Cycling UK Forum

If it does blow up on me I’ll report back, in the name of science.

Great work, she’s looking lovely.
Fetching shade of blue too.
Bravo!

Best wishes

Luke

Sid Aluminium wrote: ↑2 Jul 2021, 1:48am

Here’s my Nexus 8 gear inches, with a 38T chainring and 23T sprocket.

I just answer the phone and empty the trash here, but just so you know your 38/23 = 1.65 primary drive ratio is below (torquier than) Shimano's recommendations in the latest DM-SG0004-02-ENG manual.

DM-SG0004-02-ENG.png

Hi Sid,

Yes, I thought I’d chance it!
I reasoned that I’m light, 67kg, a spinner not a masher, rarely out of the saddle. Plus the hub has a good rep for reliability.
I did a loaded coast to coast and Reivers Route last summer with a 50,34 double up front and 23T on the back. Fortunately it didn’t explode!
Best wishes
Luke

MartinC wrote: ↑28 Jun 2021, 11:16am I too am a well established user of igh's. I've used Sram, SA, Shimano and Rohloff hubs.

I've used two Nexus 7's and one red band Nexus 8. I hated the Nexus 8 - I found the combination of the variable gear spacing together with switching between the 2 and 3 stage gearing really inconvenient. I couldn't find a chainring/sprocket combination that would give me the low and high gears needed without having some really unhelpful changes in the most used middle range. The other thing I hated were the roller clutches - compared to pawls this gives a really mushy feel as the take up is progressive. I'd prefer a Nexus 7 to be honest. I gave the Nexus 8 away and replaced it with a Rohloff which I've found to be truly excellent in every respect even if expensive.

Yes, a Rohloff is on my bucket list!
Best wishes
Luke

“Mine is almost identical, compared to my ideal set up, I've lost at least one lower gear and I do miss at least one higher gear. it's fine for the use it gets, but I wouldn't want it to be my only bike.”

Hi PH, yes good call. A 10 speed as you describe would probably be perfect for my needs.
Best wishes
Luke

Hi Krashper, sadly not a reference to the cartoon. I worked / backpacked in the Middle East in ‘95 and my name was often misspelled ‘Luck’ by the locals. And it stuck!
Must check out the comic strip. Was a big fan of Asterix as a kid but Lucky Luke never made it to my local branch of WH Smiths. I believe it’s by the same artist.
Best wishes,
Luke

Here’s my Nexus 8 gear inches, with a 38T chainring and 23T sprocket.
One loses high gears, but I’m so slow it hasn’t been a deal breaker at all!

Hi, I can also recommend Sheldon’s Gear Inch Calculator upthread. You can input all the parameters for your current bike, and for your intended hub geared bike and make a useful comparison.
I haven’t used an Alfine 8, but have two ‘Red Band’ Nexus 8 bikes on the go. The hub internals and gear spacing are the same I believe.
I can thoroughly recommend this hub for your stated use as a low maintenance commuter. True they are not as efficient as a well maintained derailleur, but it’s not a deal breaker and the overall the pros outweighs the cons.
In the right bike you can stretch to day rides and tours. I have a Nexus 8 in a Surly Crosscheck frame as a commute/ winter / tourer / Do it all bike. It’s done a couple of 3-7day tours (for a hillier tour I fitted a double chain set and chain tensioner). It does 50-100km day rides in the winter.
Re belt drive and hub gears, this topic has come up on the forum before. I think Brucey mentioned the higher tension of the belt is harder on the hub internals and can be a hub killer. I run full length steel mudguards with a big front mud flap. Chains and sprockets last so long this way that I’ve not felt the need for the belt drive approach.
Best wishes
Luke

Really loving this thread.
It’s like a bicycle version of TV’s The Repair Shop.
Your commitment to the cause is outstanding Krasper, and you’re doing a cracking job. Wish I had the know how.
Looking forward to seeing her all built up. Give us a ride report too please!
Best wishes,
Luke

Postboxer wrote: ↑24 Jun 2021, 8:37am He also pulled out from London hosting the Tour de France last minute.

