Touring - Anyone using a Rohloff on an LHT?

I have been pondering getting an LHT to buildup. Wondering if anyone is using one with the Rohloff. I know with the vertical dropouts I would not only have the big torque arm but a tensioner as well. Have searched for but not found a frame with long horizontals, canti studs and good BB drop. Appreciate any input.

if you're seriously considering a rohloff hub, then you probably know they are expensive, in which case you may find these bikes to be just what you're looking for:

http://www.sjscycles.com/ look at the raven, others are derailer models.

if i had the money, i'd get one of their frames. shipping a bike to the u.s. is cost prohibitive, but frames arent too bad. sheldon brown sells these (well the shop he represents). sjs cycles used to sell on ebay too. they do sell direct. bikes are stock or custom made to order with paint choice. you wont see these in the nashbar catalog.

they also have a neat touring fork, probably overkill.

I'm having Waterford build me a rohloff equipped tourer. Using Rohloff drop-outs and a Phil Wood eccentric for tensioning. For the surly, you would probably use the torque arm and an eccentric bb.

/s

I'm running a LHT with the Rohloff. Using the torque arm and chain tensioner.

Although the torgue arm looks a little clunky, it doesn't get in the way and the drivetrain is near zeo maintenance. The LHT rides really well and looks alright as well.

Be glad to answer any other questions you may have.

Rgds
MS

you could run it on an Urbane Tourist. It is a stock frame from the Urbane Cyclist, one of their urbanite line. It's made in the same factory as the Surly, though the frame while totally touring oriented is not the same as the LHT, it's more a classical touring frame, less MTB componentry.

Check my post at the end of the sticky up top here. You can see mine or you can check out the website

http://ucycle.com/bikes/item.php?name=urbtour&cat=urbanite

I don't think any of the pictures show the horizontal axel plates, but that is what they are.

If you want 26" wheels, they have one like that also. The comuter format isn't all that encouraging but this is a touring bike. Of course there are lots of old MTB frames already available.

http://ucycle.com/bikes/item.php?name=urbcommuter&cat=urbanite

Urbane Cyclist sells nexus and Rohloff and know what it needs to mount it on a bike. Not a place to buy one cheap, but I think they were thinking of Rohloff when they designed this frame since it breaks with a lot of American touring bikes that have vertical plates.

Thanks for the input, I was familiar with the ANT, Thorn, Sycip, Soulcraft, but not sure at this time if I want to go there if it can be used w/o problems with a 'regular' frame. Thorn fork looks heavy as h***, want a touring frame as I wil be doing long rides / centuries but probably not much loaded touring.

Not too much competition yet for Rohloff-specific frames, maybe we need Surly to step up!

Cherubim, how do you like it compared to derailliers? Give us the lowdown.

Thanks again!

Every bike I have is horizontal. The new Urbanite, and the Nishiki old MTB, Bianchi race bike. I was surprised to see the vertical plates when I bought my new bike, though it had horizontals it was pretty much the only bike to have them. What is the problem they solved with verticals? It is a hassle to have the wheel pull crooked, but then if the verticals are off even the slightest, you have a permanently misaligned wheel. If you have done any frame measuring they aren't perfect so misalignment is probably pretty typical..

On a touring bike, I think the Rohloff beats a derailleur system hands down. More reliable, better shifting, less maintenance, less chance of being damaged in a crash, probably a stronger rear wheel (no dish)cleaner, and possibly cooler.

A derailleur system is possibly slightly lighter but this makes no practical difference on a already heavy bike.

I will not go back to a derailleur system on my touring bike/commuter.

Mike S

Cherubim, did you use the QR hub or bolt-on? Where did you mount your shifter? I'm thinking LHT and a Karate Monkey I can throw the wheel on to do some trails.
Thanks

I'm running a Nexus on my LHT. I paid a little money to have a framebuilder install horizontal drops on the frame. Pictures here:

http://raven.subsume.com/SurlyWebPage.html

Tailwinds,
-keith

I used the Quick release hub. Shifter is mounted on a standard riser bar ( a la gripshift).

Rgds

you could run it on an Urbane Tourist. It is a stock frame from the Urbane Cyclist, one of their urbanite line. It's made in the same factory as the Surly, though the frame while totally touring oriented is not the same as the LHT, it's more a classical touring frame, less MTB componentry.

Check my post at the end of the sticky up top here. You can see mine or you can check out the website

http://ucycle.com/bikes/item.php?name=urbtour&cat=urbanite

I don't think any of the pictures show the horizontal axel plates, but that is what they are.

If you want 26" wheels, they have one like that also. The comuter format isn't all that encouraging but this is a touring bike. Of course there are lots of old MTB frames already available.

http://ucycle.com/bikes/item.php?name=urbcommuter&cat=urbanite

Urbane Cyclist sells nexus and Rohloff and know what it needs to mount it on a bike. Not a place to buy one cheap, but I think they were thinking of Rohloff when they designed this frame since it breaks with a lot of American touring bikes that have vertical plates.

I looking at your pics on the sticky above, but wanted to see a close-up of the dropout. Can you post another pic? Also, I'm keen to find out if the tubes are round or oval as I'd like to see if S&S couplers would easily be put onto the touring frame from Urbane Cyclist.

Stormchaser, I am no pro at this but why not check out Surly Cross Check with their drop outs. Mine is not set up with Nexus or Roloff(sp) but I find it to be the best all around and versitile bike I have owned. Eventually I will set it up that way but I am still tweaking with it after 2 years to see what I want it to do.

What is the problem they solved with verticals? ..

Verticals make for a stiffer rear triangle, a quicker wheel change and a slight weight reduction.
For touring, horizontal slots allow your transmission to degrade to a singlespeed with relative ease should Something Bad happen.
My tourer has H dropouts and Im happy with them.

You can also get tighter fender clearance with vertical dropouts.

Not a big deal, but there it is.

What about http://www.villincycleworks.com/ImageGallery/44.jpg ?


I mean, if yr already in Rohloff territory....

Doesn't really apply to the LHT, though. Eh.

That is the type of dropouts used on the Sycip and Soulcraft, an adjustable deal with the left dropout having a semi-vertical slot that fits the Rohloff hub to eliminate the torque arm and tensioner. Makes for a cleaner install and easier tire change. Still searching for a good fit, I have both a road bike & MTB too large.

I rode the Pilot 56 today and it felt great, and would be excellent for 90% of the riding I anticipate, although would have to choose between large tire or fender. Hopefully I will get back in shape and start doing centuries this year as I used to. I do want Cantis for flexibility so looking closely at Crosscheck and LHT. Just missed a NOS Cannondale touring framewith uncut steerer on E-bay, got busy and forgot all about it 'DOH!

I've got a Surly KM that I'm building into my everything bike - any word on how Rohloff Disc fares with their funky track end / disc dropouts?
http://www.surlybikes.com/frames/images/karate_detail4.jpg