Concerning the parts and mechanism of bike gearing, both internal and external. Multi-speed, single-speed, fixed and freewheel.
22
votes
6answers
3k views
What's the efficiency of hub gears compared to derailleurs?
What's the efficiency of hub gears compared to derailleurs. I know that hub gears are not as efficient, a part from being heavier, how much will I loose in performance if I use hub gear?
12
votes
5answers
9k views
How often should I grease and repack my hubs and bottom bracket?
I am commuting 7 miles a day (round trip) in all weather in New England (temperate, moderately wet climate, cold winters). Overall I am putting about 1000 miles per year on my commuter bike, a 2009 ...
10
votes
3answers
3k views
do DT Swiss 240 hubs need proprietary tools to maintain them?
the bearings in my DT Swiss 240 hub appear to be shot, I have the toolkit for and am used to maintaining Chris King hubs but I wonder if I have to get special proprietary tools for the DT hubs as ...
7
votes
4answers
3k views
Bottle dynamo vs. hub dynamo
I have SpinPOWER usb charger kit, and I am using a bottle dynamo with it. I have heard that the power output from a hub dynamo is higher than from a bottle dynamo. Does anyone have any information ...
6
votes
2answers
129 views
Why are hub shells such different diameters?
I'm curious: why are some hub shells much larger diameter than others? Is it an aesthetic consideration? Or are there cost/functionality tradeoffs? Take for example this Dura-Ace hub -- pretty ...
6
votes
1answer
314 views
Any experience about radially-laced hub flanges actually breaking?
Most hub manufacturers forbid lacing spokes radially, mostly because there is less material in the radial direction away from a flange hole than in the standard 3-cross, tangential lacing.
(UPDATE: ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I change my single-speed to a fixed gear?
I've been biking on single-speed for a few months and would like to play around with a fixed gear. I've heard of a flip-flop hub, but I'm not sure exactly what it is. And without any fellow bikers - ...
5
votes
3answers
774 views
Convert fixed gear to coaster bike
I want to convert my fixed gear 700c bike (raleigh rush hour) to coaster break bike. Can anyone recomend the best way to do this. Can anyone recomend a good coaster rear hub or coaster rear wheel?
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Trouble getting the right cup and cone hub adjustment
I have a pair of Shimano XT wheels and recently had issues with the hub on the rear wheel requiring new cones and bearings. These were fitted carefully but I've had issues getting the right adjustment ...
5
votes
1answer
99 views
Can I replace a 9spd freehub with a 7spd one?
On my commute this morning I established that my freehub needs replacing. There's obviously something wrong with the ratchet mechanism, because it intermittently refuses to engage.
My existing setup ...
4
votes
5answers
245 views
Fixed gear wheel hard to spin
My wheel feels harder to spin than usual. I just put new tires on, and at first I thought a tire must be rubbing, but that's not the case. Seems like the hub might just be gunked up inside, but I'm ...
4
votes
5answers
4k views
7-speed MTB cassette on 8/9-speed wheel hub, where does spacer go?
Sheldon Brown says "Add a 4.5 mm spacer before installing a 7-speed cassette on an 8-, 9-, or 10-speed hub", but doesn't seem to show spacer placement in any picture. My direct experience is that the ...
4
votes
2answers
442 views
I assambled rear wheel hub, but now rear wheel is not turning freely
I disassambled/assambled rear wheel hub, but now rear wheel is not turning freely, what have i done wrong?
4
votes
1answer
115 views
How do I remove the freewheel side of a flip flop hub?
I've got one of those flip flop hubs, and I need to remove the freewheel side and either service or replace it as it has started slipping really badly. What tools do I need?
4
votes
1answer
134 views
Should cassette “wiggle”
Recently My freehub broke and so I removed the cassette to replace the freehub and noticed, whilst off the bike, 4 of the remaining bolted together 8 sprockets wiggled (4 wiggled together but ...
4
votes
2answers
737 views
Sturmey Archer 3-Speed Hub Slipping?
I'm about to go look at a 1972 Raleigh. The seller says that the bike slips out of third gear into neutral. Is this a simple fix (e.g. a cable adjustment), or should I stay away from such a ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Can a Shimano Alfine 8 speed be reduced to 120mm hub spacing?
I would like to buy a single-speed bike that happens to have 120mm hub spacing, and add the Shimano Alfine 8-speed hub. That hub, however, seems to have a 135mm spacing.
