modifying my old mountain bike
#1
Skin-Pounder
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Clarkston (Atlanta, GA., USA)
Posts: 502
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
modifying my old mountain bike
My old mtb bike needs a total overhaul and I got to thinking about some modifications to it that would be more suited for the use it's been getting.
I thought about replacing the stock 7-speed rear hub with an internally geared hub. This, to accomodate the new and beginning riders (such as my girlfriend) who've been using it who find proper shifting a real challenge. There's been times I wished I'd had a way to shift while stopped on that bike myself.
I haven't had a bike with internal gears since I was a child. What happens whe you need to change a flat? How difficult is it to detatch the wheel with such a gearing system? Easier?
Are these things a bad idea?
I thought about replacing the stock 7-speed rear hub with an internally geared hub. This, to accomodate the new and beginning riders (such as my girlfriend) who've been using it who find proper shifting a real challenge. There's been times I wished I'd had a way to shift while stopped on that bike myself.
I haven't had a bike with internal gears since I was a child. What happens whe you need to change a flat? How difficult is it to detatch the wheel with such a gearing system? Easier?
Are these things a bad idea?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: England
Posts: 12,948
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
Hub gears are a great idea on utility bikes, not only for beginers.
You can change on the move or when stopped. These days, 5 speed is a good minimum, and 7spd is better.
You need to have rear dropouts that are horizontal, so that you can move the axle back and forward to adjust the chain tension.
If the dropouts are vertical, then you need to add a chain tensioning device which adds complication.
Changing the wheel out is not that difficult. The Sachs models are probably a bit easier than Shimano (and all round better hubs).
You can change on the move or when stopped. These days, 5 speed is a good minimum, and 7spd is better.
You need to have rear dropouts that are horizontal, so that you can move the axle back and forward to adjust the chain tension.
If the dropouts are vertical, then you need to add a chain tensioning device which adds complication.
Changing the wheel out is not that difficult. The Sachs models are probably a bit easier than Shimano (and all round better hubs).
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Snowy midwest
Posts: 5,391
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Changing to an internal hub is very easy - assuming you don't have to rebuild the wheel yourself.
I like internal hubs. They make a lot of sense; cleaner, easier mainenance, enclosed gearing.
However, I don't think they would hold up well to really punishing mountain trail use.
I like internal hubs. They make a lot of sense; cleaner, easier mainenance, enclosed gearing.
However, I don't think they would hold up well to really punishing mountain trail use.
#5
Donating member
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Faversham, Kent, UK
Posts: 1,852
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've only used old Sturmey Archer Three Speeds, and changing a wheel on them is pretty idiot proof, and takes no longer than on a derailleur geared bike.
Richard
Richard
__________________
Currently riding an MTB with a split personality - commuting, touring, riding for the sake of riding, on or off road :)
Currently riding an MTB with a split personality - commuting, touring, riding for the sake of riding, on or off road :)
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: England
Posts: 12,948
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
Rohloff internal hubs are specially made for off road use.
Sachs 7speed hubs have been used for expeditions across Asia, and hold up well to years of hard all-weather commuting.
They are not designed for pushing hard at very low gears, but for jut riding trails, they are quite strong enough.
Sachs 7speed hubs have been used for expeditions across Asia, and hold up well to years of hard all-weather commuting.
They are not designed for pushing hard at very low gears, but for jut riding trails, they are quite strong enough.
#7
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,793
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1390 Post(s)
Liked 1,322 Times
in
835 Posts
If you replace your cogset with an internal hub, you will be stuck using only one chainring, unless you keep the rear derailleur as a tensioning device. Doing so will give you an incredibly wide 21-speed gearest.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#8
To infinity and beyond
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Posts: 425
Bikes: Cannondale M600, Crescent 92318, Bianchi Lo Spillone (tandem)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Like John said, keep the rear derailleur as a tensioning device, and run two or three chainrings up front. If you choose to have a coaster brake, the removal is a little more difficult when flat fixing.
Anders K
Sweden
Anders K
Sweden