Question For Tadpole Riders with Rohloff
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Question For Tadpole Riders with Rohloff
My new trike is outfitted with a Rohloff hub. While I'm generally quite happy with it, the gear-shifting controller is awkwardly mounted IMO. Right now it's on the handle of the right-hand handlebar. Being a tadpole trike, that handlebar is oriented vertically (more or less). Twisting the grip in that orientation creates a muscle strain in my forearm and elbow, so I'm wondering whether there are alternatives for controlling the gearing on the Rohloff.
For example, bar-end shifting would be ideal for me, but I'm told that nothing can be changed. But I find that hard to believe.
So, so do any of you with a Rohloff on your tadpole trike have the gear-shifting modified to make it more comfortable? If so, what did you change? And where did you get the modification done?
Thanks!
Bert
For example, bar-end shifting would be ideal for me, but I'm told that nothing can be changed. But I find that hard to believe.
So, so do any of you with a Rohloff on your tadpole trike have the gear-shifting modified to make it more comfortable? If so, what did you change? And where did you get the modification done?
Thanks!
Bert
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My new trike is outfitted with a Rohloff hub. While I'm generally quite happy with it, the gear-shifting controller is awkwardly mounted IMO. Right now it's on the handle of the right-hand handlebar. Being a tadpole trike, that handlebar is oriented vertically (more or less). Twisting the grip in that orientation creates a muscle strain in my forearm and elbow, so I'm wondering whether there are alternatives for controlling the gearing on the Rohloff.
For example, bar-end shifting would be ideal for me, but I'm told that nothing can be changed. But I find that hard to believe.
So, so do any of you with a Rohloff on your tadpole trike have the gear-shifting modified to make it more comfortable? If so, what did you change? And where did you get the modification done?
Thanks!
Bert
For example, bar-end shifting would be ideal for me, but I'm told that nothing can be changed. But I find that hard to believe.
So, so do any of you with a Rohloff on your tadpole trike have the gear-shifting modified to make it more comfortable? If so, what did you change? And where did you get the modification done?
Thanks!
Bert
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Unless the Cinq 5 product linked above is still available (website out of date) then IMO the bike shop was, in essence, correct. The unique dual cable construction of the Rohloff shifter means any old bar-end shifter cannot be used as an alternative. Ever since I saw the o.p. I've been chewing on the problem. What I have so far is: I'm imagining the OEM shifter is some kind of grip shifter? I didn't want to work with one of those either so I picked a bent with bar-ends. Love them. What I also know is that the Terra-cycle people have a number of ways to mount a grip shifter so it operates in a horizontal plane. That might be an end solution right there. I don't know, but I don't think it would work for me. In the 80's before electronic cruise controls, motorcycle riders used to use plastic extensions to the throttle grips so they could use the weight of their wrists to keep the throttle open without hand fatigue. I think something like that, applied to a grip shifter might allow it to work like a top of grip bar end shifter. Sorry I can't describe things any better than this.
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Unless the Cinq 5 product linked above is still available (website out of date) then IMO the bike shop was, in essence, correct. The unique dual cable construction of the Rohloff shifter means any old bar-end shifter cannot be used as an alternative. Ever since I saw the o.p. I've been chewing on the problem. What I have so far is: I'm imagining the OEM shifter is some kind of grip shifter? I didn't want to work with one of those either so I picked a bent with bar-ends. Love them. What I also know is that the Terra-cycle people have a number of ways to mount a grip shifter so it operates in a horizontal plane. That might be an end solution right there. I don't know, but I don't think it would work for me. In the 80's before electronic cruise controls, motorcycle riders used to use plastic extensions to the throttle grips so they could use the weight of their wrists to keep the throttle open without hand fatigue. I think something like that, applied to a grip shifter might allow it to work like a top of grip bar end shifter. Sorry I can't describe things any better than this.
I'm familiar with that motorcycle device you refer to. It's called a "cramp buster". I used one on my CanAm Spyder and it worked well. - But the Rohloff grip a) takes significantly more effort to rotate than a motorcycle throttle, and b) the Rohloff rotates in "notchy" steps while the motorcycle throttle turns much more smootly. So, I don't think this would be a useful solution.
Thanks for your thoughts.
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I've tried thumb shifters (not for a Rohloff) on a vertical bar and find that they are a bit clunky but functional. Better IMO mounted low than high, primarily I could use both palm and thumb to shift.
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OP here, again. FWIW, I got something installed today that. I think, will be a big help for me in shifting the Rohloff with less effort:
shift star (rad-innovations.com)
The photos are a bit unclear, but I think that the one on the right will show how it works on a vertically oriented shifter.. In my case, I had it installed much more towrds the top of the grip than shown.
shift star (rad-innovations.com)
The photos are a bit unclear, but I think that the one on the right will show how it works on a vertically oriented shifter.. In my case, I had it installed much more towrds the top of the grip than shown.
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That Shift Star product looks like a good solution, although a bit pricey. Their other adaptability products are nice as well.