Originally Posted by
flattie
So now that the nuvinci bikes have been out for a while I find myself preferring the Gen 2 bikes with the Sturmey Archer 3 speeds. Both are somewhat hit or miss in terms of shifting (sturmey's that ghost shift or can't shift into 3rd gear and nuvincis that can't shift into overdrive).
That said, the nuvincis that can shift into overdrive, seem to take more effort to attain the same speed as the sturmey's in 3rd gear. To me it feels as if maybe there is some mechanical loss somewhere in the nuvinci hub that makes it harder to pedal than I experience with the sturmey.
Maybe it's just me but I find myself working harder to maintain the same pace on a nuvinci as I would with the sturmey.
This is based on repeated use over the same path for my commute to/from Brooklyn to downtown Manhattan.
It may not be mechanical loss as much as it may be that overdrive for the Nuvinci is 1.65 gearing (underdrive is .5). Where as the 3rd speed for the SA is 1.33 gearing (1st is .75). So if you are in overdrive you will be working harder because the ratio is higher. Meaning you would have to work "harder" but overall if you have the same cadence count in your head.
About one rotation per Mississippi (60 RPM) you should be moving faster with the Nuvinci than with the SA but it will be harder to turn the Nuvinci. Another way to think of it is if you have a derailleur on your bike and have it in the 14t (SA) and 11t (Nuvinci), give or take a gear inch
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