Nexus hub and winter conditions - snow, salted roads, etc

[andrewinoslo]

Anybody have experience with durability of the Nexus 7 or 8 and winter
riding conditions, i.e. snow, salted roads, etc?
- Andrew

[landotter]

On Oct 27, 8:08 am, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Anybody have experience with durability of the Nexus 7 or 8 and winter
> riding conditions, i.e. snow, salted roads, etc?

Brilliant hub. Never a problem with the 30K on mine. Run a nickel
plated KMC bmx chain and wipe your bike down with an old towel after
riding salty roads, and you'll be fine. Make sure to keep the cable
adjusted properly--which involves twisting a barrel adjuster till the
two red pips line up--and you'll be trouble free for years.

[Konstantin Shemyak]

On 2007-10-27, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.green@gmail.com> wrote:
> Anybody have experience with durability of the Nexus 7 or 8 and winter
> riding conditions, i.e. snow, salted roads, etc?

I've been riding Nexus-7 during couple of winters in Helsinki,
Finland. Everyday 15km one-way commute. The hub worked just
fine; I had no issues with anything like oil freezing or whatever.
See http://konstantin.shemyak.com/cycling/MyBikes/index.html#nexus.

Planet gear hub can be in advantage over deraileur system
in around-zero temperatures, when the traditional cassette can
build snow/ice and stop working. But to say the truth, I had
my cassette freezed this way maybe two times in all my winter
bicycling life (10 years soon).

I decided to stay with deraileur system in favor of Nexus
by other reasons (did not like the inability to downshift
under load).

Konstantin Shemyak.

[andrewinoslo]

On Oct 27, 4:10 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Oct 27, 8:08 am, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Anybody have experience with durability of the Nexus 7 or 8 and winter
> > riding conditions, i.e. snow, salted roads, etc?
>
> Brilliant hub. Never a problem with the 30K on mine. Run a nickel
> plated KMC bmx chain and wipe your bike down with an old towel after
> riding salty roads, and you'll be fine. Make sure to keep the cable
> adjusted properly--which involves twisting a barrel adjuster till the
> two red pips line up--and you'll be trouble free for years.

Have you been riding on roads that get salted every day through the
winter? That's how my commute is from Nov-Mar, everyday. Also, any
tendancy to be sluggish in sub freezing temps, i.e. -5 to -10c?
thanks

[landotter]

On Oct 27, 3:18 pm, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Oct 27, 4:10 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Oct 27, 8:08 am, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > Anybody have experience with durability of the Nexus 7 or 8 and winter
> > > riding conditions, i.e. snow, salted roads, etc?
>
> > Brilliant hub. Never a problem with the 30K on mine. Run a nickel
> > plated KMC bmx chain and wipe your bike down with an old towel after
> > riding salty roads, and you'll be fine. Make sure to keep the cable
> > adjusted properly--which involves twisting a barrel adjuster till the
> > two red pips line up--and you'll be trouble free for years.
>
> Have you been riding on roads that get salted every day through the
> winter?

I did three Chicago winters with mind. No problems. Not salted every
day up there, but quite often. Use good fenders with long mud flaps
and you'll have a head start.

>That's how my commute is from Nov-Mar, everyday. Also, any
> tendancy to be sluggish in sub freezing temps, i.e. -5 to -10c?
> thanks

Never noticed a problem. When it gets around -15c you can have other
things happen, like the moisture in brake cables freeze. Using teflon
coated cables and lubricant would probably prevent this.

[andrewinoslo]

On Oct 27, 9:18 pm, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Oct 27, 4:10 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Oct 27, 8:08 am, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > Anybody have experience with durability of the Nexus 7 or 8 and winter
> > > riding conditions, i.e. snow, salted roads, etc?
>
> > Brilliant hub. Never a problem with the 30K on mine. Run a nickel
> > plated KMC bmx chain and wipe your bike down with an old towel after
> > riding salty roads, and you'll be fine. Make sure to keep the cable
> > adjusted properly--which involves twisting a barrel adjuster till the
> > two red pips line up--and you'll be trouble free for years.
>
> Have you been riding on roads that get salted every day through the
> winter? That's how my commute is from Nov-Mar, everyday. Also, any
> tendancy to be sluggish in sub freezing temps, i.e. -5 to -10c?
> thanks

Excellent tips, I've been riding in the winter for 6 years but with
regular freewheel and gear system. Sometimes i've had to get a bucket
of hot water to pour over the drive train to get the ice out of the
freewheel and pullies. Good to hear the nexys holds up, had heard
from one source that it needs opening up and grease every 4 weeks if
riding on salted snowy roads. thanks!!