Can the 8-speed Alfine hub be ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
How to set up bike so that back-pedalling stops the rear wheel?
My first bike was a 1976 Raleigh Strika. It was brilliant and was distinguished by having only a front brake lever. To get the rear wheel to stop one simply back-pedalled. This was a v. efficient way ...
4
votes
1answer
243 views
Mountain bike axle diameters
Out of interest I would like to understand the benefits of having a 15mm or 20mm through axle over a 9mm QR (and a 10mm vs. a 12mm TA on the rear).
What difference does it make to the ride?
3
votes
6answers
555 views
How to build a wheel
I'm in the planning stage of building a new bike. This will be a light road bike for city runs and transport. For racing I have other bikes.
I'd like to build the bike from ground up by assembling ...
3
votes
7answers
421 views
Is there such thing as a freewheel that doesn't click?
The clicking sound of the freewheel on my singlespeed when it's coasting is annoying for me, so I flipped over my back wheel and rode fixed for a few months in blissful silence. But having to pedal ...
3
votes
1answer
390 views
Why are axle cone nuts on the left side of a bike not reverse threaded?
I recently discovered that the adjustable sealed bearing cartridges on my rear hub failed prematurely because one of the "cones" (cartridge shoulder nuts) had somehow tightened itself, putting undue ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
How did my rear freewheel become incredibly tight overnight?
I got a flat yesterday morning after a normal ride, walked my bike inside the house and propped it upside-down (like this) overnight. This morning, I changed the flat and put on some brand new tires ...
3
votes
1answer
269 views
Phil Wood Hubs: Anyone had a Pawl go?
I got front & rear Phil Wood hubs for a touring setup back in Oct of 2011. I'd been using them for commuting to work -- averaging 20 KM a day. Except I'd been off the bike for the month of ...
3
votes
1answer
155 views
Am I going to do any damage by swapping cassettes frequently?
I've got a separate wheelset for cylocross riding and road riding. Would it be detrimental to the life of my cassette or hubs If I swapped the cassette between my road and off-road wheelset ...
3
votes
3answers
858 views
Can I lace my hub with all inward or outward facing spoke heads?
It seems conventional wisdom says to alternate inward vs outward spoke heads going around the flange when lacing a wheel, like this:
However, I'm wondering what the reason for this is, and if it ...
2
votes
1answer
767 views
How do I clean the inside of a freehub?
I didn't know any better and I let degreaser drip into the freewheel body of my Shimano FH-RM65. Now it makes a terrible retching noise when it rotates.
How do I clean the inside of this thing?
...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
practical pro and contra for Nuvinci CVT especially for hilly terrain
I'm thinking of buying new bike next year, most probably combo for exercise & commuting in summer. Since terrain is relatively hilly here and both fixed city-bike and casual combo with 3x7 gears ...
2
votes
2answers
126 views
More freehub removal problems.
So helpful folks here helped me get the cog and lockring off, and now I'm stuck with this. I looked on Park's website again for "removal of freewheel" help, but mine didn't fit with any of the ...
2
votes
1answer
319 views
How to grease a hub?
I have a question about hub,
When should I grease my hub ? every 20000 km ?
How do I know it needs new grease ?
Because I can not see if the grease is dry or not...?
Thanks
2
votes
3answers
573 views
How do I know if my cone/cap/bearings need to be adjusted?
I have a custom road bike with (mostly) Shimano parts. I love to ride but I'm not so strong on the technical side.
I have quick-release wheels; I regularly (3-4 times a year) put the bike in a bag ...
2
votes
1answer
195 views
Suspension Fork Axles
I'm looking to upgrade my suspension forks from Rock Shox Dart 3 to something like Rock Shox Sektor RL.
A lot of the forks have either a 15 or 20 mm axle, or 'Maxle'. What does this mean? Will this ...
2
votes
1answer
723 views
Can I replace steel bearings with ceramic bearings?
I'm using WH-550 from Shimano, can I replace my steel bearing balls with ceramic bearing balls?
2
votes
1answer
337 views
How to service a 1995 Schwinn Phantom Coaster Brake hub?
I have a 1995 Schwinn Phantom beach cruiser with a coaster brake that I'd like to service. The coaster brake is staring to feel sloppy and hasn't been looked at in a long time.