He doesn’t do that often, hence the 7 kids…

Hi, I have mostly 25.4mm clamp size handlebars. For drops I have bars by Nitto and Grand Bois in 25.4mm. Velo Orange make wider drops I think, at least 44cm. Worth having a look on their website.
If you’re not averse to flat bars Planet X have a fair few Nitto flat bars with 25.4mm clamps; riser bars, moustache bars etc. Even Butterfly bars, IIRC.
Also, IIRC they have some Nitto gravel-style drops which might have enough flare for you.
Humphert do a wide range of flat bars in 25.4mm size too. See SJS or Bikester.
SJS Cycles allow one to search for handlebars by clamp diameter, and they have a few 25.4mm in stock. Hubjub and Velo Vitality have some 25.4mm too. Mostly Nitto I think.
Compass Cycles in the US sell 25.4mm drops, but I don’t know if in the width you want.
Good luck!
Cheers,
Luke

Hi, I had a bike fitting at www.the bike whisperer.co.uk in 2015. Cost then was £265 and it was a whole day session.
It’s based on the Steve Hogg bike fitting method. I believe Colin 531’s doc is also influenced by Steve Hogg.
It’s a lot of money, was it worth it? For me I think so. I had R. knee pain when cycling longer distances, which prompted the visit. The guy realigned my cleats and altered my position, and recommended some core strengthening exercises. The combo of the bike fit & exercises cured the problem.
If I were you I’d start with Colin’s set up guide. A steel metre ruler, 30cm steel ruler and spirit level, maybe a plumb line are useful. Once you are happy on your existing bike your set up measurements can help guide you as to which future bikes could fit you.
Best wishes and good luck,
Luke

rogerzilla wrote: ↑15 Jun 2021, 7:54am It's expensive, ungainly, useless for its intended purpose, and probably rather heavy.

Enough about Boris, what about the bike?

I actually saw Boris on the first Ride London 100 miler, ?2013. He was London Mayor at the time. He was riding his Boardman hybrid and had a police escort of 3 plain clothes coppers also on bikes. They were like his domestiques, forming a protective ring around their GC man.

For someone associated with cycling, as London Mayor he wasn’t too good at promoting it. Boris Bikes and Cycle Superhighways began under Ken Livingstone, somehow Boris got the credit. Johnson also scrapped the westward extension of the Congestion Charge, (Kensington & Chelsea NIMBYISM no doubt influential), which would have boosted cycling.

Best wishes

Luke

You can’t keep a good man down!
Wonderful news that you are on the mend.
Brucey you are tough like a SA 3 speed hub.
Here’s wishing you a speedy recovery.
All the best
Luke

Great advice above, as I see it you have a couple of options:

1) Buy a complete Nexus 8 rear wheel. Pre Brexit I found Taylor Wheels in Germany were keenly priced and all the wheels I’ve had from them have behaved themselves. Haven’t brought from them since Brexit though...

2) Buy a Nexus 8 hub only, and swap the internals out with your old wheel. There are several versions of the hub so it makes sense to order the exact model hub you currently have. I see the latest version has a different shape to the hub shell.
I have serviced my Nexus 8s following the advice on this forum. Removing the internals for a soak in gear oil isn’t too tricky, but there is a knack and a right way to do it, as described by Brucey. A bench vice is really handy. You’ll need a good cone spanner in the right size too (?17mm. Sorry, can’t remember.) Somewhere on the internet is a scanned Shimano workshop manual with step by step photos.

Thinking about it... I’d be tempted to just buy a whole new wheel. Is your current rim long in the tooth? Gear cable draggy? Sprocket worn? When you order a new wheel from Taylor Wheels you get all these bits plus a new shifter and other odds and ends. Apparently these hubs’ lifespans are heavily influenced by the correct setting up of the gears, incentivising the use of a new cable, shifter etc?
Best wishes,
Luke