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#1
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Uncompromising German Engineering
Rohloff hubs. http://www.rohloff.de
Check out this video (no sound) http://www.rohloff.de/en/download/video/mix/speedhub_production/index.html
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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman |
#2
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Absolutely!!! 14 speeds in a bike hub. Nobody but Germans could ever hope to pull it off.
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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm. |
#3
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They recommend an oil change every 3000 miles.
Darn things are $1k each too.
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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman |
#4
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Shamwows are also made in Germany. Think of it.
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1984 300TD |
#5
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These hubs seem to be reasonably popular with certain recumbent bike and trike owners.
The main advantage is that it can be shifted between gears while stopped, has evenly spaced gears, and on 20" wheel bikes/trikes, avoids having a derailleur cage that clears the ground by about 1-2", which can be a bit sticky on off-road rides. (But if you are using more than one chain ring in front, you will need a derailleur-like rear tensioner to take up chain slack, which eliminates this advantage). The big downsides are cost, complexity/weight penalty, noise in some gears, and about a 4% decrease in efficiency. Also, with fatter rear tires, the rear wheel may need to be 'dished' diffferently, and is sometimes a bit less strong than a non-Rohlof wheel. Finally, getting it serviced or repaired on a bike tour is a problem. Local bike shops can do at least a half-a$$ed job repairing/adjusting derailleur systems, but usually have never seen a Rohlof. The 'other' German gearing innovation is the internally planetary geared Schlump drives, http://www.schlumpf.ch/antriebe_engl.htm which have a single gear ring in front, with internal selection of a different gear range. This has many of the same advantages/disadvantages as the Rohlof rear hub system, but allows the equivalent of 2 front chain rings with no need for a front derailleur - front gear change is done by hitting the button in the center of the crankset with the heel of your shoe. http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/trikes/gears.htm
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John 2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500 2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350 1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD) Click to see 87 300E Last edited by JCE; 05-02-2009 at 12:57 AM. |
#6
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Does anyone know why Germans over engineer most things?
Is there some national unspoken rule ?
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2010 W212 E350 Sport 1996 W210 E320 (220K miles) |
#7
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The 4% decrease in efficiency is vs. a perfectly tuned derailleur system. To me that's hardly noticeable when you're pedaling for fun and not for speed. Rohloffs don't belong on a race bike, but for plain old riding they can't be beat. When my derailleur system wears out on my cargo bike I'm gonna go with a Rohloff.
I don't know why Germans overengineer things, but I like German products.
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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman |
#8
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The Germans over engineer stuff, because it keeps them in their workshop with their tools and their beer, and most importantly, away from their wives.
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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein 09 Jetta TDI 1985 300D |
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