[joseph.santaniello@gmail.com]

On Oct 27, 10:32 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Oct 27, 3:18 pm, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Oct 27, 4:10 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Oct 27, 8:08 am, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > Anybody have experience with durability of the Nexus 7 or 8 and winter
> > > > riding conditions, i.e. snow, salted roads, etc?
>
> > > Brilliant hub. Never a problem with the 30K on mine. Run a nickel
> > > plated KMC bmx chain and wipe your bike down with an old towel after
> > > riding salty roads, and you'll be fine. Make sure to keep the cable
> > > adjusted properly--which involves twisting a barrel adjuster till the
> > > two red pips line up--and you'll be trouble free for years.
>
> > Have you been riding on roads that get salted every day through the
> > winter?
>
> I did three Chicago winters with mind. No problems. Not salted every
> day up there, but quite often. Use good fenders with long mud flaps
> and you'll have a head start.
>
> >That's how my commute is from Nov-Mar, everyday. Also, any
> > tendancy to be sluggish in sub freezing temps, i.e. -5 to -10c?
> > thanks
>
> Never noticed a problem. When it gets around -15c you can have other
> things happen, like the moisture in brake cables freeze. Using teflon
> coated cables and lubricant would probably prevent this.

Based on the OP's nick, it seems he is in Oslo.

I've lived several years in both Chicago and Oslo. I'd say the
conditions are MUCH more severe in Chicago.

Joseph

[mark@drumbent.com]

On Oct 27, 4:32 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Oct 27, 3:18 pm, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Oct 27, 4:10 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Oct 27, 8:08 am, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > Anybody have experience with durability of the Nexus 7 or 8 and winter
> > > > riding conditions, i.e. snow, salted roads, etc?
>
> > > Brilliant hub. Never a problem with the 30K on mine. Run a nickel
> > > plated KMC bmx chain and wipe your bike down with an old towel after
> > > riding salty roads, and you'll be fine. Make sure to keep the cable
> > > adjusted properly--which involves twisting a barrel adjuster till the
> > > two red pips line up--and you'll be trouble free for years.
>
> > Have you been riding on roads that get salted every day through the
> > winter?
>
> I did three Chicago winters with mind. No problems. Not salted every
> day up there, but quite often. Use good fenders with long mud flaps
> and you'll have a head start.
>
> >That's how my commute is from Nov-Mar, everyday. Also, any
> > tendancy to be sluggish in sub freezing temps, i.e. -5 to -10c?
> > thanks
>
> Never noticed a problem. When it gets around -15c you can have other
> things happen, like the moisture in brake cables freeze. Using teflon
> coated cables and lubricant would probably prevent this.


I've run this hub for three Ottawa winters now. For the cable
freezing issue I run as little housing as possible. I have a photos of
the cable runs at:

http://drumbent.com/winterbike.html

With this method I have never had the hub not shift, and I've cycled
at -28C. Oh, and get the Rapidfire shifter if you can. MUCH easier to
use with fat winter mitts than a gripshift.

I love everything about this hub, except for how hard it is to re-
install the wheel if it has to come out! It's one thing to do this in
a warm dry space, but on the side of the road on a cold winter night
it is not fun trying to hook the cable end back into the fitting. I
think Shimano could've come up with a better design than this...

And yes, I know on such bikes one should patch the tube with the wheel
in place, but patches don't always stick well on cold, wet tubes. I'd
rather pull it all out, yank the tube (and at the same time hopefully
find out what caused the flat) then stuff a new tube in and patch the
old one when I get home.

For tires I always run a studded one on front, and usually on the back
as well. On slippery roads I avoid using the front brake as much as
possible so that the front tire does not break traction. Having the
rear end slide out is usually controllable, not so the front...

Mark (18 years of all-weather, year-round cycling)

[Tom Sherman]

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com aka Joseph Santaniello wrote:
> On Oct 27, 10:32 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Oct 27, 3:18 pm, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On Oct 27, 4:10 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> On Oct 27, 8:08 am, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Anybody have experience with durability of the Nexus 7 or 8 and winter
>>>>> riding conditions, i.e. snow, salted roads, etc?
>>>> Brilliant hub. Never a problem with the 30K on mine. Run a nickel
>>>> plated KMC bmx chain and wipe your bike down with an old towel after
>>>> riding salty roads, and you'll be fine. Make sure to keep the cable
>>>> adjusted properly--which involves twisting a barrel adjuster till the
>>>> two red pips line up--and you'll be trouble free for years.
>>> Have you been riding on roads that get salted every day through the
>>> winter?
>> I did three Chicago winters with mind. No problems. Not salted every
>> day up there, but quite often. Use good fenders with long mud flaps
>> and you'll have a head start.
>>
>>> That's how my commute is from Nov-Mar, everyday. Also, any
>>> tendancy to be sluggish in sub freezing temps, i.e. -5 to -10c?
>>> thanks
>> Never noticed a problem. When it gets around -15c you can have other
>> things happen, like the moisture in brake cables freeze. Using teflon
>> coated cables and lubricant would probably prevent this.
>
> Based on the OP's nick, it seems he is in Oslo.
>
> I've lived several years in both Chicago and Oslo. I'd say the
> conditions are MUCH more severe in Chicago.

