Touring - Nexus Gearing.

One of my friends found a bike and donated it to me for parts. One of these parts is a fully functioning Shimano Nexus-4. I used the calculator on harris cyclery and got these ratios using a 28/38/48. I'm going to be touring in and out of the mountains (hopefully more out) and I am not sure if this range is Low enough. I'm an ex messenger and do pretty decent on climbs and am training in that area specifically right now. Thanks for the input.

60.5 82.1 103.7
49.3 66.9 84.5
40.8 55.3 69.9
32.9 44.6 56.3

I posted some ratios in the "Which Cassette" thread a few below this one. You can see some standard, and some better still ratios there. Your overall range is higher than most want, but then they may not have your guns. You have a big spacing between those gears. Also you will have all the problems of the nexus (which gets better with the new 9 speed) combined with the chain suck, pulley etc... problems of a front deraileur. I'd save the 4 speed for a city bike and score some MTB drive train for your touring bike.

that's what i needed to know. +1

60.5 82.1 103.7
49.3 66.9 84.5
40.8 55.3 69.9
32.9 44.6 56.3
Are these gear inches or Sheldon's gain?

I'm assuming that's inches. The thing Sheldon uses never comes out confusingly close to inches.

It's inches.

One of my friends found a bike and donated it to me for parts. One of these parts is a fully functioning Shimano Nexus-4. I used the calculator on harris cyclery and got these ratios using a 28/38/48. I'm going to be touring in and out of the mountains (hopefully more out) and I am not sure if this range is Low enough. I'm an ex messenger and do pretty decent on climbs and am training in that area specifically right now. Thanks for the input.

60.5 82.1 103.7
49.3 66.9 84.5
40.8 55.3 69.9
32.9 44.6 56.3


I was using Sheldon's calculator and really couldn't really get your exact numbers but close to it. In my opinion, the Nexus 4 speed is too high geared for touring. The only way to get 1st gear low enough (on a 700 X 32 wheel) is to install a 12 tooth ring and a 10 tooth sprocket!

Inches -- 12t chainring & 10t cog
59.6
48.6
40.2
32.4

You'll lose the top end but it's not too bad overall. I don't know if you can get a custom chainring that small and Sheldon only sells a 14T cog

I don't know if you can get a custom chainring that small and Sheldon only sells a 14T cog
Nexus uses a standard internal hub cog fitting, allowing 13t - >22t cogs.

Nexus uses a standard internal hub cog fitting, allowing 13t - >22t cogs.
Most Nexi have a clearance issue with the shift linkage that makes it difficult/impossible to use anything smaller than a 16. The smaller sprockets will fit on the driver, but the chain will rub on the cassette joint unit.

Sheldon "Nexi" Brown