Tandems at NAHBS 2010
#1
Tandem Vincitur
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Tandems at NAHBS 2010
I perused Flickr uploads of pics from NAHBS, and saved interesting tandem pics to a Gallery.
Wyganowski
Scott Quiring and Ti Tandem
Quiring
Engin
Reugamer
I'm not sure what booth this is. The sign says "Custom Tandem".
Bilenky winning Best Road Bike Frame with a tandem
Bilenky
Co-Motion
Co-Motion disc brake detail
Wyganowski
Scott Quiring and Ti Tandem
Quiring
Engin
Reugamer
I'm not sure what booth this is. The sign says "Custom Tandem".
Bilenky winning Best Road Bike Frame with a tandem
Bilenky
Co-Motion
Co-Motion disc brake detail
#3
Tandem Vincitur
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The tandem with the Rohloff is the red one on top. It has only one chainring.
Another Co-Motion Rohloff:
Last edited by Ritterview; 03-24-10 at 11:30 PM. Reason: Add photos
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Nice stuff!
Have ridden a custom single LaSuprema with Rohloff gearing. Impressive, but bit pricey for that hub.
Have ridden a custom single LaSuprema with Rohloff gearing. Impressive, but bit pricey for that hub.
#5
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Anyone know whether they've done special spacing on those frames to accomodate the 135mm Rohloff hubs, or if they have modified the hub itself?
Last edited by Chris_W; 03-26-10 at 01:24 AM.
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Pricey, compared to what? A Rohloff replaces the rear hub, cassette, rear derailleur, front derailleur both shifters and allows you use use a drive crank with a single chain ring. With the price of cassettes these days, never mind Di2, the price premium isn't all that bad and can be amortized in 10k - 15k miles assuming normal drive train component wear.
Moreover, as can be seen in the videos I hosted out on my Rohloff Blog, it's a first class piece of hardware with 125 precision parts: https://tandemgeek.wordpress.com/2010...eedhub-chains/
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Indeed quite interesting! Do you think an aluminum or carbon tandem frame can be designed to accommodate a “breakaway” rear triangle? I have only seen this done on single cromoly frames.
Last edited by etasch; 03-25-10 at 02:19 PM. Reason: font size
#10
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Wyganowski definitely cannot be criticized on this frame for for making the stoker compartment overly tight.
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While the Rohloff is a brilliant piece of German engineering, the price for the hub is still a bit of sticker shock for most folks.
Yes, you can avoid derailleurs and $TI shifters but it tends to limit you (as is) to 14 gear selections. You also need a modfied rear triangle to adapt the Rohloff and there likelly is an upcharge for that. There is/was an issue of fitting the shifter on drop bars.
Most folks now are drooling over Gates belts, 10 and 11 speed ca$$ettes and darn few are even dreaming of Di2.
Rohloff has it followers/adherents but this is a low number production hub. You'll not fnd (m)any at your local bike shop.
Pedal on!
Rudy/zonatandem
Yes, you can avoid derailleurs and $TI shifters but it tends to limit you (as is) to 14 gear selections. You also need a modfied rear triangle to adapt the Rohloff and there likelly is an upcharge for that. There is/was an issue of fitting the shifter on drop bars.
Most folks now are drooling over Gates belts, 10 and 11 speed ca$$ettes and darn few are even dreaming of Di2.
Rohloff has it followers/adherents but this is a low number production hub. You'll not fnd (m)any at your local bike shop.
Pedal on!
Rudy/zonatandem
#12
Likes to Ride Far
Another problem with the Rohloff hub is the gear spacing. It closely matches that of a MTB cassette, with 13.5% increments between gears to achieve it's >500% overall range with 14 gears. I find those kinds of jumps a bit much on a road bike, where I prefer more tightly spaced gears. The Rohloff hubs are quite popular with MTBers and tourers in Germany and many other parts of northern Europe. However, I think Rohloff needs to make a second model with around 11% increments and a 400% gear range if they want to get into the road bike market.
There are options available to mount the shifter on drop bars, which include this and this, but they are far from ideal.
There are options available to mount the shifter on drop bars, which include this and this, but they are far from ideal.
