Page 2 - Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike

29-07.-2006, 09:21 AM	#16
gclark8 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Perth (Basso), West Australia Posts: 3,510	Re: Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike I have a friend with a 4 speed, its a bit limiting in the speed range. We are uping the gearing soon, removing the 22t and fiting a 18 or 19t sprocket. Giant now do a new one: http://www.giantbicycles.net/au/030...007&model=10087 __________________ Cheers, George.

29-07.-2006, 12:05 PM	#17
ejls2 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 20	Re: Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike Thanks for the replies all. I'm very glad that people generally seem to like these gears. I'll let you know how my new build progresses. Cheers, Ed

03-08.-2006, 09:26 PM	#18
Black Cat Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: North East England Posts: 13	Re: Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike Further to my contribution last week, I can now confirm that I duly completed the 220 miles over three days ride on my Nexus 7 speed as predicted without a hitch. The bike (and rider!) performing impeccably throughout. The rout involved a climb to 400m which the gears took in their stride too. The bike performed arguably better than my two travelling companions' machines which were derailer equipped machines. In summary this has re-inforced my initial positive thoughts on the bike/hub which had up until now performed in the main as an excellent commuter.

26-10.-2006, 09:50 AM

#19

aubinmg

Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2006

Location: Ottawa

Posts: 20

Re: Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike

Quote:

Originally Posted by rek

I built up my commuter with the older 7-speed Nexus system for a short while. I didn't really like it that much.. the rear wheel felt way too heavy (accelerated like a slug off the lights), and couldn't shift under load whatsoever .. which is something I've gotten used to being able to do with derailleur drivetrains (especially while in traffic -- when I want a gear, I want it). Also, at least with the Nexus-7 that I used, getting the rear wheel off is a TOTAL pain in the arse.

In the end I looked at it, realised I was using an XTR rear mech as a chain tensioner (!) and thought eh, I still have to wash the chain.. may as well go back to a derailleur setup.

I've since built a different commuter bike that I love, actually it's my favourite bike of all I've owned

A cannondale cyclocross frame/fork with 25mm offront suspension (with lockout), drop handlebars (I much prefer these in traffic), 9-speed Tiagra groupset, canti brakes, Ultegra Hubs/DT butted spokes/Open Pro rims, 700x38c tyres @60psi with Mr Tuffys, full-length SKS mudguards, and a frame-mount Topeak rack with a quick-release bag that has expandable side panniers. Oh and a 10W halogen light, whose battery fits perfectly in the little bit of free space between the seatstay, seat tube and rear fender.

The only thing that's stopping it from being my idea of the absolutely perfect commuting/all-weather machine is disc brakes. But if you're going custom-built frame, you can always get a bike built to cyclocross (or comfort road) geometry with the rack and disc mounts

I know it's a common thing for peoples' commuter bikes to be 'beaters', but the way I see it, so long as you can keep it secure both at work and at home, it's worth not compromising the build. After all, it's the bike you'll end up riding most of the time. If you don't really like it, you won't want to use it much... especially if you have a long commute.

Wow! I'd love to see a picture of that.

26-10.-2006, 12:05 PM	#20
garage sale GT Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,113	Re: Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike Get on Amazon and check out Cadillac AV-8 or Cadillac AV-8.0i. It's a bike with a Sturmey Archer 8-speed drum brake hub and drum brake front hub. They're blowing them out for $250 which is probabaly what you'd pay for the hubs. I have about 150 miles commuting on mine and except for the fact that the seat was a piece of crap it seems to be doing fine. The hub is exceptionally smooth and while I am sure there is a slight difference in drag between it and my Deore-equipped Raleigh trail bike, I just don't feel it and I complete my 11.1 mile commute in the same time. It's a great bike, and you can leave the stupid backrest off. I don't know why they are selling them so cheap but the hubs alone are worth $250. I paid $300 for mine in August.

26-10.-2006, 10:41 PM

#21

aubinmg

Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2006

Location: Ottawa

Posts: 20

Re: Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike

Quote:

Originally Posted by garage sale GT

Get on Amazon and check out Cadillac AV-8 or Cadillac AV-8.0i. It's a bike with a Sturmey Archer 8-speed drum brake hub and drum brake front hub. They're blowing them out for $250 which is probabaly what you'd pay for the hubs.

I have about 150 miles commuting on mine and except for the fact that the seat was a piece of crap it seems to be doing fine. The hub is exceptionally smooth and while I am sure there is a slight difference in drag between it and my Deore-equipped Raleigh trail bike, I just don't feel it and I complete my 11.1 mile commute in the same time.

