Which alfine 8 commuter?

silver campaign

I've got a notion in my head to buy an alfine 8 flat bar commuter. I've narrowed it down to either an on-one pompetamine or charge mixer. Both are steel frame disk brake flat bar alfine bikes. On one is €850,(black) charge is €930 (polished silver) Anyone any experience of either bike ? Another option is to buy the on one frame and fork for about €350, deliverd including headset and BB.

Civilian_Target

I tried a mixer out in the shop, and even the largest one was too small for me... I didn't like the geometry either. Lots of good things said online though, and it certainly looks the business. The handlebars are quite narrow and far back, if you like that type of thing.

Love hub gears, although I have no experience of the Alfine. Why do you want it?

CramCycle

Planet X had one for sale on adverts for 500euro, polished silver, not sure if it is still available: http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/charge-mixer-alfine-8/1955123

I prefer the mixer for both aesthetics and I have found Charge to be a nice brand (from my one experience), it has mudguards (easily removable) and the wires seem tidier on the pictures.

If I was in the market to buy a commuter again it would be up there for me.

rp

I think the Pompetino uses the Pompie frame? In which case, this is one of the nicest frames I've ever ridden (I have two - just converting one to a 2-speed hub gear shopper). I dunno if eight gears are ever really necessary tho? You end up schlepping a good bit more weight around in a place you don't want it: an Alfine 8 weighs in at 1.7kg, compared to a Nexus 3 at 1.2kg.

Sagi

well, that depends o the terrain of your commute, I have the 11 Gear Alfine on my Commuter/ Touring bike and I would not want to miss even one of the gears to be honest.

Can't really give any imput on the Frames, I guess both are realonable nice products with which you can hardly go wrong.

silver campaign

Thanks for the replies. There are quite a few hills where I'm living so I'd prefer to have gears. I just like the idea of the alfine setup, the clean lines and minimal maintenance.

I saw the charge on adverts, but it's too small for me. I'm 6'0 and was thinking of going for the medium in either, but if the charge is generally small, I might be better of getting the Large. I know what your saying about the tidier wires, but I presumed it was just the way the picture is taken, and they could be tidied up easily.

I normally ride a 56cm road bike. This is going to be a general runaround, into work, young baby means I'll be carrying her on the crossbar or trailer. Maybe even a little cycling holiday in france with the family.

These are the bikes

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-mixer-8-special-edition-2013/

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPOMPALF/on_one_pompetamine_alfine_8_speed

Planet X

silver campaign wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. There are quite a few hills where I'm living so I'd prefer to have gears. I just like the idea of the alfine setup, the clean lines and minimal maintenance.

I saw the charge on adverts, but it's too small for me. I'm 6'0 and was thinking of going for the medium in either, but if the charge is generally small, I might be better of getting the Large. I know what your saying about the tidier wires, but I presumed it was just the way the picture is taken, and they could be tidied up easily.

I normally ride a 56cm road bike. This is going to be a general runaround, into work, young baby means I'll be carrying her on the crossbar or trailer. Maybe even a little cycling holiday in france with the family.

These are the bikes

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-mixer-8-special-edition-2013/

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPOMPALF/on_one_pompetamine_alfine_8_speed

Yeah I had and sold a Charge Mixer. Brilliant commuter and knockabout. Steel \ tank.
Just wanted to get he DiscTrucker too bad. Was loosing sleep ove it. Got mine for €666 something like 40% off at the time. Too good a deal.

Lumen

@silver campaign I've been meaning to sell my large Pompetamine Versa (11sp Alfine, drop bar integrated shifters).

PM me if you're interested.

silver campaign

PM Sent Lumen

rp

Lumen wrote: »

@silver campaign I've been meaning to sell my large Pompetamine Versa (11sp Alfine, drop bar integrated shifters).

Hey Lumen, that SKS Chainboard on your Pompetamine - what size chainring does it fit over? I'm looking for a chain guard to go over a 49T, but the SKS come in max 48T, I was wondering if there's enough margin for one more tooth?

Lumen

rp wrote: »

Hey Lumen, that SKS Chainboard on your Pompetamine - what size chainring does it fit over? I'm looking for a chain guard to go over a 49T, but the SKS come in max 48T, I was wondering if there's enough margin for one more tooth?

I think I run a 39T. Standard double with the outer ring taken off.

rp

rp wrote: »

Hey Lumen, that SKS Chainboard on your Pompetamine - what size chainring does it fit over? I'm looking for a chain guard to go over a 49T, but the SKS come in max 48T, I was wondering if there's enough margin for one more tooth?

To answer my own question, if anyone's interested, the 48T chainboard fits a 49T with plenty of clearance - might even fit a 52T. Good option for fixies, hubbies and single chainring gearies.

