Comments on: Carrier Pigeon Diary 23 http://www.towseyfrench.com/2009/02/25/carrier-pigeon-diary-23/ trekking towards sustainability in portland, oregon, u.s.a. Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:53:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Tom Daly http://www.towseyfrench.com/2009/02/25/carrier-pigeon-diary-23/comment-page-1/#comment-414 Tom Daly Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:19:26 +0000 http://www.towseyfrench.com/?p=389#comment-414 No less than a block after I got it all together and test rode it, I thought to myself "This is the future!" Sure enough, this pigeon flies the truest yet. Thanks for the props, Jeremy! No less than a block after I got it all together and test rode it, I thought to myself “This is the future!” Sure enough, this pigeon flies the truest yet. Thanks for the props, Jeremy!

]]> By: Jeremy Towsey-French http://www.towseyfrench.com/2009/02/25/carrier-pigeon-diary-23/comment-page-1/#comment-386 Jeremy Towsey-French Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:08:15 +0000 http://www.towseyfrench.com/?p=389#comment-386 The XRD-C freehub with the roller brake is about 794 grams. With the weight of the derailleur (275g) and cassette (250g), you're looking at a total weight of 1319 grams. Conversely, the XRD-8 internally geared hub weighs 1850 grams. This is a weight savings of 1.17 pounds For comparison, the standard black-label Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub is listed at 1990 grams <i>with</i> the roller brake installed. Nexus premium red-label (lighter-weight version) is listed at 1550 grams <i>without</i> the roller brake. The Shimano Alfine SG-S500 8-speed hub doesn't have a standard published weight as it's contingent on several other factors related to your brake choice; this being said, typical configurations place its weight at 1590 grams. The SRAM i-Motion 9, 9-speed rear hub is listed at 1980 grams <i>without</i> a brake in place. Bottom line: the externally geared hub with the roller brake is a lightweight setup --far lighter than the internally geared options currently available. The XRD-C freehub with the roller brake is about 794 grams. With the weight of the derailleur (275g) and cassette (250g), you’re looking at a total weight of 1319 grams. Conversely, the XRD-8 internally geared hub weighs 1850 grams. This is a weight savings of 1.17 pounds

For comparison, the standard black-label Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub is listed at 1990 grams with the roller brake installed. Nexus premium red-label (lighter-weight version) is listed at 1550 grams without the roller brake. The Shimano Alfine SG-S500 8-speed hub doesn’t have a standard published weight as it’s contingent on several other factors related to your brake choice; this being said, typical configurations place its weight at 1590 grams. The SRAM i-Motion 9, 9-speed rear hub is listed at 1980 grams without a brake in place.

Bottom line: the externally geared hub with the roller brake is a lightweight setup –far lighter than the internally geared options currently available.

]]> By: Jeremy Towsey-French http://www.towseyfrench.com/2009/02/25/carrier-pigeon-diary-23/comment-page-1/#comment-328 Jeremy Towsey-French Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:09:29 +0000 http://www.towseyfrench.com/?p=389#comment-328 Another good friend inquired as to how easy it would be to detach the wheel's roller brake assembly in the event of a flat. Fortunately, it's very simple with the Sturmey-Archer roller brake. All you need is a flat-head screwdriver --a dime might even work in a pinch. Simply detach the torque arm from the chainstay by unscrewing the torque arm bolt, then unhook the cable pull from the brake arm. Another good friend inquired as to how easy it would be to detach the wheel’s roller brake assembly in the event of a flat. Fortunately, it’s very simple with the Sturmey-Archer roller brake. All you need is a flat-head screwdriver –a dime might even work in a pinch. Simply detach the torque arm from the chainstay by unscrewing the torque arm bolt, then unhook the cable pull from the brake arm.

]]> By: Jeremy Towsey-French http://www.towseyfrench.com/2009/02/25/carrier-pigeon-diary-23/comment-page-1/#comment-326 Jeremy Towsey-French Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:04:57 +0000 http://www.towseyfrench.com/?p=389#comment-326 A friend of mine asked why I went with an 8-speed cassette instead of a 9-speed setup. This is a great question! The answer is pretty straight-forward: I wanted to simplify the transmission while ensuring the widest possible gear range within the constraints of my budget. By choosing the 8-speed cassette, I was able to reduce the cost of the derailleur and shifter while still maintaining the same high/low range of the 9-speed (which offers the same 11-32T range as the 8-speed). Yes, the 9-speed offers closer spacing than the 8-speed, but the difference is very small. In summary, it was a question of simplicity, cost and overall usable range. The answer for me was simple: go with the 8-speed! Regardless, it's nice to know I still have the option of a 9-speed should I ever get the itch. :) A friend of mine asked why I went with an 8-speed cassette instead of a 9-speed setup. This is a great question!
The answer is pretty straight-forward: I wanted to simplify the transmission while ensuring the widest possible gear range within the constraints of my budget.

By choosing the 8-speed cassette, I was able to reduce the cost of the derailleur and shifter while still maintaining the same high/low range of the 9-speed (which offers the same 11-32T range as the 8-speed). Yes, the 9-speed offers closer spacing than the 8-speed, but the difference is very small.

In summary, it was a question of simplicity, cost and overall usable range. The answer for me was simple: go with the 8-speed! Regardless, it’s nice to know I still have the option of a 9-speed should I ever get the itch. :)

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