Managed to discipline myself to ride 1x 9 on the Quantocks today .Simply not changing out of the middle ring .So this got me thinking .Make it proper winter proof and look at an Alfine wheel .How are these shaping ?Practical or some drawbacks ?I must say i would be reluctant to ditch the Pro 3 wheel i have at the moment and haven't checked out the price .Bikes a Hummer B.T.W. just out of interest .
How much would a complete wheel cost ?
Bike Forum
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Alfine is this a real viable option ?
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Posted 1 year ago #
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this interests me. genesis put it on one of thier bikes and sell it as a hassle free all year round mtb.
just read the review on bikeradar and they sound good and would be easier than a 1x9 as the lowest gear equates to a 38 tooth sprocket on a derailier system http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/hubs/product/alfine-disc-hub-31670
'The eight-speed gear range is more than enough for regular town and country use. If you’re interested in the numbers, the gear ratios are: 0.53, 0.64, 0.75, 0.85, 1, 1.22, 1.42 and 1.62. With a 20-tooth sprocket on hub, this approximately imitates the gears on a 12-38-tooth cassette.'
Posted 1 year ago # -
Think of riding a 2 X 8 with every 2nd gear missing and thats kinda what a 8 speed alfine is like, there good if you can track stand
Posted 1 year ago # -
Next ride, keep it in one gear 8-;
Posted 1 year ago # -
Just did whites level today, with a mate who has an alfine-eqipped 29er in-bred. He has a single chainring, and he likes the hassle free nature of it. No issues so far, in about 4 months...
Posted 1 year ago # -
I like the hassle free nature of my triple.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Next time my drivetrain needs sorting out I think I'll get an alfine, seems like so much less hassle so long as they last long enough to justify the cost.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'd go for the 11 speed if you can afford it for no other reason than it uses an oil bath and therefore maintenance should be a lot easier than the 8 speed.
Posted 1 year ago # -
hearsay is 11s blow up.
Posted 1 year ago # -
The 8sp is exactly the range of an conventional 1x9. You can alter the overall gearing with either the rear sprocket or front chainring. I have a gear claculator for it if anyone wants a copy - or there is one on sheldon browns site It just works is all. A bit hefty and the weight at the back, jumps between ratios are not even and a bit wide in places.
But it just works, No chainsuck, no clattering gears, no missed shifts. Chains and chainrings last longer. I don't find the drag noticable tho some folk do. No one seems to break then either.
Its not as good as a dérailleur set up that is clean and well lubed - but the rest of the time its loads better
Posted 1 year ago # -
@cynic-al - where have you seen said that 11sp Alfine hubs aren't reliable?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I have one on a charge duster. It's my only bike and I love it. I had a smug sense of satisfaction watching everyone ride through the grinding paste that was cannock today ! I would say it does depend on where you ride though. Where I am you can do it all on a 100mm steel Alfine hardtail. All IMO obviously.
Posted 1 year ago # -
My mate has been running one for about 18 months all good I believe.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I was out with a lad from my club a couple of weeks ago and his Alfine had frozen in the one gear, tbf it was brass monkeys but something worth considering.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thats one way of solving the hummer chainsuck issue
Posted 1 year ago # -
2 yrs, 3500 miles, one service (more to have a nosey than owt else) no missed gear change, 2 chains and 1 chainring, can even change gear mid trackstand. Scottoiler fitted, all i do is wash off the road salt once a week, thats it, job sorted.
Prob only drawack id the weight all out the back, other than that, do it.Posted 1 year ago # -
loving mine, got word yesterday that the 11spd bits have started to arrive at bike shop.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Have been running an Alfine for 14 months. Never touched it, barely cleaned drivetrain and never lubed the cable. Been faultless all this time until Boxing day, after having been left in a van overnight at -10deg. Not sure if it was the cable sticking or the hub, but was jumping gears for the whole ride and only way I could get gears 1 to 4 was to "manually" move the arm. It's fine again now it's been warmed up. But might even lube the cable in 2011!
