Alfine build
 

I'm going to build an Alfine bike this year for a move to Minneapolis. A couple of questions:

Dropouts: Alfine can be run with vertical. I've never used horizontal with disc brakes. Question is; which dropout is more of a pain for wheel installation, and do the horizontal dropouts make disc alignment a pain? Does the chain tensioner make wheel install a chore? (Read it somewhere...don't know why it would be any more troublesome than an RD, but I've never used an IGH.)

Rack: How do you run a rack with seatstay mounted disc calipers? With a cassette, I use an axle/QR mounted rack. Can't do that with an IGH.

I'm looking at a Soma Wolverine (chainstay calipers, clever sliding vertical dropouts), Soma Doublecross disc (vertical drops, will require chain tensioner, has chainstay mounted calipers), or Surly Straggler (though the word is that the dropouts are a huge pain compared to the Wolverine.)

Thoughts?

Derailluer-like chain tensioners are for retro-builds. Don't plan a new build using one; get sliding D.O., horizontal D.O. or eccentric B.B. Direct chain-routes run cleaner and quieter.

Again, don't use if you can avoid. The "solution" is a disc rack with 1" of spacer on each side, placing the panniers 2" further apart, increasing air resistance and reducing space when riding through a gap.

Well, my friend, there's the catch.

Frame with chainstay calipers = vertical drops and chain tensioner.

Frame with sliders or horizontal = seatstay calipers and rack workarounds.

Paragon sliding dropouts are a builders favorite Adjustable Dropouts - all - www.paragonmachineworks.com

the disc caliper mount moves with the disc on the Hub.. the 'Soma Wolverine' appears to have a knock off of those..
perhaps A licensed Copy since Merry Sales Importer [aka Soma] and Paragon are across the SF Bay From Each other.

Eccentric BB also Tensions The Chain , while the Hub disc and Caliper remain in 1 place.

then a Top of the Chainstay Caliper mount Location , solves pannier-rack interference ..


racks that use the skewer can use a 5mm bolt and spacers instead of the Skewer

Higher grade Steel Bolts (8mm hex head marked 8.8 ) were what I Used at the bottom of my Racks ..

they get a dab of paint on them since that is not a Stainless type alloy..

What frames have an eccentric bottom bracket? Or, can an eccentric BB be placed in a standard 68mm english threaded shell?

I'm thinking the chain tensioner might be my easiest bet.

I converted my old 1x1 to a Nexus,and on that frame the track ends + seatstay caliper were a PITA to deal with. A frame with a chainstay caliper mount would be easier to deal with,but with track ends you also have to take into account whether or not you'll be running fenders. The wheel has to be pulled to the rear for removal;fenders will prolly get in the way. Forward facing(semi-horiz) dropouts work much better. Honestly,if you can get sliding dropouts,they work the best. I've owned bikes with track ends,semi's,and sliding,and the sliding were def the best solution. EBB's depend on the specific design;some work well,some are crap. There have been adapters to put EBB's in standard frames,but I've never read any good reviews of them.

Depends how the tensioner is set up. If they're closer to the frame,they can be a bit of a pain,if they hang down more they're pretty much the same as a derailleur.

Salsa Vaya Touring Frameset may come with alternator movable dropouts + chainstay brake.

CoMotion a builder of both Tandems (where an EBB is a Standard way Timing chains are Tensioned) and single bikes for IGH Installs
is one US Builder...