Mad Benny

silver campaign wrote: »

These are the bikes

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-mixer-8-special-edition-2013/

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPOMPALF/on_one_pompetamine_alfine_8_speed

Did you choose one? I have my eye on the same two bikes

silver campaign

Mad Benny wrote: »

Did you choose one? I have my eye on the same two bikes

No still thinking about it. I got a call from a bike shop that told me they could get me a cube hyde race alfine 8. Class lookin bike, but It's €1000, can't really justify that kind of money on a runaround. I'm leaning towards the pompetamine black €800 from Athlone but its only £600 online which is about €700 at the moment. I think it's a good price and probably a bit lighter than the charge. Does anyone know if you could fit 700x23 or 25 tyres on the pompetamine? Think it comes with 32 or 35

Bluefoam

I have a charge tap and its great... nexus 8 rather than alfine. The thing that puts me off these days is the giant Great Britain graphic on the top tube... its not an anti British thing, I don't by things labled with American or Iraqi flags either.. I just don't like those kinds of labels. The charge frame is great, but very compact and the paint is very thin, you just need to breath near mine and the paint scratches. Also you need to get a large size. The pompino would be seen as a better frame in general. I would go with it.

silver campaign

Bluefoam wrote: »

I have a charge tap and its great... nexus 8 rather than alfine. The thing that puts me off these days is the giant Great Britain graphic on the top tube... its not an anti British thing, I don't by things labled with American or Iraqi flags either.. I just don't like those kinds of labels. The charge frame is great, but very compact and the paint is very thin, you just need to breath near mine and the paint scratches. Also you need to get a large size. The pompino would be seen as a better frame in general. I would go with it.

Yea I know what you mean about the Union Jack , it's a bit rediculous but nothin a bit of insulating tape can't solve. Although I think it's not on the current pomp. Frame

Bluefoam

silver campaign wrote: »

Yea I know what you mean about the Union Jack , it's a bit rediculous but nothin a bit of insulating tape can't solve. Although I think it's not on the current pomp. Frame

Just to clarify, it's on the Mixer, not the Pompino... although it may be & I've just not noticed it

Mad Benny

silver campaign wrote: »

I'm leaning towards the pompetamine black €800 from Athlone but its only £600 online which is about €700 at the moment. I think it's a good price and probably a bit lighter than the charge. Does anyone know if you could fit 700x23 or 25 tyres on the pompetamine? Think it comes with 32 or 35

I had a look at the Planet X Athlone web site but the bike didn't feature on it. That's good to hear that they do stock it.

I don't know anout the tires. According to the web site: Recommended Tire - 28 - 47C

A friend pointed out that 24 spokes is not great since I have a child seat. The charge is better in that regard - 32 spokes.

rp

silver campaign wrote: »

Yea I know what you mean about the Union Jack , it's a bit rediculous but nothin a bit of insulating tape can't solve. Although I think it's not on the current pomp. Frame

It is on the Pompie II frame, I just covered it with a frame protector yesterday. Still leaves a white rose on the steerer tube, but I can't remember, do we hate Richard the Third or not?

Dermot Illogical

rp wrote: »

I can't remember, do we hate Richard the Third or not?

He was still wanted until recently afaik.

PersonalJesus

I ride a 2011 Cube Hyde pro as my commuter. It has a nexus 8 in the hub which works well enough for me, although you do occasionally need to pause your pedaling to shift up. It also has a grip shift as standard which may not be to some peoples tastes but it performs pretty well. Id recommend atleast an upgrade of the brake pads (although something with discs would nicer) and full mudguards are a must.

It came in at £400 stg, so a good bit less than the hyde pro race you're looking at.

petethedrummer

rp wrote: »

do we hate Richard the Third or not?

The metal band from Cavan or the historical figure?

BostonB

I like the look of the hub gears but the issue of maintenance if there's a problem put me off. I'd also wouldn't want a twist grip, and only the top end hub bikes have them. Giant used to do some of their hybrids with hub gears. Someone at work has one and its been bomb proof for him. How do you change tubes and tires with them?

rp

BostonB wrote: »

How do you change tubes and tires with them?

Depends on the hub, fixing a puncture on a Rohlhoff is prob easier than a derailer wheel, with the QR cable and built-in torque tab, but Nexus is a pain, getting the shifter cable in and out (has to be exactly the right orientation) and taking out/replacing the torque arm bolt. Not a road-side activitity,
On my wife's bike (nexus), we avoid the problem by running it on Marathon pluses.
Anyone know if the Afline makes any improvements in this area?