Posted 1 year ago # -
the 11 spd shifter feels a bit dawg after using xtr. it would annoy me more than the weight of the whole thing.
Posted 1 year ago # -
my housemate grumbles a bit about gear '5' jumping if he pedals too hard, does this sound familiar to anyone?
(8 speed alfine)
i've just ordered one myself for £130 from on-one.
(+ £25 shifter)
(+ £10 20tooth sprocket)
(+ £15 tensioner)
(+ £40 for a nice rim)
(+ £40 for spokes and a good builder)
£260 by the time it's built and ready. i'm a geek, and i have a pair of calibrated scales, watch this space...
Posted 1 year ago # -
The shifting problems sound like cable maintenance or maladjustment problems to me.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I suspect when mine did it it was ice in the cable
Posted 1 year ago # -
DoctorRad - another thread here, maybe the weight one. Hearsay only as stated.
Interesting that the transmission lasts longer tj, that's counter intuitive to me.
Posted 1 year ago # -
stumcgroo's thread is brilliant, and a link to it should be used as the standard response to any 'weight / weight shift' waffle about alfine.
but, he hasn't provided a weight for the hub itself, so i'm keen to see for myself...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Al- because you can use it beyond when it starts to wear and the sprocket are full tooth engagement and the chain does not have to flex side to side /
Posted 1 year ago # -
2 years of proper riding in shite, did a bonty 24/12 on it, a coupla NPS races getting my best result ever in one.
washed 3-4 times, had to adjust the ebb 2-3 times and my axel bolts have had to be tightened a few times because of the trailer hitch i have. oiled the chain a few times and it's still shifting first time perfectly.
spin out on roads at 32:20, but can get up pretty much everything i used to. weight is at the back, but it feels planted when scooting over stuff, only notice the weight when going over a style.
like it so much i got another for the cx bike.
Posted 1 year ago # -
had an 8 speed alfine for two years and it never missed a beat. after a ride i just oiled the chain and that was it. if i was being picky i would say that the spacig between the gears was not consistent but once you got used to it, it wasnt an issue. Also some people ask about the weight all over the back - yes it is but you adapt your riding style to suit.
i was so impressed with hub gears i got myself a 2nd hand Rohloff and have it fitted to both the hardtail and full-sus.
Posted 1 year ago # -
We have a demo IOID that I've been riding since the thaw, it gives a bigger range than the 1x9 option. I had forgotten how quiet it was especially in the mud when your mechs are grinding. Real and Viable for sure
Posted 1 year ago # -
@Saccades - what was your old bottom gear? Would you say your climbing has improved since (not necessarily as a result of) using the Alfine?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks for all that chaps plenty of food for thought .Andy you are a NAUGHTY BOY !!!!!!
Posted 1 year ago # -
@Saccades - what was your old bottom gear? Would you say your climbing has improved since (not necessarily as a result of) using the Alfine?
was on a 11-34 cassette and 22 tooth granny ring, so the bottom alfine is about 2-3 gears up from bottom on that.
I dunno about improved - but as I can't drop down to such a low level with the alfine (I'm a clysedale, so very slow on the climbs at the end of a spin) I'm definitly a bit faster compared to equiv companions. Have to work a bit harder, more out of the saddle though.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Not sure if this applies to Alfines, but had a demo ride with a Rohloff and the fluid in it froze at not far below 0, probably not froze solid, but certainly congealed enough to make shifting awkward. Not ideal if intended use is on a winter bike.
Could be what Fieldmarshall had?Posted 1 year ago # -
Not sure if this applies to Alfines, but had a demo ride with a Rohloff and the fluid in the froze at not far below 0, probably not froze solid, but certainly congealed enough to make shifting awkward. Not ideal if intended use is on a winter bike.
Could be what Fieldmarshall had?If you ride in very cold conditions you can add a bit of the cleaning oil to the hub which overcomes the problem.
Posted 1 year ago # -
i rode at minus 5ish with no bother except the forks were very sluggish, alfine was fine
Posted 1 year ago #
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