Sirrus Rider

I have a working GH6 and I'm trying to decide what to do with it. It's a 36 holer and I have no idea what bike it originated from so I don't know how fast it needs to turn to make good light. I had been kicking around the idea of making a wheel with it for my Hybridized Alpine Monitor Pass MTB; however, I just scored a 36 hole Shimano DH-3N71 off of E-bay that I believe would make a better fit for that bike. I have two other bikes that it might work on, a Work in Progress Raleigh Twenty or my '07 Specialized Sirrus 700c Hybrid. The Twenty I'm thinking would be a better mechanical fit as it is from the era of bolted on front wheels and there would be no way of fitting a quick release axle to the GH6 (at least not with a modern cammed quick release, a set of giant wing nuts, yes I know that much.) The only thing that I'm twitchy about is it adds a lot of drag to a high geared small wheeled bike. No matter what this bike is going to require a wheel build up either with this hub or with a conventional front Sturmey Archer hub.

As for the Sirrus the rear wheel is a 32 holer and I think it would look weird to have this old battered and rusting hub with a slighter denser spoke count on the front wheel of a brand new bike. I'm thinking that If I put a dynamo on this bike it's either consume a fifth of JD and buy a SON hub, or weasel and put a a bottle dyanmo like a Dymotec 6, or a Spanniga Vesta on it via a Zinkens Bracket.

Any suggetions?

n4zou

Just send it to me. I'll put it to good use on my bike and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing it's got a good home and a loving owner. I'll feed it road miles daily and walk it up steep hills when the going gets tough. It will look great dressed in wheel smith stainless steel spokes and a SUN CR-18 rim.

Sirrus Rider

I feel the Love Scott! Seriously, do you think I should put it on the R20?

n4zou

By all means yes! Use it and enjoy it.

Sirrus Rider

While I'm picking your brain what should I do with the Sirrus? Bottle Dyno? Get a SON? Go Shimano??

n4zou

A bottle dynamo would be nice on the Sirrus. No drag when it's disengaged and not that bad when it is. It's there when you need light and no worries about batteries.

Sirrus Rider

What are your feelings for Hub dynamos?

n4zou

I like hub dynamos on bikes that are used regularly at night. Bottle and BB type dynamos are good for bikes that are used only occasionally at night. Bottle and BB type dynamos are mechanically disengaged from the tire so no drag at all when disengaged. Hub dynamos have some drag when the light switch is off. Hub dynamos have less drag than bottle and BB dynamos when the lights are on. I use a bottle type dynamo on my touring bike because the only reason I would need lights is traveling through a tunnel or running late and needing to travel in the dark to get to the next scheduled stop. Weight is an issue when doing a loaded tour so a dynamo eliminates the requirement to haul batteries. Adding a bottle type dynamo on a casual bike allows you not to worry about being home before it gets dark. I also have a bike with a hub dynamo which I use primarily at night. I am a volunteer for a rail trail watch group and do the closing sweep. This requires riding a 10 mile section of the rail trail after dark to help anyone broken down or late getting back to there vehicle after dark.

sping

> I like hub dynamos on bikes that are used regularly at night.

... or if you want to advertise your presence in the day. I'm heading towards a hub/LED system, and I intend to leave it running at all times. This is for urban commute/utility biking.

Sirrus Rider

Well I pulled out my GH6 and took a closer look at it. Turns out it's not so operational as I initially thought. The innards of the hub look like it has spent time in a flood as it's innards were heavily corroded. Sure it makes power, but the bearings were corroded and the races pitted. I repacked it with fresh grease; however, I think it's too little too late. I'm Inclined to put it and my "parts" GH6 on ebay and get what can for it.


I might be inclined to get a pair 36 hole Shimano DH-3N71 (If I can find a pair of them!) and continue the theme of a product improving the Raleigh Twenty with newer more modern dynohubs.