Hybrid Bicycles - It's not mine, but this hybrid is cool because...

Just found this. I so need a chainless bike. Twice now I've shifted incorrectly and BAM! Find myself getting greasy or walking the bike because the chain on the rear derailler (I think that's what it's called) is jammed.

http://www.dynamicbicycles.com/admin/bikes/l71722.jpg

That's kinda cool never saw that before

I also like a lot of the Breezer bikes. I just checked out their site and this seems new. It's like someone took a road bike, or a hybrid, and already customized the handlebars and such for you! It's a hybrid that is great for long distance. CHECK THESE OUT (http://www.breezerbikes.com/bike_details_liberty.cfm)

I have seen those, they are nice

Some LBSs won't be able to service those bikes (the chainless ones).......just a reminder.

Some LBSs won't be able to service those bikes (the chainless ones).......just a reminder.

True. I'm not getting it but I do think it's pretty cool :D. Plus, my bike is still a newborn as it stands :)

Some LBSs won't be able to service those bikes (the chainless ones).......just a reminder.

Why not? Bike shops adapt to new equipment.

Shaft drive bikes are a pita.

It sounds like your bike needs a little tune up as if things are setup right a missed shift / dropped chain isn't going to happen.

Shaft drive bikes are a pita.

It sounds like your bike needs a little tune up as if things are setup right a missed shift / dropped chain isn't going to happen.

My set up should be fine. It's operator error for sure. Was in traffic, not moving really, and shifted twice to hopefully start smoother so TOTAL newbie error. At least I know what I did and how.

By the way, just for curiosity sake, I was told there's a chain catch of sorts that keeps the chain from coming off? If there is such a thing, why wouldn't everyone want that as a precaution?

Chain catcher. There used to be one called a 'shark tooth' but I couldn't find it.

http://www.zetatrading.jp/product/images_K-Edge/chain_catcher_1.jpg

Chain catcher. There used to be one called a 'shark tooth' but I couldn't find it.

http://www.zetatrading.jp/product/images_K-Edge/chain_catcher_1.jpg

Is it the blue piece? It sits just in front of the chain so it can't come off? Do you use one or is this just a random bike pic?

Harris Cyclery used to carry the Shark Tooth. If it's not in their online catalog, it would be worth a phone-call to ask them who got and where go.

Harris Cyclery used to carry the Shark Tooth. If it's not in their online catalog, it would be worth a phone-call to ask them who got and where go.

Next time I'm at my LBS I'll ask, they have all sorts of, how do you call them, random doohickeys behind the counter :):innocent:

Shaft drive bikes are a pita.

It sounds like your bike needs a little tune up as if things are setup right a missed shift / dropped chain isn't going to happen.

I was just going to suggest a tune up. They're a lot cheaper than a new bike.
Good luck

Shaft drive bikes are a pita.

And chains aren't?? The only difference is that we already know how to deal with chains, so we put up with all that messy maintenance ...

One "word": IGH

And chains aren't?? The only difference is that we already know how to deal with chains, so we put up with all that messy maintenance ...

This is actually a good response! But I'd like to know the ratio of chainless bike repairs vs chain bikes that would make it profitable enough to have your employees trained and to keep parts on hand for these type of bikes. It would be a great service to be able to offer this but are there enough of these bikes around to support it? (Not challenging you but just wondering from a business point of view) :)

Is it the blue piece? It sits just in front of the chain so it can't come off? Do you use one or is this just a random bike pic?

I don't use one, this is a random pic that I googled. Yes it is the blue piece that sits there to avoid the chain from falling off. But with a finely adjusted der you really shouldn't need one. None of my bikes have one. And two of them I ride kind of rough. Never had a chain jump.

I've never seen these bikes around, and I doubt any bike shops around here would offer to service the shaft drive. That's a real problem, of course.

