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Re: New to the List - internal hub gears
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Jim Baross
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Jun 09, 2005 23:03 PDT
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Dhad:
There is only a very slight hesitation used, no need to pause, between
gears on the 7-speed Shimano's I have. This is similar to the deraileur
systems I use where a slight lightening of pedal pressure is needed so that
the chain can disengage and move without grinding between cogs.
"Momentum?" Never been an issue... one of my commuter bikes is quite heavy.
I normally accomplish several up-shifts, like usually three - from 3rd gear
to 5th, when crossing an intersection from a stop. Shifting is soo easy
that I can move through several gears with ease, I don't find myself
standing out of the saddle at all - except on extreme hills. On my
deraileur geared bikes I often, and usually see others, standing on the
pedals to start from a stop or to accelerate. Shifting with the internal
gears is so easy that I downshift easily to the right lower gear so that I
don't need to stand and can up shift, as I said, several times while the
guys w/deraileurs are still standing and pedaling until they get to a
comfortable cadence.
You may call it a burden to need to select the right gear before
stopping... and it is. I think that's why so many bicyclists need to stand
on the pedals to start up or accelerate when they could have chosen a gear
appropriate for the start or acceleration and quickly shifted through
progressively higher gears as needed.
So, you don't have situations, especially and more likely in dense City
traffic, in which you had to come to an abrupt/unplanned/unanticipated stop
and after stopping found yourself in a gear combination that was difficult
or impossible to start from without pushing off with a foot on the ground
or standing and straining on the pedals? I just spent five days
experiencing New York City traffic using a Bike Friday New World Tourist.
They have a combo gearing system - single chainring, six or more cogs with
rear deraileur and an internal three-speed hub. I found it very easy to get
through heavy and other traffic by choosing a middle cog and switching
between the three hub gears as needed... sometimes after having to come to
a fast stop due to some cabbie pulling over in front of me to grab a
customer. I had no trouble keeping up with or passing other bicyclists I
came across... and beating them away from full stops since most of the time
they were in too high a gear to accelerate quickly and easily from a stop.
I will grant you that the range - high to low - for most of the internal
hub gears is not as wide as many deraileur systems, especially those with
triple chainrings.
And, two other negatives to internal gears - they are heavier but not
extremely so when you weigh all the parts of the deraileur systems, and
they apparently have a power transfer penalty - slightly less efficient.
Jim (no, I don't sell these) Baross
At 10:12 PM 6/9/2005, chaad thomas wrote:
| | Jim,
While there may be more "modern" internally geared hubs than I've ridden,
I'd be surprised if you are suggesting that they shift more quickly and with
more surety than the "modern" derailleur... Can you clarify your statements?
On the IG hubs I've ridden, none shifted under power, so I had to pause,
shift, then resume pedaling.
What about momentum!
If some are burdened by needing to select the right gear before stopping,
for others, it's more important to be able to quickly hit shifts while
accelerating back up to cruising speed.
Certainly there are pros/cons on both sides (although I admit to seeing
fewer IG hub pros the more I consider the subject)...
--Chaad
| | From: Jim Baross <JimBa-@cox.net>
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 21:27:51 -0700
To: chaad-@sbcglobal.net, commuter-@topica.com
Subject: Re: New to the List - internal hub gears
I must disagree somewhat about the internal gear hubs.
At 07:54 PM 6/4/2005, you wrote:
snip
| | One of the cooler factory commuter bikes is from Burley, it's steel with
grease ports at the BB, rigid fork, front disc brake, and plenty of
rack/fender mounts (except at the front fork, but clamps should work
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there).
| | | | I forget the model name, but it was in the catalog this past winter. Some
of them they're spec'ing with internal geared rear hubs, but you can't
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shift
| | | | under power, so they are very unsporting! Low maintenance, but low
performance, too.
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With very little practice most people can learn to get quicker shifts and
surer shifts from the modern internal gear hubs... And we can shift to any
gear while at a stop - no more need to downshift before stopping or being
stuck at a stop in too high a gear. For urban commuting I find the internal
hub gears very "sporting".
Jim Baross
Chair, SANDAG Bicycle Pedestrian Working Group
Vice Chair, Calif. Bicycle Advisory Committee
Vice President, Calif. Association of Bicycle Organizations
Board Member, Calif. Bicycle Coalition
Spokesperson, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition
Member, San Diego Coalition for Transportation Choices
Member, SANDAG Walkable Communities Committee
Treasurer, Bicycle Transportation Institute
former So. Calif. Area Rep, League of American Bicyclists
League Trainer & Effective Cycling Instructor #185 K-C
"Cyclists should expect and demand safe accommodation on our public roads,
just as does every other user.
Nothing more is expected. Nothing less is acceptable."
Jack R. Taylor
"Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles."
John Forester
"Same Roads Same Rules Same Rights"
SDCBC
"Roads are for people, not just for people in cars."
Jim Baross
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