Recumbent - Rohloff Hub

OK, bear with me a while please. I'm new to this forum, so I'll give you some history first. I have ridden since I was 2, now 58. I have ridden MANY miles, many states, single and tandem, alone and in groups. In 1995 I was diagnosed with MD. After my wife and I tandemed across the US in 2000 I basically gave up riding becuase of pain and loss of strength. Went from over 10K miles that year to 500 the next, 100 in 2002 and about 10 each year after that. Now I find myself the owner of a Giant Revive. I like the bike, it enables me to do about 5-10 miles easily and I am looking at doing a couple of hundred this year.

So what I need to know is this. Has anyone put a Rohloff on one of these? I find the 7 speed hub only has about 245% gear change while if I change to the Rohloff I can get 500%+. So I could have a much lower gear and much higher gear with the same chainring and cassette sprockets. This would allow me to do more of the hills in the area and also keep up better on the flats. We intend to only do a maximum of 25 miles if I can build up to that, once or twice a week.

OK, tell me I should be looking at another EZ recumbent or why fool around with this rediculous semi-recumbent, but please remember I ride it for a reason and just want it to have more of a range of gears, thanks.

RevivalMan

I've no experience with a Rohloff on a recumbent. But I can tell you from personal expereince that the Rohloff speed hub 500/14 internal (http://www.rohloffusa.com/frame.htm) is the finest of its type.

You will need Rohloff compatible horizontal sliding drops.

I have not owned your bike nor a Rohloff hub. I too suffer from a degnerative disease, Rhuematoid Arthritis. I still can ride two wheels okay and have a Volae Club headed my way. I know at some point if I want to ride I will have to go to a trike. Before you drop a grand on the Rohloff that may be something you want to consider, no balance issues, not likely to turn over, you can ride it as slow or fast as you want, and you can rest on it when you stop. EZ makes one as do Catrike and Wizwheelz. Just google them, very nice. Good luck
Bruce

The Rohloff hub can be mounted on your Giant Revive, it may take some tinkering to get it to work, or you may have to use the model with the toque arm, and you have to use the Rohloff shifter along with the hub.

It may take a little engineering but it can be done.

Thanks guys for the help and the idea about a trike. I might just look into that Bruce. Bentbaggerlen - I'm not worried about the money,just whether it would work. I might just trty a trike first to see if I might want to switch. If not then I guess I'll just have to fiddle with it, thanks.

RevivalMan

Thanks guys for the help and the idea about a trike. I might just look into that Bruce. Bentbaggerlen - I'm not worried about the money,just whether it would work. I might just trty a trike first to see if I might want to switch. If not then I guess I'll just have to fiddle with it, thanks.

RevivalMan

Take a look at the "Worksman PAV" trike, mate. This American maker (NYC of all places!!) does a
lot of work for special needs folk's to keepem' bikin'.

I've just been to the interbike fair in Germany, and talked to a few enthusiasts and vendors. My sense: many folks wish they had one, few can afford it. But price is relative: serious MTB racers have to replace their cranksets, cassettes, derailleurs, chains twice a year or more, while some racers with a Rohloff spent $1000 once and seem to be done with it for several years.

You may also take a look here: http://bionx.ca/en/ developed a bike assist system that can be fitted to any bike, they had them on recuments, folders, city bikes at the fair. I test rode one, it's amazing. Like having a strong coastal back wind all the time. You can cover greater distances, don't have to avoid hills etc.