Rolhoff considerations
#51
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So start talking about your bike tour places since this hardware thread
has come against a brick wall
has come against a brick wall
#52
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I have no doubt a drivetrain will last longer on a Rolhoff, the question is how long until you come out ahead financially? It is not like 9 speed and below level components have to be expensive. If you are running a 10 speed bike that can certainly get costly though.
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As far as someone having to meet their mother after traveling 500km blah, blah, blah. What they should have done is called Rohloff directly, not the bike shop, cut the "defective" hub out of the rear wheel and shipped it back as fast as possible. As soon as they had the "defective" hub, they'd ship a new one out anywhere globally. Then the person could have had a new wheel built on site. Just ditch the bike shop in the middle.
If I really thought the Rohloff could pack it in, I would carry enough parts to rebuild the rear wheel into a single speed, or an 8 speed. Particularly if that weight was shared with one or more other users.
#54
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Basically any of those scenarios is a disaster in one of two senses. You are on a time budget, or still feel time pressure, or feel uncertainty pressure. This is pretty common for folks who have say a 2 week vacation. Waiting days for repair parts, dealing with corrupt customs, whatever, is just not on. On the other hand, if you are fully accustomed to the road and can have a whatever attitude about hanging out, and exploring, not worried about not having the bike, well great, but it is hardly thanks to the hub. The turn around being described here, is pretty much as troublesome and expensive as anything one would want to have happen. I could have a new bike shipped out also, or buy one locally, that could be a recommendation for Walmart bikes. I'm not surprised that at the factory end, it all looks rosy. For a fact they do break, and not just for the reasons suggested. Though the hit list of common problems is useful.
If I really thought the Rohloff could pack it in, I would carry enough parts to rebuild the rear wheel into a single speed, or an 8 speed. Particularly if that weight was shared with one or more other users.
If I really thought the Rohloff could pack it in, I would carry enough parts to rebuild the rear wheel into a single speed, or an 8 speed. Particularly if that weight was shared with one or more other users.
Also, I've never run into a border guard/customs person that can be reasoned with. In fact, when traveling through Russia/CIS ... I found that Vodka/Whisky was quite useful for getting locals to take me where I/we needed to go (cheaper than taxis.)
To be honest, I think a huge amount is user error (there is an approved list of frames, for example, that have been exhaustively tested.) I also like that professionals assemble it (people with 3-5 year apprenticeships making 40EUR/hour) that have a high quality of life (8 weeks/year holiday and 37h work weeks.) People complain about the price, but that's what happens when you make a world-leading product in terms of quality in a very first-world country.
Also, they really don't break, if used within specifications. For example, running a non-Rohloff chain tensioner or belt isn't within the tested specs. Nor are non-approved frames. Usually, they'll swap it free of charge for the life of the hub but simple preparation can save a lot of hassle. If you just want to throw it on any old frame, what do you expect?
Personally, I'd couple it to a Tout Terrain bike, as those specific combinations have been exhaustively tested (most likely due to their close proximity).
Last edited by acidfast7; 10-28-12 at 03:24 PM.
#55
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Then today in Canadian Tyre, I noticed hanging up on the wall several sizes of the same derailleur protectors (yeah, I know, most self-respecting bicycle tourists wouldn't go into something like Canadian Tyre, but we were looking for a Schwinn floor pump... and we aren't most self-respecting bicycle tourists )
I've often thought of using the derailleur protectors on our touring bikes simply because they travel a lot in cardboard boxes. They certainly add a layer of protection, but maybe I am complacent because our bikes have come through their travels without damaged derailleurs.
They aren't quite as fancy as the one in your picture, but they do come in two difference lengths.
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2 weeks is really short for a tour. I mean really short. It's even really short for a non-bicycle based vacation.
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I can rarely get away for more than three weeks. Often that's spending a week or two at a conference or workshop, but even if I have the entire three weeks at liberty, with travel to/from that leaves about two weeks. What, should I not tour then? I have had very satisfying four-to-six day tours while traveling abroad for other purposes.
Just because you think "touring" means spending months on the road, doesn't mean everybody does.
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To be honest, I think a huge amount is user error (there is an approved list of frames, for example, that have been exhaustively tested.) ...
