If you were to change the rear hub on your hypothetical or real zipp 808 wheel set to a large diameter internal gear hub like a shimano alfine or a rohlhoff hub would there be a measure able aero dynamic effect?
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Is it currently geared?– paparazzoSep 10, 2014 at 13:14
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yes, just for the sake of a real world comparison– user95786Sep 10, 2014 at 13:28
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Then you need to compare the larger hub to hub cassette and derailleur. The larger hub will have less drag.– paparazzoSep 10, 2014 at 13:41
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1 Answer
There would be a measurable decrease in drag from removing external dérailleurs and gearing, however I would guess that the power loss through an internally geared hub would make such a setup slower rather than faster.
(I have no sources for this)
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1I would like to comment that rohloff themselves state 'the working efficiency of the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 is brought up to 96% (for gears #1 to #7) and 98% (for gears #8 to #14)'and they then go on to say 'This working efficiency is comparable to a derailleur gear system. Common 7-speed gear hubs are reaching only a working efficiency of approx. 90% (gear #1) and 98% (direct drive gear)'. Though I will admit this is hardly impartial and taken straight from there website: rohloff.de/en/technology/efficiency Sep 10, 2014 at 13:32
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I thought the question was about aero drag, making the efficiency of the gear train irrelevant? IMO losing the derailleurs will help, a larger hub is very unlikely to make it more aero... until the hub almost hits the rim :).– MóżSep 12, 2014 at 0:41
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It is about aero drag, but whilst the improvement would be measurable...– EmyrSep 12, 2014 at 5:02