rohloff hub

[barny]

anyone ever use a rohloff hub. pros and cons?

thanks,
barny

[LeeMcGough]

RockyRider does. Lucky bastard! Cons: expensive and a little heavy. Pros: anytime shifting (even stopped), durable as hell, last forever.

[rockyrider]

As mentioned, cost and weight, about 1 pound over a standard XT drivetrain, and the better part of $2K for a Rohloff wheelset and Rohloff specific brake disc.

But it does make for a simple mud and crud resistant drivetrain when it's on the bike. It requires a shift in thinking about how you shift. With derailleurs you need to keep pedaling to complete a shift. You need to pause shifting for a moment to complete a shift with the Rohloff. If you keep pedaling you'll constantly be grinding gears or finding the mystery neutral between 7/8th gear.

With a standard gripshift when you click the shifter you're just starting the process of a shift. With the Rohloff you've completed the shift by the time it clicks into the next position so the shift happens faster, you can even shift while going uphill the pause is so short. You can get in the habit of pausing just before you go over the top with your "good" foot.

And you can shift from end to end and back again while standing still. If you've had to come to a stop uphill and downshift 2 gears, no problem.

Oh and the gripshift is the only way it works, the indexing is in the hub, so you just need to get used to that 14 speed gripshifting.

[barny]

do you mind the extra weight in the rear? is it just something to get used to? I hear people talking about unbalanced bikes. is that really a problem or again, just something to get used to. thanks for your help.

[LeeMcGough]

I don't own one (yet), but I imagine that the most noticeable weight difference is the lightness of one's wallet after paying for one.

[rockyrider]

The weight is all fairly low and it's at the axle and not out at the rim, so it isn't that big a deal. When I first rode the Rohloff equipped bike it was a bit more challenging to lift the rear end on bunny hops, but it doesn't affect overall bike handling the way a bunch of tools and spare tubes stuffed into a seat bag does.

It takes a while to break it in and it can be as noisy as a washing machine while it's breaking in, but you get used to it. And you don't have to worry about sneaking up on hikers. The sound of my studded ice tires mask the hub noise completely. :D

[AM Radio]

Or wait for the mountain bike rated CVT version to come out

[rockyrider]

Currently the NuVinci CVT cruiser hub is sitting at a hefty 4100gms (9 pounds). That makes the Rohloff look positively weight weenie-ish at only 1800 gms (4 pounds).

[AM Radio]

Currently the NuVinci CVT cruiser hub is sitting at a hefty 4100gms (9 pounds). That makes the Rohloff look positively weight weenie-ish at only 1800 gms (4 pounds).
You and your "facts," ruin all my dreams. I hope you can sleep well tonight

[nogearshere]

You and your "facts," ruin all my dreams. I hope you can sleep well tonight

gate keepers aren't sleepers.


...i keep meaning to build one of them rohloff's up...but mine own brokeness is a big factor

[LeeMcGough]

The $$$ factor is the only reason I'm not riding one too. Oh wait, and it would be nice if they could make one that looked like the bike was a single speed too. You know, find a way to shrink the hub and hide all the cables. That way, instead of looking like a nerdy gear-geek, you could look like a cool luddite single speeder:D

[rockyrider]

Piffle! :D Embrace your internal geariness, show your grip shifter and cables with pride. :cool:

[Hand/of/Midas]

You know, find a way to shrink the hub and hide all the cables. That way, instead of looking like a nerdy gear-geek, you could look like a cool luddite single speeder:D

you could have a frame made with internal routing, but then the hub/frame combo would be $$$$.95

[Josh Patterson]

There is a lighter, (read more expensive) version of the Rohloff that has been in the works for several years.

Maybe it will make an appearance at Sea Otter this year?

[rockyrider]

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaybe by Sea Otter. It isn't an insane weight reduction, it is supposed to be about 1400gms instead of 1700gms. That brings it down into the weight range of an XT drivetrain. Warm up your Google translator...

http://www.radfahren.de/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3100

[Josh Patterson]

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaybe by Sea Otter.

Yeah, I'm not holding my breath. I was told "maybe at Sea Otter" Interbike '06.

I can't fault them; not much impetus to invest in a lighter speedhub -- they produce a specific number of hubs per year and always sell out.

...I think that with the development of belt-drive, and the possibility of OEM spec, that it will come out sooner, rather than later.

[barny]

thanks all! Im building up a custom frame so ill get the cable stops. I'll stay single speed for now but who knows what the future brings. thanks again.

barny

[Softsoap]

Hi Barney

Just caught this thread - a bit late but better late than never. I have been running a Rolhoff 500/14 for over 3 years now in all conditions throughout the UK (read wet & muddy generally). The unit has never let me down in any way, and is totally user friendly. The cable replacement is easy once you disregard those detailed Teutonic instructions - just wing it. I have fully enclosed my cables and only need change them once a year. The only downside is that it needs a bigger gear for long downhills, but on the other hand the Rolhoff is brilliant for climbing. I would never go back to a standard system. Bite the bullet, pay the cash and get a unit for life. Cheers. Paul from England.