Carbon Hard Tail Single Speed

Hi there everyone

I have just had my Genesis IO pinched and need to get a new Hard Tail asap as I am cycling across Burma with my Dad in Jan and need to get training!

I would really like to get a carbon hard tail this time – with front suspension. The only caveat is that it must be able to acomodate a Shimano Nexus 8 gear hub, with Coaster Break – as I am unable to operate normal bike breaks.

Would anyone be able to recomend any frames / bikes that would be suitable?

I am open to 29ers or 650bs – although not very tall (5 ft 6) so maybe a 29er would not be ideal.

Many Thanks

On One Lurcher with the horizontal drop-outs?

Cheers Scotroutes

Looks good – is the Lurcher more of a sit upright frame than the Whippet or 456?

Any other suggestions?

PS – does anyone know if there are any shops in London or the South East that sell On One Lurchers – so I could have a test ride?

On One sell direct, so you’ll not find one in a shop anywhere.

Except their own shop in Sheffield(?).

no pressure but on-one have 15% off all frames until midday today…

Just a thought but even though I’m a carbon-phile, it’s worth considering how remote your riding will be an the chances of getting a repair or needing one while doing your trip. If it’s remote then a steel (maybe aluminium) frame might be a better choice just in case.

Also doesn’t the nexus 8 with coaster require some sort of torque arm fitting to the frame? If so, don’t think carbon would be a good choice as it’s great at taking load where it’s designed to but not elsewhere…

EDIT – yes, it does have a torque arm that needs clamping to the chainstay. I’d avoid carbon and go for either something aluminium that’s not superlight or steel with similar caveat or get a frame builder to add the necessary tab.

Cheers Clubber

Do you think I could spread the load from the torque arm with a strip of something rigid?

Anyone know of a Lurcher fitted with a Shimano Nexus 8 or similar hub?

I’m sure that there would be ways to make it work depending on the design of the specific frame but without long term testing you’re taking a risk that half way through your trip, the chainstay cracks/breaks…

Found this (talking about e-bikes but same sort of issue about needing a torque arm though the load would obviously be the other way round (drive rather than braking):

http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=54726

(the reply by Kepler » Mon Oct 28, 2013 1:34 am )

(it’s a bit hard to see but the torque arm goes up from the rear dropout to the rearmost disc brake mount)

Clamping the torque arm to the brake mount is a good idea – it’s hard to say if it could cause issues but the load at least is the same sort of direction as the disc mount is intended and should be the same sort of magnitude so I can see that this could be an option.

The lurcher already has the disc mount down on the chainstay. I’d imagine it would be possible to modify the coaster torque arm or make a little link strut to react the torque back the existing mount. It is only the same amount of brake torque – just coming from a different kind of brake (and a slightly mushy coaster probably can’t exert the same kind of shock loadings as a hydraulic disc anyway).

If you aren’t handy with a saw and drill then someone like Ben at Kinetics bike shop can probably help.

Cheers guys – using the disc mount sounds like a good idea Mick

Thanks for the link Clubber – interesting read