Utility Cycling - Big Dummy/Rohloff first impressions

Well, I finally finished building my Big Dummy - the only thing left is to attach a stem and cruiser bar to the seat post so my kids can safely ride.

The Big Dummy itself is pretty remarkable. The ride is very nice - which is partly due to the frame, but also due to the 2.35 Fat Franks. My friend who is really into MTB took a test ride this morning and also commented on the very comfortable ride. Then he jumped on the back and I took him for a spin. It was work going up hills, but again, this bike is a champ with 200 pounds of rider and 200 pounds of passenger - and I'm thinking my quads are going to grow to freakish proportions.

So far, the Rohloff, which was *fairly* easy to set up, has also been super. I would like it to shift a bit easier (less pressure needed) and I think there's a way to adjust that, but I haven't messed with it yet. I encountered one oddity: going uphill with a load, I was downshifting to reach a gear ratio I was comfortable with and I think the thing accidentally shifted into 14th gear. Oops! I'll keep an eye on it. Building this up, I was prepared for the Rohloff to make a lot of noise. People always comment about how noisy it is, and how unsettling the noise is. I wonder if they put in the initial oil? Mine runs silent, except for gear 7, which does generate a very quiet noise. It's supposed to though, so no worries.

My only concern right now is that I purchased the Brooks Champion Flyer saddle and I'm going with handlebars higher than saddle and a fairly upright position. This just feels right to me on this bike, and also feels great in my lower back, where I recently had a microdiscectomy. Maybe I should have gone with a wider saddle? I don't know, and I'm kind of worried I won't be able to tell. I suppose I'll just keep riding it, and if it seems uncomfortable to me, I'll exchange it with Wallbike for another model.

I'd post some pics - it's a sweet ride, but my camera is with my wife on business in Europe right now, so the pics'll have to wait till I can borrow a camera or she returns.

Overall though, this is just an awesome bike. I spent a lot on it, but it's mostly replacing a car - and it'll help keep me fit, so I think it was money well spent! Building a bike yourself, even if you've never done it (like me), is something I highly recommend. I know that bike pretty well now, and feel confident adjusting any part of it.

So far, the Rohloff, which was *fairly* easy to set up, has also been super. I would like it to shift a bit easier (less pressure needed) and I think there's a way to adjust that, but I haven't messed with it yet. I encountered one oddity: going uphill with a load, I was downshifting to reach a gear ratio I was comfortable with and I think the thing accidentally shifted into 14th gear. Oops! I'll keep an eye on it. Building this up, I was prepared for the Rohloff to make a lot of noise. People always comment about how noisy it is, and how unsettling the noise is. I wonder if they put in the initial oil? Mine runs silent, except for gear 7, which does generate a very quiet noise. It's supposed to though, so no worries.


The downshifting into 14th thing you ran into is a safety feature. You were in between gears on the shifter, and instead of shifting to an easy gear where your pedals may go flying, it kicks it to 14. When you are trying to shift focus on being crisp with the shifter and if you shifting with pressure on the pedals do a quick flick of the shifter when the pedals are at the 12 and 6 positions so there is no real power on them. If you bring the pedals through the same position in the pedal stroke while trying to push the shifter, you end up with sloppy shifting because it's hard to react fast enough when the shifter reacts. Hopefully this makes sense to you. It's what I've learned anyway.

I'm not sure about adjusting the shift pressure. There is some kind of soft indexing spring that is some factory sort of maintenance that is possible. Those may be standard on current speedhubs anyway.

Slack off of the pedal pressure when you shift. Makes the Rohloff much easier to shift.

If the Champ Flyer feels good to you, stick with it.
If you decide to change it out I would recommend the B67.

The downshifting into 14th thing you ran into is a safety feature. You were in between gears on the shifter, and instead of shifting to an easy gear where your pedals may go flying, it kicks it to 14. When you are trying to shift focus on being crisp with the shifter and if you shifting with pressure on the pedals do a quick flick of the shifter when the pedals are at the 12 and 6 positions so there is no real power on them. If you bring the pedals through the same position in the pedal stroke while trying to push the shifter, you end up with sloppy shifting because it's hard to react fast enough when the shifter reacts. Hopefully this makes sense to you. It's what I've learned anyway.

I'm not sure about adjusting the shift pressure. There is some kind of soft indexing spring that is some factory sort of maintenance that is possible. Those may be standard on current speedhubs anyway.

The speedhub is basically a seven speed transmission with an under-drive in front of it. In seventh gear, your in the under-drive, and high gear in the main gear box. When you shift to eighth, you're in direct drive and low gear in the main box. (That's like going from the small chainring and smallest freewheel cog, to the big front chainring, and the biggest rear cog on a derailleur bike.). That's a two stage shift; the speed hub does it by disengaging the under-drive -- which puts you in 14th gear -- and then shifts the main box. If it did it the other way, you'd be in first gear if the shift failed half way through.