But I bet, if shaft bikes were more widespread, every kids' bike and every family bike would be shaft driven. With higher production and more efficient shafts, most bikes would have them. Chain drives would be left to performance bikers, like clipless pedals and drop handlebars.

I have drop bars and clipless pedals and believe you me, I am in no way a performance biker!! :twitchy:

Now I'm wondering (other than it being a service issue) why these bikes are not catching on so much.

I bet the single most important reason is that chains are good enough. And when what we've already got is good enough, it takes a lot to change it.

(When I said "performance biker", I meant it in a wide sense. When we go for clipless pedals, we trade a bit of convenience ("use any shoes") for a little performance.)

This is actually a good response! But I'd like to know the ratio of chainless bike repairs vs chain bikes that would make it profitable enough to have your employees trained and to keep parts on hand for these type of bikes. It would be a great service to be able to offer this but are there enough of these bikes around to support it? (Not challenging you but just wondering from a business point of view) :)

If you mean shaft drive when you say chainless: There are so few shaft drive bikes that whatever numbers you come up would be statistically invalid.

As suggested earlier, internally geared hubs make much more sense than shaft drive.

Shaft driven bicycles are not a new thing and were made as far back as 1900 and there are a few examples in between now and then where folks tried to make this work (and failed) and of them all Dynamic is probably the best.

But they have some shortcomings that prevent them from being universally popular and suitable for a wide range of duties.

I have serviced a Dynamic and did not find it to be inordinately difficult and had to service the same bike repeatedly as the drive kept getting knocked out of alignment (bending) and this resulted in several shaft failures.

The bike was getting used for commuting and the owner was a young and very strong guy... the bike could not stand up to the torque he put into things.

We modified the frame to offer better support to the drive and wrote to Dynamic and hope they have used this feedback to improve the product they offer.

The lateral stresses caused by the use of a shaft drive can cause frame failure and with a bike that undergoes such a heavy and repeated stress cycle, aluminium would not be my material of choice. This type of drive is just not that well suited for a conventional bicycle frame.

These bikes are stiff and heavy and after another drive failure my friend repaired and sold his bike being very clear that the bike would be fine for light duty usage.

A better solution would be to use an internal gear hub and a fully enclosed chain case... and perhaps a belt drive.

That would solve the greasy leg issue, protect the drive, and provide a system that would be good for tens of thousands of miles with very little service.

I should add that I really like the idea of the shaft driven bicycle for utilitarian riding and perhaps new technologies and better materials and design could improve them.

Having ridden them I can say that the drive is extremely smooth and if this could be combined with a more solid design and a better ride I could see myself owning one.

Biomega Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Bamboo are all shaft driven bikes. They have sold them for some years now so I thnk they would be gone by now if they did not work ok. Dd not try one, did not read much about them but here is the link.

http://www.biomega.dk/biomega.aspx

And since ths is the "It's not mine, but this hybrid is cool because... thread, take a look at this. Made for hunting down roadies..

http://www.sogreni.dk/Mountaingoat.php

:roflmao2:

Hey wait. I'm a roadie. :notamused:

Biomega Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Bamboo are all shaft driven bikes. They have sold them for some years now so I thnk they would be gone by now if they did not work ok. Dd not try one, did not read much about them but here is the link.

http://www.biomega.dk/biomega.aspx

These are a fairly pricey bike with entry level shaft drive bikes costing $1200.00 and their top of the line models costing upwards of $5000.00

And a conventional bike will still ride circles around them.

Many reviews on these have been less than stellar and a common comment is that they are as much about style as they are substance.

The shaft drive on these has been described as being very noisy (you won't need a bell) with a lot of friction loss, and slow.

There is a reason most bicycles use chain drives... it has proven itself to be the best system there is to transmit pedaling motion into forward motion and it is inexpensive.

Having seen and played with a few new belt drives I can say that this may be the thing that could replace the chain if they ever become more affordable.

like 65er, I've been involved in the repair of a shaft driven bike and I seem to remember it being more intimidating than difficult. It seemed no worse than dealing with an IGH.

