invisiblehand

Thanks for your experiences.

Any reason to think that the Red Band or Alfine will be any better or worse than the basic Nexus?

What is the lowest gear in gear inches that you recommend with the Nexus?

tfahrner

Shimano says the Red Band is better for high torque applications than the basic. We haven't noticed a difference (yet) except a maybe imaginary sense of greater smoothness. Alfine definitely has a silky smoothness about it, and a silent roller clutch. I understand it is mostly the same as Red Band internally, but with some upgrades/improvements.

We gear the basic Nexus 8 in the mid-20 gear inch range routinely without trouble. I don't know offhand what Shimano recommends.

penexpers

I ended up ordering this from Harris Cyclery. Should have it in a couple of weeks. I imagine I will have to build the wheel myself as there is a chronic lack of wheelbuilders around here who build wheels from parts they didn't supply.

penexpers

The Hub came this morning. It really is very heavy. Can't wait to put it on a bike though!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/penexpe...7605769951417/

Elkhound

I've decided that I'll combine a Rolhoff XIV with a Schlumf Speed.

penexpers

That might win an award for the most expensive drivetrain?

Allen

https://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/htm...commuter.shtml
^^^
That combo on a non-longtail. 13-133 gear inches.

Elkhound

My inheritance is finally coming through and I'll be seeing my LBS about ordering the BD next week.

vik 

Any word on what the next batch of BD frames will cost??

Elkhound

Not yet.

B-rizzle

I've got about 1200 miles on my Big Dummy, All conditions, different sized loads, and a little off road. I am running full Shimano Deore with an LX cassette and Gore cables. No problems!

BoulderBiker77

I know its after the fact by a good stretch on what drivetrain you chose, but I second Allen's comments on the Nuvinci, although it actually has a 340% range. It is as quiet as riding a single speed, according to mfg. spec can take even higher torque input than the Rohloff.

Its also quite remarkable always being in the right gear without ever having the perception of a shift. Anyone who tries it usually comes to the same conclusion, its like riding a single speed thats always geared right. I don't regret putting it on our Big Dummy AT ALL. Heavy, yes, but all other strengths accounted for, I'd do it again on this bike.

BoulderBiker77

Oh and I should respond to Todd's (cleverchimp) comments regarding shifting with the Nuvinci, and the pause, shift, guess, pedal.

This is part of the beauty of this hub in my opinion, the CVP. Lets say you're cruising along on the flat and you start to come up on a little hill. you keep pedaling as you were, and just apply a little pressure to the shifter in the direction you need to go to compensate for the hill and in the softer spots of your pedal stroke it inches with each revolution in that direction, so seriously, there's never the scenario described by Todd.

Even while I'm up and pumping up a hilll I do the same thing and it just shifts a touch with each revolution and you just continue to apply a little pressure in the appropriate direction for the change in terrain, and you are ALWAYS in the right gear.

So to sum up, my usage and experience of it is totally opposite to the scenario Todd initially described, and I think the concept pays off handsomely when used that way.

I've used the Nexus hubs a fair bit, and obviously the Nuvinci for several thousand miles, and I think weight weenyism aside, I wouldn't bat an eyelash at the Nuvinci's strengths in real world riding to the Nexus especially where you want something that can take a beating.

Allen

From a previous thread in Commuting:

flatboarder

I have been using a Nexus Inter-8 red line (premium) for several thousands of kilometers, also I have been using 2 Alfine 8-gear hubs in MTBs and finally decided to put another Alfine into my Big Dummy.

The Nexus after 2 years started to make some noise, so I opened it, discovering some corrosion maybe from winter usage with salt and everything. The previous Nexus (SG-8R20/25) hubs suffered from weak seals as to my knowledge and this is exactly what it looked like. Nevertheless after cleaning and greasing it, it still works as it should, but there is still some sort of noise. In my opinion the Alfine hubs are much better. One of my Alfine MTBs was mainly used in winter with lots of salted roads, also considerable uphills even with kid in backseat, where I had to pedal real hard, even with max force. I have been using 34/21 transission ratio. There has been no problem about it up to now, and still there is no noise. Also, the Alfine (1.6kg) is quite lightweighted compared to the others mentioned here.
Due to cheap pricing of it and the ease of use, I decided to use another Alfine for my Big Dummy. And it works as expected. Nevertheless, I cannot yet tell a lot about its durability, but just in case of defects, the inner gearing could be replaced quite cheap and easy, if there is a shop around.

I am using stiff 32H rims with Sapim Force spokes (2.2/1.8/2.0), 3x or 2x spoke pattern (some of my MTB wheels), and I do not see a reason why this should be weak somehow, since there is nearly no radial force onto the hub. I will see. End of August we will be riding in Italy, taking some mountains with the BD and some load on it. I am looking forward.

The NuVinci seems extremely interesting, but I would not like a 4kg rear hub. In case the Alfine hubs get weak, I might consider it.
BTW, previously LX hubs were recommend for the BD in this thread. Since we had several defective (or grinding) LX hubs in former MTBs I would probably think about taking XT parts, just in case durability matters. It is not that much difference in price, but I believe it is better at least when it gets into dirt.

Phil

Update: there was some discussion in this thread about inter-8 vs. inter-8 red line. When I opened my inter-8 redline I made a picture showing both inner setups compared to each other. Upper left is SG-8R25 (red line) after 2 years of usage, below is a new SG-8R20.

penexpers

Does anyone know if I need the Nuvinci Vertical Dropout kit to install the hub on the Big Dummy? I have a chain tensioner.

Thanks.

Elkhound

The man at the LBS persuaded me that the Schlumpf would not add enough extra performance to justify the excess expense.

Val

penexpers: Yes, you will need the Vertical Dropout kit. You may not be able to use the spiffy non turn tab on the drive side, but that is really not necessary. The crucial part is the assymetrical non turn washer on the left side, which allows the axle to sit evenly in the dropouts.

penexpers

Thanks Val. Do you know any shop in Seattle that would be able to supply it in the next week or so? I'm in Ireland but I have a friend over in Seattle for the next week.

Val

penexpers: Pretty much any shop in Seattle should be able to order it and get it the next day. I know this because I work for Seattle Bike Supply, and we have them in stock right now. What your freind needs is the closest shpo that has a good idea of customer service. Let me know where in Seattle they are; perhaps I can provide some direction. Also, what sort of chain tensioner do you have? Many types are not compatible with the NuVinci shift box. I have made several to work with this setup, and I think that the Paul's Melvin and the Rohloff tensioner should have a low enough profile to sit under the shift box.[IMG][IMG]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/vkleitz/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/FB%20Pic%207.jpg[/IMG][/IMG]

Val

Hmmm....sorry about the images, there - I can E-mail them if you like, but maybe you get the idea already.

Elkhound

This weekend a lady was admiring my bike. I told her that it was called "the Big Dummy" and as far as I knew there wasn't another one in the area. She said, "I take it you've never met my husband."

penexpers

I finally got the VDO kit, but now I have discovered the alfine tensioner will not work. The jockey wheels won't line up with the freewheel on the hub. Looking at getting the Paul Melvin now but I have heard the DMR one will work too.

flatboarder

You know the Alfine tensioner needs to be aligned by use of washers included with the kit? What chainline does your hub provide?

penexpers

Yes I understand that it needs to be aligned with washers but there's only 5mm of washers provided and I would estimate I need about 15mm of washers to align the jockey wheels (Shimano recommend a maximum of 5mm, in any case)

As for chainline, I am not sure what this means. I assume it might be the distance from the centre of the dropout to the freewheel?