I feel like being a bit of a tease this morning. My 2,000 words on the subject.

Zorro, how do you plan to mount a nine speed cassette to an old Brampton (Sturmey Archer copy) IGA? Your 81 speed intrigues me! As some might remember I have an 81 speed Cannondale which is built around a SRAM Dual Drive IGH. Also during the past month I've turned my Dahon Folder into a 54 speed travel bike with another Dual Drive build.

Stop teasing and start revealing!

Interesting tease. A Super Course with a triple crank and S-A? Looks like the 15-tooth cog would make it my ideal range. EDIT: Looks like Pastor Bob has it figured out, if a 9-speed could be cobbled to the Sturmey!

The calculator's option were limiting. I just needed to do the math.

Dang. 3,000 words.

Will I see that in Kentucky?

My OCD would go off the chart with that thing.

Hopefully

Ah hah! A SA cassette hub. Maybe one day we can challenge each other to a stump pulling contest with our lowest of low gears. Looks like my low-low-low has your beat by over 13 gear inches!

Is that the bike you ride up and down Mt. Washington?

That's just ridiculous. And I want one.

It will. With Wald handlebars even.

So, riding up staircases in your future?

Nah. Pastor Bob is the fellow who wants to risk stripping out all his planetary gears with his 12 gear inches.

Yupper.

I'll admit I've never heard of a dual drive before. That just opens all kinds of bahstudized possibilities!!!

I really don't want to derail Zorro's thread. However, SRAM Dual Drives have been around for at least 25+ years. The prior company Sachs, made a 7 speed version by the mid '90s and with SRAM there have been 8 and 9 speed cassette versions. My Cannondale MTB framed "Comfort" bike came equipped with a 1X9X3 Dual Drive in 2003. I converted it to a 3X9X3 system about 6-7 years ago.



This winter I've been working on upgrades to my Dahon folding travel bike (yes, it fits in a suitcase and flys for free on Southwest!). I stumbled upon a 20" (406mm) Dual Drive wheel on ebay and I couldn't resist. I ended up finding a matching rim Biologic Joule II dynamo hub with the same rim for a matching wheelset. It is a 2X9X3 system. The set up is not quite perfected yet, so the final is yet to be seen and will not be as pictured below. I'm planning on a test ride in the church fellowship hall soon and will post a thread in the Folding Bike Forum.

Well, there's a reason if I ever saw one for joining us at the Bourbon and Tobacco Tour. Can't wait to see it. And watch you ride it.

Are there practical reasons for using two derailleurs and an IGH? The way I look at it, you have the worst of both worlds when you combine them. The only plus is that you can impress your friends.

Practical? You're asking a guy who's setting up a bike with 81 gear combinations (77 unique) about practicality? I may want to ride Lake Pepin one of these years.

Tom, there's never anything wrong with trying to make a good impression.

In the case of my current project, the Dahon folding bike, it was a matter of two things:

First, I had previously installed the double crankset (Shimano 105) to replace the el-cheapo single that came with the bike. When I did so I replaced the original wide range 7 speed freewheel with a tight ratio Sachs Aris 8 speed (12-24). This provided me with great range for most of my riding which is beach and coastal when I travel. But the rear wheel was cheap and recently I broke a spoke, and the axle bent. So I was on the hunt for replacement wheels.

Second, I figured if I was upgrading the wheels, maybe I should also widen the range and achieve a lower gear for when I'd need one. When I spotted the Dual Drive 20" wheel (for what I felt was the very good price of $75), I realized my challenge was solved. I could have tight gearing for the flat riding, yet still achieve a decent low when I needed one.

In case of the Cannondale, I was just going for extremes!

One of these days, after retirement, I hope to go on a long unsupported bike trip through Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland, PEI, Nova Scotian, New Brunswick and Maine. Basically a big 3000+ mile circle from my home in NH and back again. I figure I'll need to pull a trailer with my gear. A huge percent of the roads are unpaved and there are some really steep, long, and gravel climbs way up north where the caribou and icebergs roam. My C-Dale should be up for the job.

I fully support [MENTION=19743]USAZorro[/MENTION] in his quest to build an 81 speed road bike. More power to him and all the tinkerers out there who turn dreams into realities!

Easy on the coffee...
"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times...."
OK, it's winter; it's Monday. I understand.

Isn't it actually Tuesday? If it is actually Monday--- boy did I make progress on writing Sunday's sermon already!

First you confirm it's not practical, and then [MENTION=42162]pastorbobnlnh[/MENTION] shows that it can be. Well, whatever. It's fun, that's for sure.

See, we don't know what day it is; we don't know if it's practical, whimsical, or some deep-rooted psychological malfeasance.
It's a jello quagmire. Yep, C&V. Fun, it's about.