As many people are affraid of derailuers, I'm surprised these things haven't really taken off.

and I've not seen the belt drives yet, but trek has the soho (I know it's not a hybrid, its only time) and I think that's the future too. Except there is the issue of stringing the belt through the rear triangle, which involves a removeable section at the dropout.

And since ths is the "It's not mine, but this hybrid is cool because... thread, take a look at this. Made for hunting down roadies..

http://www.sogreni.dk/Mountaingoat.php

LOL, you get the idea I had in mind when I started it :D. I should go find a pic of that funky bamboo bike we saw at the bookstore.

LOL, you get the idea I had in mind when I started it :D. I should go find a pic of that funky bamboo bike we saw at the bookstore.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/IMG_0925.jpg

Bamboo is an excellent material for bicycle frames... exotic and expensive but very nice.

Bamboo is an excellent material for bicycle frames... exotic and expensive but very nice.

Yah, I like how they look. They have Bamboo laptops now too and they are so cool looking.

If it's lighter than my current bike I'll take it :) I don't even think my TREK is so heavy but carrying it upstairs to my apartment after riding for an hour is hell for me, stupid I know :)

These are a fairly pricey bike with entry level shaft drive bikes costing $1200.00 and their top of the line models costing upwards of $5000.00

And a conventional bike will still ride circles around them.

Many reviews on these have been less than stellar and a common comment is that they are as much about style as they are substance.

The shaft drive on these has been described as being very noisy (you won't need a bell) with a lot of friction loss, and slow.

There is a reason most bicycles use chain drives... it has proven itself to be the best system there is to transmit pedaling motion into forward motion and it is inexpensive.

Having seen and played with a few new belt drives I can say that this may be the thing that could replace the chain if they ever become more affordable.

You know Denmark is SMALL, and most peopel that use bikes use them for pooteling around town. Other bikes could run rounds around the dutch bikes they use also, but to them that is not an issue. I think for some peopel getting rid of the chain is so important that they do not care about slow.

About style for sure, you find design is serious stuff in Scandinavia. If you buy such an expensive bike you do not want to lock it outside, and the shaft is great when taking it innside the house.

Last time I went to Copenhagen I was thinking that the peopel riding bikes are slim, so also this type of ridingstyle works well. They ride often but not so far, and do visits, shopping and go out for a meal on bikes. That adds up.

Edit: I think producing a shaft that works well is tricky, I guess replace one is doable, but repairing one and finding parts could be an issue, at least for now. I just replaced the right driveshaft on my car, that is doable. The thing with the bikes is you`ve got two 90* angels in the power transmission, guess that is the tricky part.

I more belive in belts, but the big issue there are the frames. I am looking forwards to folders w belts. Lighter and cleaner.

More design, look at the bells and the chainguards!

http://www.sogreni.dk/Products.php

Those Swedes (I can claim to be one) must have been hitting the brännvin...

http://www.sogreni.dk/Images/the_mountaingoat_stor.jpg

Those Swedes (I can claim to be one) must have been hitting the brännvin...

Danes sixty, danes :D must have taken more than "en llle" (a small one) before making ths. I offered to dress one of my sons bikes in fur more than once, but he refuses. Strange child. would be nice for the cold winters.

I`ve seen a video of somebody riding this one, so it is real. You can make one in brown and white and call it Texas commuter. Ride with cowboyhat not helmet.

The Sogreni stuff reminds me of Bang and Olafsen.

65er, why is bamboo expensive? Is building with bamboo labor intensive? I have it growing on my property, and it grows like a weed.

Bamboo is not expensive... having someone build a bicycle from it is.

Tamara, I have "shifted wrong" a few times and haven't dropped my chain. Also, I'm guessing my bike is cheaper/lower quality than yours is. Go squawk at the store ya bought it at.