Folding Bikes - Shimano Capreo Hub experiences on folders?

Has anybody tried using a Shimano Capreo hub on a folding bike with a large chainring? Does anybody have any experiences setting up and using a Capreo hub? Are there any stories about building a wheel with a Capreo hub to use the better gear range? Was there a big difference between the normal hub and the Capreo experience? Did it make you much faster than you would normally be?

Thanks to all for proving information.

I almost forgot, how much did you pay for your Capreo set. Does anybody know where to buy Capreo sets at a reasonable price? Are there any companies that offer ready built Capreo 20" wheels?

Thanks

Has anybody tried using a Shimano Capreo hub on a folding bike with a large chainring? Does anybody have any experiences setting up and using a Capreo hub? Are there any stories about building a wheel with a Capreo hub to use the better gear range? Was there a big difference between the normal hub and the Capreo experience? Did it make you much faster than you would normally be?

Thanks to all for proving information.

What do you mean by large?

I have ridden capreo equipped Bike Fridays with a 53 tooth chainring and thought that the gearing was wider than the typical roadie setups.

The nature of your questions isn't clear to me. In the context of most maintenance and use, the capreo hub/cassette works just like many other standard components. Building a wheel with the hub, for instance, would not be any different than with a standard Shimano hub.

http://sheldonbrown.com/capreo/index.html

You do need a special cassette tool to remove and install the cassette. But it is reasonably priced. Regarding how the gearing feels, I would compare it to a full size bike with a 11-32 cassette. While it gives you a wide gear range, the lack of granularity will effect you in some small way during challenging rides.

The Capreo is a decent but not great cone and bearing hub. Mine had to be adjusted before first use, but make sure to do the adjustments after the wheel is built. Once tuned, it seems to be smooth and strong, albeit a touch heavy.

The weight of the hub (400gm) is offset by the use of a smaller cassette, front chainring, and less chain. Thus, it's roughly weight neutral compared with a more expensive hub.

by "go faster" I assume you mean spin more slowly on downhills? On my partner's 18" wheel bike, there is no difference between using the 9 tooth Capreo in the back with 48 in the front or a normal 11 tooth cog in the back and 56 in the front.

In all, the reason to go Capreo is that it is a more cost-effective solution. The hub and cassette cost about 1/4 what a larger hub and cassette + big chainring on the front would cost. If you already have a big chainring and a normal sized hub, there is no reason to go that route.

Bike Friday uses Capreo because it allows one to use a derailleur on the front of the bike. A huge advantage if you need a large gear range with few inches between each gear. So, there is another reason to go that route. But most folders cannot fit a front derailleur without a good deal of machining. Bike Friday, Birdy, and some customized Bromptons and Swifts (I think) have employed them with varying degrees of success.

Harris is the place to get a Capreo set up. Just do a web search.

Zero problems with a 53/39 crankset and Capreo rear hub and cassette, D-A RD, on the Maunakea bike. Got mine from Sheldon's shop.

Note: much is always made of the suposed inefficiencies of internal hub gears, but the Capreo's 9, 10, 11 and 13T sprockets can be less efficient than a good IG. (The chain links have to rotate through relatively large angles under load.) See the report beginning on page three of:

http://www.ihpva.org/pubs/HP52.pdf

TCS

Note: much is always made of the suposed inefficiencies of internal hub gears, but the Capreo's 9, 10, 11 and 13T sprockets can be less efficient than a good IG. (The chain links have to rotate through relatively large angles under load.) See the report beginning on page three of:

http://www.ihpva.org/pubs/HP52.pdf

TCS

There are a few discussions regarding internal hubs versus derailer equipped bikes.

http://www.bikefriday.com/node/678

http://www.bikefriday.com/gearing

The Bike Friday links above discuss the capreo hub in depth.