I could never get on with derailleurs they always seemed primitive to me hanging out in the weather I much preferred the Sturmey Archer hubs, I had a Rudge Pathfinder with a four speed wide ration hub, bought it new when I was thirteen and finally sold it on when I was twenty four.
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. (Albert Einstein)
Try this, the conclusion heads the way of chainless digital drive having a supremely efficient machine of chain and derailleurs as competition, but its horses for courses and developments in e-bikes are heading that way...
Does a decent enough balanced job, and informative
Gibbo2286 wrote: 12 Jun 2023, 10:27
I could never get on with derailleurs they always seemed primitive to me hanging out in the weather I much preferred the Sturmey Archer hubs, I had a Rudge Pathfinder with a four speed wide ration hub, bought it new when I was thirteen and finally sold it on when I was twenty four.
Things have moved along at quite a pace Eric, you might be quite surprised... The likes of the electronic Sminano Di2 on my Duathlon bike and the Shimano Dura-Ace on my road bike are a world apart from those old Simplex affairs...
Granted the chain and sprockets are exposed but it's not such a ball-ache to keep it all clean and in good nick using modern 'dry' lubricants and effective cleaning materials...
Chain drive allied to modern derailleurs is very efficient and has survived many attempts to oust it... It'll be interesting to see if that one in your video enjoys any success Neil
Jim
Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
CitroJim wrote: 12 Jun 2023, 16:22
Chain drive allied to modern derailleurs is very efficient and has survived many attempts to oust it... It'll be interesting to see if that one in your video enjoys any success Neil
There is no doubt that chain drive and derailleurs have an efficiency which is virtually impossible to compete with on that score. The sheer volume, variety and innovation of e-bikes is staggering and a ready recipient for new design and tech. Horses for courses.
Mick posted up a couple of videos from some time ago now of Allen Millyard and his innovative drive train mountain bikes, engineered in his very own shed. Came across Allen recently, and thought I had seen him somewhere before. Henry Cole describes him as Milly, and he "does up" Henry's finds on "Find it Fix it Flog it" on the TV!
So a revival of his two Mountain Bike Videos...I did think to myself...he has cracked it surely he has made millions out of his idea. Not a derailleur in sight, and an enclosed chain running in oil and an efficient enough machine to be more than competitive at mountain bike events.
Neil
Last edited by NewcastleFalcon on 15 Jun 2023, 12:54, edited 1 time in total.
Skull wrote: 23 Jun 2023, 21:36
It looks like Jim's getting ready for a training session
Shortly after this picture was taken, I spent some time explaining to two very lovely young ladies how to mount, ride and stop/dismount from such a bike
One day I'd love to
Jim
Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
That's an awesome ride Richard Not been out on my bike for ages now, been too busy away and running... Maybe tomorrow after I've ran the Northampton 10K...
Jim
Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
A bit of oil and TLC needed there!