I like the Rohloff on my Big Dummy, but the shifting is not as easy or precise as my Nexus 8 IGH. The Rohloff pays you back in gear range and toughness/durability though. You'll get used to the shifting and won't end up in 14th very often when going between 7 & 8th gears.

Enjoy your new Big Dummy - they are uber cool bikes....:love:

Overall though, this is just an awesome bike. I spent a lot on it, but it's mostly replacing a car - and it'll help keep me fit, so I think it was money well spent! Building a bike yourself, even if you've never done it (like me), is something I highly recommend. I know that bike pretty well now, and feel confident adjusting any part of it.

I can't agree more. It is the best way to learn how to do it. You soon learn that it gets expensive to replace stuff rather than fix it yourself.

Choccy...

If the Champ Flyer feels good to you, stick with it.
If you decide to change it out I would recommend the B67.

+1 on this.

How much did it all cost, and what does it weigh in at?

I don't know what the bike weighs - don't have a scale. But it cost just around $4500-5000 with ALL the stuff I have on it, including locks, lights, bell, mirror, extra handle bar for the kids and a seat cushion.

The Rohloff obviously upped the price a LOT (as did the Brooks saddle, Chris King headset and front hub, etc.), but I can tell you it has been worth it. I can accelerate SO rapidly on this thing it is just unbelievable. It's quiet, smooth, and gives me a super gear range - so climbing hills with a load isn't bad at all. And it just rides smooth. I have a little wish and that is that the Fat Franks had less rolling resistance, but it's all about trade-offs. Still can't post a pic because my camera is on a plane (at the moment) from between Vienna and Berlin. :(

pics needed, otherwise the bike never happened :P

pics needed, otherwise the bike never happened :P

Werd!

I don't know what the bike weighs - don't have a scale. But it cost just around $4500-5000 with ALL the stuff I have on it, including locks, lights, bell, mirror, extra handle bar for the kids and a seat cushion.

The Rohloff obviously upped the price a LOT (as did the Brooks saddle, Chris King headset and front hub, etc.), but I can tell you it has been worth it. I can accelerate SO rapidly on this thing it is just unbelievable. It's quiet, smooth, and gives me a super gear range - so climbing hills with a load isn't bad at all. And it just rides smooth. I have a little wish and that is that the Fat Franks had less rolling resistance, but it's all about trade-offs. Still can't post a pic because my camera is on a plane (at the moment) from between Vienna and Berlin. :(

Hmm is it worth getting a CK headset for a BD? I was just going to go with a Ritchey headset.

I don't know what the bike weighs - don't have a scale.


Would be really interesting, though. My BD with stiff and durable wheels and Alfine internal hub has got 19.5kg in touring setup (including dynamo hub, lights, fenders, bottle cages and stuff)



The Rohloff obviously upped the price a LOT (as did the Brooks saddle, Chris King headset and front hub, etc.), but I can tell you it has been worth it. I can accelerate SO rapidly on this thing it is just unbelievable. It's quiet, smooth, and gives me a super gear range - so climbing hills with a load isn't bad at all. And it just rides smooth.


And even without Brooks, Chris King, Rohloff, it runs silently and smooth at any weather conditions. Something I enjoy very much.



I have a little wish and that is that the Fat Franks had less rolling resistance, but it's all about trade-offs.


I had the opposite impression. I was very surprised how easy they are going. Some cycling friend reported the same after a BD test ride over here. The Fat Franks (as like the Big Apples, I guess) in my opinion are a perfect tradeoff between speed and comfort. When doing my BD tour lately with up to 220km a day, I could not blame anything onto these tires, but I always enjoyed the smooth and comfortable ride with them.
The whole bicycle will not compete with a roadbike, for sure. No way. But all in all, it runs pretty well. It is definitely no pain riding it, and to me it makes up a good touring bicycle for so many conditions, on- and offroad.

Yeah, I'm just *****ing on the comparison with road bike tires. :)
The Fat Franks are pretty sweet. The ride is actually so comfy that I probably could have gone with a B-17 instead of the Champion Flyer seat.

On the CK headset, I also got a CK front hub - for two reasons (1) quality, and (2) to support a local business - both of these are important, but I feel strongly about supporting local businesses whenever possible.

- Edit: Well, I'm trying to place an image from my blog - but it ain't happenin' - blog is www.torcountry.com
pic is at page top...currently

Well, here's a pic from a week ago of the bike. I've wrapped the rear handlebars since then. Other than that, it's pretty much the same. Lots of fun to ride around town.

Bad image link.

http://torcountry.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/bigdummy.jpg

Looks like fun!

Here ya' go.

http://awcg.com/Allen/RandomImages/bigdummy.jpg

Stuck it on my server.
Good looking rig.
Better looking kids.