It's a great bike, and you can leave the stupid backrest off. I don't know why they are selling them so cheap but the hubs alone are worth $250. I paid $300 for mine in August.

All gone.

27-10.-2006, 11:56 AM

#22

garage sale GT

Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2006

Posts: 1,113

Re: Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike

Quote:

Originally Posted by aubinmg

All gone.

No, go to Amazon and search under "Cadillac AV-8". Did that tonight, October 26, and they said "in stock" and were $299.

27-10.-2006, 10:35 PM

#23

rek

Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2002

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posts: 1,200

Re: Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike

Quote:

Originally Posted by aubinmg

Wow! I'd love to see a picture of that.

Here's an old pic (missing the fenders, and since removed the suspension seat post and fitted a different saddle). It's also got my old wheelset on it (those ones in the pic look flashy and all, but they're actually about 2.3kg

)

I've since moved to using Conti GP 4-seasons 700x28 tyres as they weigh half as much and make it feel a bit sportier on the roads and paths. It's still wide enough for most unpaved trails though (and the wide Mr Tuffys still fit.. somehow!)

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__________________
Peter
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06-11.-2006, 02:45 AM	#24
garage sale GT Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,113	Re: Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike Well, I can heartily recommend the 8-speed Sturmey Archer hub. Their conventional drum brakes work great and are lighter than roller brakes. The gears are smooth and my Cadillac seems about as fast as a Deore-equipped slick tire mtb, though I am sure you could measure a small difference in drag. The only awkward part is the fact that first and eighth are twice as widely spaced as the other speeds. As for the Caddy bike in general: the BB seems to be defective. The forks are threaded and have a short steerer so it wouldn't be easy for a bigger fellow to swap them into a "normal-looking" frame unless you got a new fork. You would have to have an adapter created to use other forks because of the drum brake reaction arm; it is inboard of the fork leg so you can't use a simple strap like a coaster brake does. I plan to keep riding it but it will require modification and improvisation to mount fenders which is a pretty big drawback for a commuter. However, the full suspension makes it great for riding on road shoulders with lots of broken asphalt and peoples' driveways jutting into it. Edit: Oh, boy. Everyone on this thread is from overseas. They can't get one anyway without being hit with a giant shipping charge. Oh well, at least the report on the Sturmey Archer is pertinent. The Taiwan Sturmeys seem to be pretty tight hubs.

14-12.-2006, 04:42 AM	#25
E.A. Webb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2	Re: Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike I'm an internal hub junkie. All of my frames are equipped with them. I've had poor results with SRAM internal hubs, they skip, or in the case of the drum brake version lock up. With my Sturmey-Archer 8 I've had a problem with it being mounted on an Al frame with worn dropouts. The hub slips at the axle. It's not the fault of the hub, and the hub works fine on another frame. I've also Rohloff equipped a few frames. The Rohloff works exactly as you would expect, never giving the first problem. More $, but one of the few instances where you get what you pay for. The Nexus and Sturmey-Archers will have a gear range that is about 60% of a deurailer system. The Rohloff has an equivalent gear range of a 27 speed mountain bike. Luck, --E.A.

15-12.-2006, 07:56 PM	#26
Sci-Fi Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 9	Re: Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike Amazon still lists them, as of 12/14/2006...$179.99 with "free super saver shipping" http://www.amazon.com/Cadillac-Adve...e/dp/B000G18GH2

16-12.-2006, 02:16 AM	#27
garage sale GT Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,113	Re: Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike The Caddy is not the best choice for a foul weather commuter because there's no place to put the fenders on. I wanted to buy the bike for the hubs and swap them onto a "normal" frame. However, the drum brake reaction arm needs a special fork and it doesn't just clamp on like a coaster brake, and the steering bracket is an odd oversize threaded type. Therefore the fork may not swap into an ordinary frame and you can't use just any fork. And, there's nowhere to put the fenders on the fork. Also, the bottom bracket seems to be taking a crap after the first 500 miles. But for *$179.99,* buy one and experiment!

23-12.-2006, 12:01 PM	#28
garage sale GT Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,113	Re: Nexus Internal gears - Anyone used them?/ Plans for commuter bike I reported the bottom bracket was already shot but I was wrong, one of the crank bolts was a bit loose, tightened it and now the bb just clicks a bit like my Raleigh always did, but the Raleigh is still on the original bb bearings after 5 years.

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