EBB or Sliding Dropouts? – Rohloff Custom Frame

I am aware of that cynical, I meant that I’ve experienced being able to adjust the chain tension from the hub end and from the bb end. I was aware of the EBB creaking issues but this hasn’t been my experience so far but I generally ride in dry conditions here in Spain.

Well I’ll have to put my initial EBB scepticism aside for now then as they do seem to have won the unofficial VS battle. I think this probably sums it up rather than which is best.

Whichever you choose (assuming you choose a good quality implementation of each) you almost certainly won’t end up constantly wishing you’d chosen the other.

My first choice for the frame build seems to favour EBB so thought I’d get a bit more info on them other than from the builder.

They produce a frame I like but are at the top end price wise once I’ve factored in my specific changes but what the hell. I’m worth it 👍

Cheers for the input everyone. Very helpful

EBB – but it has to be a Bushnell

Agree. I have used 4 different EBBs, (Cannondale, Sanderson, Dialled and Bushnell) and the Bushnell was by far the best.

What frame material are you looking at for the custom build? I only ask because a few years ago I spoke to Enigma about an Ego with an EBB for my Rohloff. They said they wouldn’t recommend that in a Ti frame and their preference was for the Alternator dropouts which do look good. It was at Bespoked so I didn’t get time to go into why they don’t like EBB’s but assume it could be a creaking issue. I’ve certainly never had such issues myself but my frame is steel.

They said they wouldn’t recommend that in a Ti frame and their preference was for the Alternator dropouts which do look good.

Materials must come into it for some things. It may be based on just what they prefer to build with and how they build. As OP says above there’s good examples of both and I’d go with the builder’s experience to get a good frame overall.
I’ve got a steel and a ti bike each with a Bushnell, same BB shell ID etc and can’t say there’s been any difference in use, noise or operation between them. Both bikes get plenty of use and little maintenance.

I’ve had two alloy frames with EBB for Rohloff hubs & when clean they are great but once they get covered in mud, out come the Allen keys to take out the slack that has the chain slapping on the chainstay & as soon as you loosen the wedge you feel the grit getting in & it’s a full strip down, clean & regrease of all the BB parts & shell or else the creaks will ruin the ride.

So EBB – fine in theory but in practice I’d not have another one, I’ve gone full circle back to a simply QR dropouts & tensioner.