheelset that includes the 8 speed, but it will be flat bars so the trigger shifter. Also it will be run with a double chainring and the original Alfine tensioner, that looks like a mini RD. This solves the big gear jump thing and gives me plenty of range for off and on road. About 22 to 100 gear inches according to my calcs and 12 distinct gears. This is running a 28/40 with a 19t cog and 700x56 tyres.

Is this for another bike Mac?

I just put Alfine 8 and double chainring into google, guess what came up first? http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=47451.0

 

[MacB]

Is this for another bike Mac?

I just put Alfine 8 and double chainring into google, guess what came up first? http://yacf.co.uk/fo...p?topic=47451.0

that's called spreading the love, or trying not to drive one forum totally insane

Yep, tis another bike, a 29er MTB, we are currently accumulating parts, and a frame may be on order

 

[gadgetmind]

I'm coming down to the Scott Sub 10 with Alfine 8 speed.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/sub-10-2011-hybrid-bike-ec025444?query=sub 10

or the very bling Charge Mixer with Alfine 11 speed.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/charge/mixer-2011-hybrid-bike-ec025577#sizing

The Scott is cheaper, lighter, and doesn't seem to have the geometry/overlap that some report with the Mixer. (But I'd need the large so less of an issue?) The Mixer has 11 gears (but too high?) and is a thing of great beauty.

My head tells me that the Sub 10 is the better choice, but the Mixer matches my silver Audi. :-)

 

[threebikesmcginty]

that's called spreading the love, or trying not to drive one forum totally insane

Yep, tis another bike, a 29er MTB, we are currently accumulating parts, and a frame may be on order

Teehee. Going back to adjustability of brakes and hubs, are the Avid ones easy to tweak? The Tektro ones on my Genesis were a bit of a pain, I took them to my LBS in the end and got him to show me, although I'm not sure I can remember now, not that they need any attention just yet! Also, is there any good Alfine 8 info out there, I think the cable could do with a slight tighten now it's been in use for a few months.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

My head tells me that the Sub 10 is the better choice, but the Mixer matches my silver Audi. :-)

The Scott's orange, so that's in its favour!

 

[MacB]

Teehee. Going back to adjustability of brakes and hubs, are the Avid ones easy to tweak? The Tektro ones on my Genesis were a bit of a pain, I took them to my LBS in the end and got him to show me, although I'm not sure I can remember now, not that they need any attention just yet! Also, is there any good Alfine 8 info out there, I think the cable could do with a slight tighten now it's been in use for a few months.

very easy, there's a twisty dial for each pad, inboard and outboard, which can be turned by hand no problem, the inboard one being trickier for obvious reasons, especially for the fat fingered like me. They have indexed clicks on them, clockwise to wind the pad in and vice versa, about as simple a mechanical adjustment as I've seen on a bike.

Alfine 8, I've relied a lot on US forums with MTBR.com which has an entire section for internal hub gears. Between there and places like Lazy Randonneur there're a lot of people running the A8 offroad with good results. For cable adjustment I'd look for videos on youtube, YACF has some good 8 speed info and the Shimano tech docs are good, if not the easiest to follow first time. When I set it up I intend following the sort of cable prep stuff I did for the BB7s:-

http://www.twowheelblogs.com/avid-bb7-disc-brake-set-and-tuning

it makes sense to me to ensure all the cable ends are square and flush. As for the adjustment itself, I thought it was just a case of lining up the coloured dots, so you should have barrel adjusters for that, haven't you?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Thanks, I'll check out YACF, I did download the Alfine 8 technical guide but it looked like they'd mistakenly put up instuctions to build a rocket.

 

[MacB]

Thanks, I'll check out YACF, I did download the Alfine 8 technical guide but it looked like they'd mistakenly put up instuctions to build a rocket.

ah they're easy, after 10 reads, looking at the hub in detail, watching 20 vids and reading about 200 forums, they actually start to make sense

 

[threebikesmcginty]

ah they're easy, after 10 reads, looking at the hub in detail, watching 20 vids and reading about 200 forums, they actually start to make sense

I can't actually work out what goes on in that hub - witchcraft I tell you!

 

[MacB]

I can't actually work out what goes on in that hub - witchcraft I tell you!

yep, no matter how many exploded diagrams I see, and how many SA hubs I've had apart, I'm just not mechanically minded enough to get it.

But the shifting is the easy bit and it's all based around the old Sturmey Archer indicator rods/chains. Basically the shift lever moves an internal part that either engages or disengages various cogs...which is why I can't understand Shimano not doing a better job of it. With the SRAM I-9 I just move the gear to number 1 and slide the quick release cable cover to one side...job done and putting it back is just the same in reverse. It seems like an SA indicator chain hardwired into hub but inside the dropouts rather than outside.

My perfect hub - Rohloff reliability and quick release, Alfine 11 gears and shifter options, SRAM I-9 cable connection and Sturmey Archer serviceabilty

 

[gadgetmind]

I have the SRAM dualdrive on my recumbent and the clickbox makes whipping the wheel off a doddle. Sturmey Archer hubs are a bit harder as you have to remove/refit the toggle chain, but it's not that hard.