Comedy fall

[RobF]

I fell off the Rose for the first time today.

Not due to my poor bike handling skills, of course, it was the fault of the Alfine hub.

I got a box full of neutrals - pedals spinning, bike at slow speed, but no drive.

The sensible thing to do would have been to get off the bike.

Instead, I kept spinning the pedals in the hope of finding a gear.

My speed was slowing all the while and I missed what could be called the point of no balance return.

Too late I put my left leg down, only to realise the road sloped away in that direction.

Thus I toppled to the ground in what must have looked like a comedy fall.

Something else to blame was my two heavy pannier bags full of shopping, one of which pinged off the bike.

No real damage done to me or bike, although some items of my groceries are now in squashed packaging.

I've readjusted the hub change and all appears to be well with that, so it may be just one of those things.

There is talk online of the Alfine 11 being unreliable, I think Alex on here had trouble with his.

Given that, and the faff I had to get the gearing right, I don't think my next bike will have one.

But the real moral of the story is put a foot on the ground before the bike loses balance, not after.

 

[flecc]

It seems the 11 speed Alfine is rather prone to false neutrals from the reports. The 8 speed version hasn't been at all bad in this respect so perhaps the fundamental design has been pushed too far.
.

 

[RobF]

It seems the 11 speed Alfine is rather prone to false neutrals from the reports. The 8 speed version hasn't been at all bad in this respect so perhaps the fundamental design has been pushed too far.
.

Pity, because I like hub gears in many respects.

I was a bit underwhelmed by Croxden's Rohloff in a what's the point sort of way.

I suppose the point is the Rohloff works reliably.

 

[Croxden]

RobF, How did you find the Rohloff in comparison to the Alfine, apart from the different method of the hand controls?

Just updated and seen above.

 

[RobF]

RobF, How did you find the Rohloff in comparison to the Alfine, apart from the different method of the hand controls?

Just updated and seen above.

As you've gathered, I thought it was very similar so I couldn't see the point of the extra cost.

But there's no doubt that Rohloff hub is known to be bomb proof, which the Alfine 11 isn't.

 

[oldtom]

I've readjusted the hub change and all appears to be well with that, so it may be just one of those things.

There is talk online of the Alfine 11 being unreliable, I think Alex on here had trouble with his.

Given that, and the faff I had to get the gearing right, I don't think my next bike will have one.

I'm a big fan of hub gears having had great, problem-free service from the Nexus 8 gearbox but the crude derailleur system gets my vote for its simplicity, low cost and effectiveness, especially for out-of-town fast road riding, not that I can manage very much of that any more.

While cheap derailleur systems can be a little clunky, the high-end stuff is almost silky although frequent fettling tends to be required, usually not too difficult once you get the hang of it. Hub gears really come into their own in stop-start traffic work but single-speed bikes are fairly stress-free in town also; witness the number of couriers who ride them around London.

As yet, I have never ridden anything with the Nu Vinci system but I'll keep an eye open for reviews and reports as I like the philosophy of it. Time will tell if it can be regarded as a mainstream transmission system on EAPCs.

I hope you didn't hurt too much following your tumble Rob and I shall try to remember the advice contained in your description of the moral of the story, particularly as we don't bounce too well after we qualify for state pension!

Tom

 

[RobF]

I'm a big fan of hub gears having had great, problem-free service from the Nexus 8 gearbox but the crude derailleur system gets my vote for its simplicity, low cost and effectiveness, especially for out-of-town fast road riding, not that I can manage very much of that any more.

While cheap derailleur systems can be a little clunky, the high-end stuff is almost silky although frequent fettling tends to be required, usually not too difficult once you get the hang of it. Hub gears really come into their own in stop-start traffic work but single-speed bikes are fairly stress-free in town also; witness the number of couriers who ride them around London.

As yet, I have never ridden anything with the Nu Vinci system but I'll keep an eye open for reviews and reports as I like the philosophy of it. Time will tell if it can be regarded as a mainstream transmission system on EAPCs.

I hope you didn't hurt too much following your tumble Rob and I shall try to remember the advice contained in your description of the moral of the story, particularly as we don't bounce too well after we qualify for state pension!

Tom

Thanks Tom.

