14 speeds, no waiting...

[rockyrider]

OK, so I'm proving my keener-ship now. Here's my 2003/2005 Kona A hybridized frame with a Rohloff 14 speed hub.

18740

This started as a 2003 Kona A frame which had track end rear dropouts and a V-brake only rear triangle. I managed to buy a replacement rear triangle from a 2005 Kona A frame with the sliding dropouts and disc brake mount. The concentric BB pivot makes the A ideal for a Rohloff hub - no tensioner needed.

18744
18745

My Brodie 1 Ball frame donated the Rohloff-ready rear dropouts through a congenial swap. The swap included the Rohloff hub that I had on the Brodie. Everything was in place to create a 14 speed full suspension bike. So I did...


20" Kona A FS frame with Push'd Float RP3 shock
Fox TALAS fork (80mm Marz X-Fly shown in this pic)
Rohloff 14 speed hub/Hope XC hubs Mavic X717 rims
Kenda Kinetics 2.35 Stick-E tires
Hope Mono Mini brakes
Race Face Deus cranks with Surly SS chainring
Race Face XY seatpost
Race Face Deus stem
Race Face Air Alloy Riser bars


18746

The bike is my ultimate snarfy weather ride. Snow, mud... it just doesn't matter. No derailleur to knock off or have frozen into place, the 32T chainring gives me lots of BB clearance.

[mimbresman]

I like that Frankenbike...my friend Miguel, who just moved to Vancouver needs to check it out. He'd appreciate that one.

[K-Man]

That's some nifty work there, Rocky!

I agree with Red: "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." ;)

[rockyrider]

Thank you, thankyouveramuch!

No duct tape was harmed in the making of this bike.

[rockyrider]

The other thing that's changed since the original shot was taken was a de-anodizing and polishing of the Race Face XY seatpost. Shiny pretty things.

[wigger thomas]

I only know of one guy on earth who can afford a Rohloff hub.

[davkatreb]

I'll say it again-I don't like squish. I don't trust aloomeeum. And I can get by just fine with one gear, coasting optional.

But all of that goes right down the shitter when I look at that bike.

[rockyrider]

I only know of one guy on earth who can afford a Rohloff hub.The cost of the Rohloff is just slightly higher cost of an XTR drivetrain. Somewhere around $1250-$1300. It just weighs about 900gms more than an XTR drivetrain, or about 500gms heavier than an XT drivetrain.

BUT, you need to add in the costs of all the rear dérailleurs and rear derailleur hangers that you don't have to replace, or all the time/effort wasted by having to abandon a ride early because you knocked a dérailleur off.

[wigger thomas]

How about 950.00 w/ tax and no derailers,shitters,9 speed shyte in it's future.

I'm in love.

[rockyrider]

Whatever works... :cool:

[wigger thomas]

I still keep this dirty old girl around for riding w/ the big boys

[davkatreb]

I still keep this dirty old girl around for riding w/ the big boys
Yes, I suppose that way you can ride up the hill WITH the group, rather than ride your singlespeed and wait for them at the top.:D

[rockyrider]

Just think Wig, for about $300 more than the cost of the 29 Monocog, you could have bought a Rohloff and fixed all the complaints you have about your Groover. :D No derailleur problems and never have to worry about misshifts caused by bent hangers.

Here's a couple of pics I found of a Rohloff mounted on a Titus Motolite rear end (a very pink Motolite).

[wigger thomas]

Yes, I suppose that way you can ride up the hill WITH the group, rather than ride your singlespeed and wait for them at the top.:D

It's really more about slamming into and dropping off rocks. If I could ride like PAW,the Monocog would be all I needed. He schooled me on some steep twisty rocky stuff in Maine on ridgid SS.

[rockyrider]

It's really more about slamming into and dropping off rocks. If I could ride like PAW,the Monocog would be all I needed. He schooled me on some steep twisty rocky stuff in Maine on ridgid SS.The main reason I ride FS bikes is because I lack the dexterity and coordination of other riders I know. Heck, it's all I can do to stay upright on a bike, so I rely on technology to overcome genetic and developmental shortcomings so I can ride these trails without landing in the hospital. :D

[LeeMcGough]

sure is purdy out there. the same cannot be said for my neck of the woods:(

[Hand/of/Midas]

ok rocky, this time im not asking you to adopt me.
how bout if i just fly up there for a week and you show me around?

[Hand/of/Midas]

well, i looked for "where the clouds live" and........

[rockyrider]

Pack your Goretex...

This is what my mountains can look like...

18777

18779

18780

But this is what it looks like today

18781

[S. cerevisiae]

I would totally do that too my Monocog if I were to hit the MegaMillion$ lottery.

[wigger thomas]

I would totally do that too my Monocog if I were to hit the MegaMillion$ lottery.

:eek: Oh nooo !!! Your poor Monocog. I hope it didn't see you type that.

Lottery fantasies are evil. That's right where Bush-Laden wants you.

[Hand/of/Midas]

rocky, do you ever put fog horns on your bikes?

And im kind of dissapointed, i was hoping you knew Lando Calrissian personally.....

[rockyrider]

I've been mistaken for Chewie if I have my shirt off. :rolleyes:

The fog can be a real problem on night rides (and anytime after 4PM is a night ride in the winter), you can be zipping along and hit a small fog patch while wearing a helmet lamp and have a complete whiteout when it lights up the fog 2' in front of your face. Sometimes even the bar lamps do nothing more than light up a blob of fog right in front of the bike as the fog can hug the ground pretty tight. And the rest of a trail can be clear it can just be one spot. It can also creep up on you Stephen King style in the middle of a ride so that the return home trip gets a bit slow and risky (from cars as well as trail obstacles).

[fudgedit]

Those trails are like a wet dream. Thanks for sharing. Oh yeah, Rocky your bike is awesome.

[rockyrider]

Those trails are like a wet dream. Thanks for sharing. Oh yeah, Rocky your bike is awesome.Well... since they're in a rainforest the wet dream thing is inevitable.

[ironspoke]

Beautiful stuff. Very nice pics and one sweet ride.

[adam12]

Man Rocky I dig that bike. Deceptively simple. How did you de-anodize your post? Oven cleaner?

[rockyrider]

Man Rocky I dig that bike. Deceptively simple. How did you de-anodize your post? Oven cleaner?Drano gel, same gunk, different package. It sure doesn't take long, maybe 20 minutes to strip the ano. Then some fine and very fine Scotchbrite pads, and then metal polish. Never had to resort to motorized buffing at all.