Sagi

I don't klnow exactly how it works with the nexus, but with the alfine its's fairly easy, one more tool that goes into the saddlebag to loosen and tighten the nuts and that's it, it can be a bit fiddly to get the cable in and out, but no big deal I'd say it does not take much longer than changing a tire wit QR System

tmm1999

Bluefoam wrote: »

I have a charge tap and its great...

Hi there Bluefoam and others,

I'm considering a Tap as well.
May I ask what model you got (2012 or 2013), what frame size and what height you are?
I heard the frames run rather large? Any comments on that?

Cheers,

Bluefoam

Mine is probably a 2010 or even 2009... Its size medium & I'm 6'3", it fits me fine. I'd probably get a large now as the cockpit is a bit short, which is good for city cycling.

doozerie

Lumen wrote: »

@silver campaign I've been meaning to sell my large Pompetamine Versa (11sp Alfine, drop bar integrated shifters).

As a matter of interest, how did you find the 11sp Alfine? I'm half considering it as an option for a new commuter (albeit an electronic one simply because that's what the bike comes with), has yours been reliable or did it create more headaches than it eliminated?

Lumen

doozerie wrote: »

As a matter of interest, how did you find the 11sp Alfine? I'm half considering it as an option for a new commuter (albeit an electronic one simply because that's what the bike comes with), has yours been reliable or did it create more headaches than it eliminated?

It shifts fine except when it doesn't; when the cable tension is off the hub internals can slip and it feels like a dropped chain. I solved this by adding inline cable adjusters, and it may be setup related. Those problems should be voided by the electronic shifting.

Also, the hub saps about 20W at 28kph (power meter verified) and anything over 30kph feels like very hard work. Paired with studded tyres it is not quick.

droidus

These genesis Alfines are lovely:



http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/urban-cross/day-one-alfine-8

droidus

As is this:



http://www.en.tout-terrain.de/bicycles/x-over/

Lumen

Don't like that geometry. Near-horizontal TT is important for lounging at lights.

droidus

Yeah, a lot of the new alfine's seem to be marketed as cyclocross bikes, which seems bizarre to say the least.

Still trying to find a decent drop bar alfine 11 that isn't outrageously expensive.

rollingscone

It's because CX bikes are sold much more as "Super for everything bikes" rather than for CX.

droidus

Even with the lightest possible frame, I wouldnt want to be jumping logs with an alfine hanging off me. Its a commuter or tourer.

rollingscone

I present to you Exhibit B: The Specialized Tricross

Seaneh

rollingscone wrote: »

I present to you Exhibit B: The Specialized Tricross

Bestest allrounder EVER!

Mine needs a wash, new cables and for me to finally put the new chain and cassette on it though.

rollingscone

Seaneh wrote: »

Bestest allrounder EVER!

Mine needs a wash, new cables and for me to finally put the new chain and cassette on it though.

But can you race cross on it?

Seaneh

rollingscone wrote: »

But can you race cross on it?

I can't, someone else could, easily. Will take massive nobbly tytre, has decent canti's and cx bar top levers and the TT is falttened underneath to make it easier to carry. Would be a great entry level CX bike. I'd great craic of some on the single track in moycullen last spring on it.

droidus

Anyone heard of any decent new alfine 11 commuters/tourers recently?

machiavellianme

Cube Editor is supposed to be excellent. Unfortunately they are super rare (so far in Ireland) so I've never managed to take one for a spin.

beauf

Never see them in the shops. I thought they seemed like a great idea.

droidus

machiavellianme wrote: »

Cube Editor is supposed to be excellent. Unfortunately they are super rare (so far in Ireland) so I've never managed to take one for a spin.

Yeah, this guy. Looks nice.



But very similar to what i already have. Thinking about an alfine 11 drop bar tourer/commuter.

wanderer 22

droidus wrote: »

Anyone heard of any decent new alfine 11 commuters/tourers recently?

If you're in Dublin maybe give Thinkbike in Rathmines a shout. I think I saw a Genesis with Alfine going at a discount there recently.

droidus

Focus Planent pro plus has an Alfine 8, but the same buzz:

droidus

Yuck:

droidus

colm18 wrote: »

If you're in Dublin maybe give Thinkbike in Rathmines a shout. I think I saw a Genesis with Alfine going at a discount there recently.

Not in the market for it just yet - but the day-one alfine 8 seems like the only option at the moment - and I really want to upgrade to an 11.

rollingscone

colm18 wrote: »

If you're in Dublin maybe give Thinkbike in Rathmines a shout. I think I saw a Genesis with Alfine going at a discount there recently.

I test rode it prior to buying my Croix de Fer. Heavy but silky smooth and handles nicely.

Big range on the gearing but grand for commuting/touring.

Preety too