What tools will I ...
2
votes
1answer
122 views
Has Shimano produced Ultegra 600 Hub Set, 32 hole?
I found this item at an online shop, but can not find infomation about this product. Anyone knows this hub set? and any review infomation available there?
2
votes
1answer
184 views
What hub to purchase for a GT aggressor?
I have a GT Aggressor 1.0
Specs here: http://www.gtbicycles.com/2013/bikes/mountain/trail/aggressor-1-0
Recently on a long ride, the crank started to roll freely after a long downhill. i.e. when ...
2
votes
3answers
3k views
What tool is needed to remove a Shimano HG-50 freewheel?
What tool is needed to remove a Shimano HG-50 freewheel from the wheel hub? It looks like a 12mm or 13mm Allen key. Will this do it or is there some detail I have missed?
2
votes
2answers
717 views
What's the cone wrench size?
What's the cone spanner size for cone nut on Shimano WH-R550 Front wheel ?
Is it 17mm or 18mm ?
I tried with 16, it seems, need more, 1 or 2mm bigger.
Thanks
2
votes
1answer
427 views
Does Enduro make a ceramic hybrid wheel bearing kit for WTB Laser Disc Lite hubs?
I would like to replace the bearings in my front and rear WTB Laser Disc Lite hubs. I'm interested in upgrading the OEM steel bearings to a ceramic hybrid. I've hear that Enduro is a quality ...
2
votes
1answer
192 views
stiff gears and chain coming off while pedalling forward (hub gear)
So I recently replaced the back wheel's tyre on my bike. Got it all fitted back on again, and the chain and everything are in place as they should be. However, changing up gears has become very stiff ...
2
votes
0answers
86 views
Overhauled hubs: still some noise
I've just, for the first time, finished servicing the hubs on my bicycle. They are of the cup & cone type (Shimano). The cones of the front hub where pitted so I got them replaced, along with the ...
1
vote
3answers
849 views
Can a (relative) beginner adjust spacing on a 501 cromo road frame?
Have acquired a cheap old Peugeot road bike from ebay; nice cromo frame, but it needs a new rear wheel and unfortunately I didn't check the dropout size before buying.
It has an OLD of ~120mm, but I ...
1
vote
2answers
238 views
How do I take apart the axle and freehub on this bike
I have a long wheelbase recumbent built by Sun Bicycles. There are some complications with finding out what kinds of components went into the interior of the bike. Brakes and shifters have their ...
1
vote
2answers
231 views
Singlespeed Hub - Rear Axle Swap
I have two sets of wheels, both laced to surly singlespeed hubs (the older "new" hubs, not the "ultra new" hubs which seem to make this process much easier).
Anyway the wheelset I like better has a ...
1
vote
2answers
263 views
Small amount of wobble in wheel
If I grab my [suspension] forks tightly and push against the wheel sideways, there is a slight amount (few millimeters on 26" wheel) of play/wobble from the axle/hub. The QR is done up tightly. Is ...
1
vote
3answers
204 views
One vs Two Piece Axle?
After finding out my bike has a road rear (130 mm) & disc brakes, it's been difficult to source rear hubs. Cyclocross allows disc brakes, and more commuter/cx frames are appearing but all seem to ...
1
vote
1answer
212 views
What is this point of this Phil Wood “Rohloff Disc Rotor Compatible Hub”?
http://www.philwood.com/products/hubspgs/rohldisc.php
As far as I can figure it is for people with Rohloff-equipped touring bikes so that they have the same rotor bolt pattern on their front and rear ...
1
vote
1answer
428 views
Is there a tool (or preferred method) for removing the snapring that holds the cog on a coaster brake hub?
I was overhauling a coaster hub the other day. The snapring was recessesed and no screwdriver in my arsenal was small enough to remove the piece.
Park recommends using a small screwdriver to remove ...
1
vote
1answer
93 views
How much “play” is normal in a Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub?
I inherited a bike with a Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub (Sturmey Archer AW, from 1984).
I am very familiar with free-wheels and cassete hubs, but this is fairly new to me, although I did some research ...
1
vote
1answer
152 views
Freehub has started slipping, what can I do?
I've just gone through the london winter and both my bikes now have a slipping freehub. Admittedly my mountain bikes' freehub is quite old and probably worn out, but I'm wondering if they are seized ...