I fell nicely onto my left shoulder, no outstretched arm so no cracked wrist or collarbone.

AVE appear to have adopted the NuVinci hub for most of their latest ebikes.

Never tried one, although Croxden couldn't get on with the NuVinci on his Grace.

 

[RobF]

I
While cheap derailleur systems can be a little clunky, the high-end stuff is almost silky although frequent fettling tends to be required, usually not too difficult once you get the hang of it.

Also spot on.

I think one of the reasons I specced the hub gears on the Rose was because I remembered the cheap and nasty derailleurs I had on bikes as a teenager.

Fast forward many years, the change on my SLX derailleur AVE is worlds apart, silky smooth as Tom describes.

Had I known that when I bought the Rose, I might have saved a few quid and bought the derailleur one.

One lives and learns.

 

[Croxden]

Never tried one, although Croxden couldn't get on with the NuVinci on his Grace.

I got on with the NuVinci, had it or the Gates bit not failed I would still be riding it. The Delite is much better though.

My new Birdy has the Sram combined 3 speed hub & 8 speed derailleur, much cheaper than the also available Rohloff, but for the occasional use it will have not worth the extra cost.
It is on the Delite as it gets used much more.

 

[jackhandy]

I fell off the Rose for the first time today.


Thus I toppled to the ground in what must have looked like a comedy fall.
.

Just goes to show - No matter how "top-end" the bike, it costs dearly in street-cred when it dumps you on your butt

 

[Artstu]

I've seen a friend have about 20 of those sort of crashes, he's in his late 70's, always sort of rolls on his shoulder and back, and amazingly hasn't had any serious injuries.

Talking of hub gears, my friend has just pinched my old steel 1992 era MTB to go to work whilst I replace the chain and sprockets on her Alfine 8 bike. I've just seen her times on Strava, all personal bests and a QOM on a segment she's been trying to bag for quite a while, you'd think she'd be taking it easy at almost 50 years of age. There's a bit more to it than just the gear system difference though, but I'm sure the derailleur gears are helping with the gain.

 

[Cyclezee]

Jack, an old friend of mine was riding with me as part of a group on the Redways in Milton Keynes, we came to hump back bridge over the Grand Union canal and a couple of people at the front stopped on the bridge to take in the view which meant that those behind had to stop unexpectedly.

Jack tried to put his left foot down only there was nothing to stand on so he had an undignified fall in to a bush laced with brambles, after a few seconds a rather irate and embarrassed Jack emerged from bush with a few scratches, those that witnessed it including myself tried hard not to laugh....it didn't work

A few months later I was on the same ride with Jack and the same thing happened in exactly the same place, this time he did get quite badly scratched....no one laughed that time

Who said lightning doesn't strike in the same place twice

 

[Woosh]

Rob F
I nearly fell off my Gale folder yesterday, trying to get through a narrow gap Talk about pathetic, luckily no one around.

Hope you are OK. I always go black 'n blue after a fall.

Hatti

 

[Cyclezee]

Rob F
I nearly fell off my Gale folder yesterday, trying to get through a narrow gap Talk about pathetic, luckily no one around.

Hope you are OK. I always go black 'n blue after a fall.

Hatti

Maybe you should try an Electra? They seem quite stable

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Do you remember the '70s, when you you used to get your flared trousers caught on the kickstart so you couldn't get your foot down?

I've only had one incident on a bicycle, when my shoelace got caught in the chain. All you can do is salute while you go down!

 

[RobF]

we came to hump back bridge over the Grand Union canal and a couple of people at the front stopped on the bridge to take in the view which meant that those behind had to stop unexpectedly.

I ride in a group and try to call out 'stopping' if I'm being followed closely.

A lot don't bother, which has led to some minor coming togethers.

Some people don't understand that from behind you cannot see a bike slowing.

It's the same with cars, which is why the 'cash for crash' scams work so well.

Disconnect the brake lights and even a competent and careful driver will drive into the back of you.

 

[oldtom]

Some people don't understand that from behind you cannot see a bike slowing.

Kalkhoff has addressed that problem on some of their newer models by the use of an 'always on' rear light, the brightness of which intensifies under braking. My PC has it but I don't get to see it!

Tom