Lightweight Hub geared bike.

Seaswimmer

http://46.231.185.37/products/scott/sub-25-2012-hybrid-bike-ec030902


Thinking of getting one of these for one of the kids for cycling to college. She is currently using an old Newport Planet for a 13 mile round trip

The main reason I am looking at it is for the 8 speed hub for simplicity and reliability. I would be putting on a rack and a single pannier and probably Ree lights to avoid having to remove lights every day when locking the bike. also its substantially lighter than her current bike.

My query.

Are there any other reasonably lightweight hub geared bikes I could look at. Cycle to work scheme so €1000 max

kincsem

If hub bikes were lightweight the pros would be using them. My derailleur road bike is 18.5 pounds, my hub bike is 26 pounds.

oinkely

The giant store on the longmile road (i think that is where it is anyway) have one on sale at the moment. was abouth €1050 now around €650.
might be worth a look. I saw the details on facebook, can't seem to find it on their website but if you ring the shop I'm sure Richie will know all about it.

http://www.giant-dublin.ie/news.php?ID=173

cheers

Seaswimmer

kincsem wrote: »

If hub bikes were lightweight the pros would be using them. My derailleur road bike is 18.5 pounds, my hub bike is 26 pounds.

Point taken.

By lightweight I mean about 24lbs similiar to the Scott I have linked to. Which is a lot less than my Gazelle which is about 40lbs.

Lumen

Hub gears are like cycling through light treacle.

It doesn't much matter until you try to go fast, and then it feels like a lot of hard work.

Seaswimmer

Lumen wrote: »

Hub gears are like cycling through light treacle.

It doesn't much matter until you try to go fast, and then it feels like a lot of hard work.

True but this is for someone who is used to cycling an old upright ladies bike with rack, pannier and basket. Anything would be an improvement. I just think that for commuting around Dublin a triple front chain system is too complicated for someone not used to it.

Lumen

Seaswimmer wrote: »

True but this is for someone who is used to cycling an old upright ladies bike with rack, pannier and basket. Anything would be an improvement. I just think that for commuting around Dublin a triple front chain system is too complicated for someone not used to it.

Remove two rings and the front derailleur and shifter. Job done!

Doctor Bob

How is your college-going daughter availing of the Cycle To Work scheme?

kincsem wrote: »

If hub bikes were lightweight the pros would be using them. My derailleur road bike is 18.5 pounds, my hub bike is 26 pounds.

There is a weight difference between hub gears and derailleurs, but it's not 7.5 lbs. Presumably most of that weight difference is between your two frame types or because of extras such as mudguards, rather than the gear systems.

manwithaplan

Doctor Bob wrote: »

How is your college-going daughter availing of the Cycle To Work scheme?

We all thought it but had the common decency not to bring it up!

Buy her a decent singlespeed (assuming you don't live halfway up a mountain). Nice and light and bugger all maintenance.

Seaswimmer

manwithaplan wrote: »

We all thought it but had the common decency not to bring it up!

Buy her a decent singlespeed (assuming you don't live halfway up a mountain). Nice and light and bugger all maintenance.

Another member of the family is entitled to it!!

However unlike a lot of bikes purchased on the scheme this one will be used extensively. At present in and out of town (sometimes twice) 5 or 6 days a week and other bits and pieces.

Think she needs gears as she has done a bit of cycle touring in the past. She was in Norway last year for 5 weeks cycling and intends going somewhere again this year..

Mycroft H

Buy an old leightweight steel frame (with frame eyelets). Stick a SA hub on the rear built with a decent wheel. Light and maintenance free. Job done.

manwithaplan

Not a good option for touring obviously but neither is the hub-geared yoke in my view. Singlespeeds are pretty cheap and would probably suit her for commuting as she's an experienced cyclist that is most likely strong enough for it. You could use the CTW to get yourself a nice tourer, which she might happen to use very occasionally.

As ever, the answer is always another bike!

ciotog

Seaswimmer wrote: »

http://46.231.185.37/products/scott/sub-25-2012-hybrid-bike-ec030902


Thinking of getting one of these for one of the kids for cycling to college. She is currently using an old Newport Planet for a 13 mile round trip

The main reason I am looking at it is for the 8 speed hub for simplicity and reliability. I would be putting on a rack and a single pannier and probably Ree lights to avoid having to remove lights every day when locking the bike. also its substantially lighter than her current bike.

My query.

Are there any other reasonably lightweight hub geared bikes I could look at. Cycle to work scheme so €1000 max

Hub gears are great and don't let anyone tell you otherwise Have a look at the Kona and Electra offerings.

petethedrummer

My sister has that bike or one very similar, I think it's a 2011 Scott Sub 30. She occasionally commutes on it in London. I don't think it's the bike that is preventing her from cycling more, she's just not that mad into cycling.

I would have advised something a bit lighter and a bit less MTB looking but it seems like a grand bike and she likes the look of it.

-K2-

Seaswimmer wrote: »

Another member of the family is entitled to it!!

You are still breaking the rules since she isn't "entitled".

Seaswimmer

-K2- wrote: »

You are still breaking the rules since she isn't "entitled".

Maybe the entitled person cycles to work on it once a year and lends it out otherwise:)

Is that against the rules?

Probably the scheme should be extended to legally include other members of a family. This obviously happens already where parents buy a bike or bikes for their kids. Thats against the rules but its common sense. With one bike allowed every 5 years I dont think the system is open to too much abuse..

Bottom line is that there are more bikes in circulation and hopefully an increase in numbers cycling..

-K2-

Seaswimmer wrote: »

Maybe the entitled person cycles to work on it once a year and lends it out otherwise:)

Is that against the rules?

Yes.

More bikes on the road is obviously A Good Thing. This doesn't mean that the scheme should be abused as that makes the operation of it open to question.

Doctor Bob

-K2- wrote: »

Yes.

More bikes on the road is obviously A Good Thing. This doesn't mean that the scheme should be abused as that makes the operation of it open to question.

Ssssh! Apparently we're still in 'turning a blind eye' mode in Ireland. Sure it's only a white lie, right? :rolleyes:

OP- you should be able to get a decent second-hand bike, hub-geared or not, for the same as you'd get a first-hand one through the C2W scheme. Might be worth investigating that option too.

PersonalJesus

Cube have hub geared "urban lifestyle" bikes. I ride a hyde pro, and from a reliability point of view its great.

Mind you id go for something with a fully enclosed chain guard to keep maintenance down further, or as the man says a singlespeed if its a mostly flat commute.

kincsem

Doctor Bob wrote: »

There is a weight difference between hub gears and derailleurs, but it's not 7.5 lbs. Presumably most of that weight difference is between your two frame types or because of extras such as mudguards, rather than the gear systems.

So true. But makers of hub geared bikes tend not to use lightweight carbon or titanium frames. They know they have lost the bike slimming battle. And the wheels will be heavier with a high spoke count, the forks wll probably be steel not carbon. As you say the hub bike will be fitted with mudguards, and a rack or rack fitting points.