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Roadies ride what racers ride and the Rohloff will always be too heavy compared to derailleur-driven, external cogsets... never mind eliminating a quick rear wheel change with the added step of disconnecting and reconnecting the shifting cables or other complications on the drive-side if a chain tensioner wasn't used (more added weight).
It's simply best suited for trekking, commuting, touring and MTB'g. Again, a great idea for a grand touring tandem where weight and close-ratio drives aren't a major consideration.
Last edited by TandemGeek; 03-27-10 at 07:50 AM.
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There's not need to modify the rear drop-out. You simply use a bolt-on reaction arm, similar to what you'd use with an Arai drum brake on a tandem that didn't have a Pac-Man fitting brazed on to the frame.
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The reduced efficiency would literally be a drag on a tour, would it not? If it is as best 96-97% efficient, and is 1-2% less efficient than a conventional set-up, those watts lost to heat which were no big deal on a commute or jaunt to the coffee shop, might reduce the joy of a 75 mile ride.
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The reduced efficiency would literally be a drag on a tour, would it not? If it is as best 96-97% efficient, and is 1-2% less efficient than a conventional set-up, those watts lost to heat which were no big deal on a commute or jaunt to the coffee shop, might reduce the joy of a 75 mile ride.
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I would agree a Rohloff may not be for many based on price and weight. As for it's applications, there are many positive attributes.
I notice many tandems are built with a moderately wide ratio rear gearset. Very similar to the Rohloff. So in this respect it's not all bad.
Those wanting or needing a closer spacing, should with little effort be able to run a front der setup and with careful chanring selection build an even spaced 28 speed that should have no problem finding the right gear.
Another benefit of the Rohloff is how it can be shifted. While at the STR last year, a large group of riders came to a "T" in the road during Sundays ride. As luck would see it, the stop sign was ours. The stopping location was on a short slight climb. This left a few teams not in a proper gear to pull away. Some even just fell over as they attempted to get moving. A Rohloff in this situation can be pedaled backwards to the gear of choice which could limit these gear choice mistakes.
I have ridden a Rohloff equipped MTB, not mine but a friends. With the weight being low and virtually at the hubs center this wasn't even noticed.
The most notable feature was the shifting, much simpler and less time from gear to gear. especially on a downshift. A slight overrunning of the wheel will accomplish the shift.
Outside of how it performs, these hubs are able to let a bike be built with non tandem specific cranks, a right side drive is no problem thereby saving a bit of weight on the stoker cranks. In theory, it could be possible to run a right side Gates timing setup with a Rohloff rear hub.
Most riders admit that when new there is more drag, but typically once bedded in, the units run very smooth and efficient, requiring a fluid change each year.
As I said these aren't for everyone, especially if you are on the minimum weight program. But they are neat.
PK
I notice many tandems are built with a moderately wide ratio rear gearset. Very similar to the Rohloff. So in this respect it's not all bad.
Those wanting or needing a closer spacing, should with little effort be able to run a front der setup and with careful chanring selection build an even spaced 28 speed that should have no problem finding the right gear.
Another benefit of the Rohloff is how it can be shifted. While at the STR last year, a large group of riders came to a "T" in the road during Sundays ride. As luck would see it, the stop sign was ours. The stopping location was on a short slight climb. This left a few teams not in a proper gear to pull away. Some even just fell over as they attempted to get moving. A Rohloff in this situation can be pedaled backwards to the gear of choice which could limit these gear choice mistakes.
I have ridden a Rohloff equipped MTB, not mine but a friends. With the weight being low and virtually at the hubs center this wasn't even noticed.
The most notable feature was the shifting, much simpler and less time from gear to gear. especially on a downshift. A slight overrunning of the wheel will accomplish the shift.
Outside of how it performs, these hubs are able to let a bike be built with non tandem specific cranks, a right side drive is no problem thereby saving a bit of weight on the stoker cranks. In theory, it could be possible to run a right side Gates timing setup with a Rohloff rear hub.
Most riders admit that when new there is more drag, but typically once bedded in, the units run very smooth and efficient, requiring a fluid change each year.
As I said these aren't for everyone, especially if you are on the minimum weight program. But they are neat.
PK