Also, they really don't break, if used within specifications. For example, running a non-Rohloff chain tensioner or belt isn't within the tested specs. Nor are non-approved frames. Usually, they'll swap it free of charge for the life of the hub but simple preparation can save a lot of hassle. If you just want to throw it on any old frame, what do you expect?
Also, they really don't break, if used within specifications. For example, running a non-Rohloff chain tensioner or belt isn't within the tested specs. Nor are non-approved frames. Usually, they'll swap it free of charge for the life of the hub but simple preparation can save a lot of hassle. If you just want to throw it on any old frame, what do you expect?
But really, my point isn't to attack R. at all, or certainly your points, just that from my perspective the around the world supply line is too far. I am not comforted. I would use Rohloff precisely because I thought it would not break, I would not use it because repairs seems all that practical.
Rohloff is the only thing that offers the full functionality and reliability, but cost wise, NOS Nexus can be had for 100 bucks, and provides many of the user advantages that Fietsbob mentioned. Nexus, or Alfine is no R. but it has outperformed Shimano's modest claims for it.
Last edited by MassiveD; 10-29-12 at 12:37 AM.
#60
Banned
sorry, in my haste to type that post, it came off somewhat crude.
Currently, I have several job offers in the US now for positions that I really want (professorships) but I'm really hung up on the lack of vacation time. I grew up and worked until 30 in the US, and now in Europe for 5 years. 2 weeks vacation was never a problem when I was in the US, but now that I'm used to 8-10 weeks/year (in Sweden I had 35 days/year paid holiday + 15 federal holidays) ... I'm not sure that I can go back to the 2-4 weeks/year only.
For example, if one flies from the US to Malaysia with only 2 weeks ... roughly 35 hours (round-trip) of the 330 hours (10%) if eaten up just with flying ... yikes!
Currently, I have several job offers in the US now for positions that I really want (professorships) but I'm really hung up on the lack of vacation time. I grew up and worked until 30 in the US, and now in Europe for 5 years. 2 weeks vacation was never a problem when I was in the US, but now that I'm used to 8-10 weeks/year (in Sweden I had 35 days/year paid holiday + 15 federal holidays) ... I'm not sure that I can go back to the 2-4 weeks/year only.
For example, if one flies from the US to Malaysia with only 2 weeks ... roughly 35 hours (round-trip) of the 330 hours (10%) if eaten up just with flying ... yikes!
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If you have nearly unlimited time that would certainly be less of a worry if you have to wait on parts. Then you just have to hope customs does not screw you over too bad.
#62
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Just ride a single speed if your worry level is that great,
But it won't shorten the flight time..
But it won't shorten the flight time..
#63
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That is why I like my derailleur systems, if something happens to break there is a damn good chance I could find something near by in most any country. Worst case I have a Troll with horizontal dropouts so singlespeeding my bike in an emergency is pretty easy.
#65
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I'm more of a wanderer. I recently wanted to wanted to furniture shop in Switzerland and ended up in a French countryside village buying cheese instead, for example.
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#68
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But I can still likely take a bus or set my bike up singlespeed to find the parts instead of having to worry about dealing with customs because the only way to find parts is to have them shipped to me. The beauty of the Troll's dropouts is that going SS is extremely easy IF there happens to be a problem.
#71
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of course the manufacturer of the hub has, https://rohloff.de/ You first? strip down your bike and weigh every part, and get back with that total.. if minimal weight really is your obsession, get a fixie, or a single speed bike. .
#72
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#73
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Yea , I've landed in a few airports, then next town I went to the book shop and bought a Map.
The NL Publisher Falk, bike route map is even cleverly made
so you dont expose the whole panel to the wind.
The NL Publisher Falk, bike route map is even cleverly made
so you dont expose the whole panel to the wind.
Last edited by fietsbob; 10-30-12 at 10:35 AM.
#74
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on the way back, it's not as much fun, as just about everyone stinks to the high heavens.
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But I can still likely take a bus or set my bike up singlespeed to find the parts instead of having to worry about dealing with customs because the only way to find parts is to have them shipped to me. The beauty of the Troll's dropouts is that going SS is extremely easy IF there happens to be a problem.