Re: [CR]Could a 14 speed SOM be integrated with vintage lightweight freewheel clusters?

(Example: Racing:Jean Robic)

Date: Mon, 23 May 2005 09:34:35 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Could a 14 speed SOM be integrated with vintage lightweight freewheel clusters?
To: Sheldon Brown <CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com>, Don Wilson <dcwilson3@yahoo.com>, Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: 6667


Of course, as Sheldon indicates, this is pretty excessive. Obviously a large number of the theoretical 210 gears will essentially duplicate each other, and others will be unusably high or low. I find it difficult to believe that a human being can get any real benefit from more than 20 distinct gear ratios on a bicycle, which you can probably get with a 14 speed Rohloff and a triple chainring even allowing for duplicate ratios. Plus it seems to me that much of the justification for the expense and weight of a Rohloff hub is that it eliminates the weight, complexity and expense of the rear derailleur and freewheel. But some people enjoy taking a concept to its extreme limits just for the experience of doing it. I've toyed with the idea of building a bike with a Rohloff, but if it do, the 14 ratios in the hub itself will be quite adequate for me.

Regards,

Jerry Moos Houston, TX

Sheldon Brown <CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com> wrote: Don Wilson queried:
>First, what is the correct formula for figuring the
>total number of gear choices one would have with a 14
>speed SOM with a 5 speed free wheel and a three ring
>crank?

Multiply. 14 X 5 X 3 = 210

Not sure what you mean by "SOM" but I'm guessing you're speaking of the off-topic Rohloff Speedhub. See: http://harriscyclery.com/rohloff
>Second, could one integrate an old free wheel cluster
>and derailleur with a 14 speed SOM (I've seen old free
>wheel clusters integrated with old Sturmey Archer
>three speed hubs and a Huret Allvit derailleur in the
>past)?

I've put 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 sprocket setups on Sturmey-Archer hubs.

See: http://sheldonbrown.org/otb.html it won't work on the Rohloff because the axle is not long enough to clear the extra sprockets. The Rohloff axle is a very special part, not readily duplicated in a different length.
>
>Third (and flagrantly off list), could any of the
>modern 10 speed clusters be integrated with the 14
>speed SOM?

No. Folks who seriously compete for the "most gears" title use a second multispeed hub as a jackshaft, usually mounted just below/behind the seat cluster.

Don't forget the Schlumpf two-speed bottom bracket while you're at it!

Sheldon "Nothing Exceeds Like Excess" Brown Newtonville, Massachusetts +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | To summarize: It is a well-known fact that those people who must | | want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. | | To summarize the summary: Anyone who is capable of getting | | themselves made President should on no account be | | allowed to do the job. | | To summarize the summary of the summary: | | People are a problem. -- Douglas Adams | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ -- Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 http://harriscyclery.com Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide http://captainbike.com Useful articles about bicycles and cycling http://sheldonbrown.com