The roads in Chicagoland are white with salt from the last snow melt to
the first spring rain.

I suspect that certain officials are getting kickbacks from road salt
producers - this is Illinois after all, where politicians traditionally
go from office to jail.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
When did ignorance of biology become a "family value"?

[landotter]

On Oct 27, 4:06 pm, "joseph.santanie...@gmail.com"
<joseph.santanie...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Oct 27, 10:32 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Oct 27, 3:18 pm, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Oct 27, 4:10 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > On Oct 27, 8:08 am, andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > Anybody have experience with durability of the Nexus 7 or 8 and winter
> > > > > riding conditions, i.e. snow, salted roads, etc?
>
> > > > Brilliant hub. Never a problem with the 30K on mine. Run a nickel
> > > > plated KMC bmx chain and wipe your bike down with an old towel after
> > > > riding salty roads, and you'll be fine. Make sure to keep the cable
> > > > adjusted properly--which involves twisting a barrel adjuster till the
> > > > two red pips line up--and you'll be trouble free for years.
>
> > > Have you been riding on roads that get salted every day through the
> > > winter?
>
> > I did three Chicago winters with mind. No problems. Not salted every
> > day up there, but quite often. Use good fenders with long mud flaps
> > and you'll have a head start.
>
> > >That's how my commute is from Nov-Mar, everyday. Also, any
> > > tendancy to be sluggish in sub freezing temps, i.e. -5 to -10c?
> > > thanks
>
> > Never noticed a problem. When it gets around -15c you can have other
> > things happen, like the moisture in brake cables freeze. Using teflon
> > coated cables and lubricant would probably prevent this.
>
> Based on the OP's nick, it seems he is in Oslo.
>
> I've lived several years in both Chicago and Oslo. I'd say the
> conditions are MUCH more severe in Chicago.

I do remember exiting a bar in Wicker Park after a snow storm once,
where the drifts were huge and the street signs were obscured and I
was new to town--and I seriously thought about digging a snow cave to
survive the night. Fortunately I was able to make out a couple
landmarks and trudge to my apartment.

Gotta say, once the roads have been salted and melted off--cycling
during the winter in Chicago, if you've got a good bike and layered
clothing, sure beats the hell out of standing on a metal train
platform or wading through the brown snow as a ped--the streets get
salted and after a couple days, it's dry pavement for most routes.

I really liked the Michelin Idilis cx tires I ran the last winter
there. Very sticky tire, about as nice as you can expect on black ice,
short of studs.

[A Muzi]

>>>>> andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Anybody have experience with durability of the Nexus 7 or 8 and
>>>>>> winter
>>>>>> riding conditions, i.e. snow, salted roads, etc?

>>>> landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Brilliant hub. Never a problem with the 30K on mine. Run a nickel
>>>>> plated KMC bmx chain and wipe your bike down with an old towel after
>>>>> riding salty roads, and you'll be fine. Make sure to keep the cable
>>>>> adjusted properly--which involves twisting a barrel adjuster till the
>>>>> two red pips line up--and you'll be trouble free for years.

>>> andrewinoslo <andrewjo.gr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Have you been riding on roads that get salted every day through the
>>>> winter?

>> landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> I did three Chicago winters with mind. No problems. Not salted every
>>> day up there, but quite often. Use good fenders with long mud flaps
>>> and you'll have a head start.

>>>> That's how my commute is from Nov-Mar, everyday. Also, any
>>>> tendancy to be sluggish in sub freezing temps, i.e. -5 to -10c?
>>>> thanks

>> landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Never noticed a problem. When it gets around -15c you can have other
>>> things happen, like the moisture in brake cables freeze. Using teflon
>>> coated cables and lubricant would probably prevent this.

> joseph.santaniello@gmail.com aka Joseph Santaniello wrote:
>> Based on the OP's nick, it seems he is in Oslo.
>> I've lived several years in both Chicago and Oslo. I'd say the
>> conditions are MUCH more severe in Chicago.

Tom Sherman wrote:
> The roads in Chicagoland are white with salt from the last snow melt to
> the first spring rain.
> I suspect that certain officials are getting kickbacks from road salt
> producers - this is Illinois after all, where politicians traditionally
> go from office to jail.

Not Mayor Jane! She learned well (and passed on) the dread fear of
snowy roads, all else be damned.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

[David L. Johnson]

landotter wrote:

> I really liked the Michelin Idilis cx tires I ran the last winter
> there. Very sticky tire, about as nice as you can expect on black ice,
> short of studs.

Why stop short of studs? I've used studded tires for winter riding for
years, and swear by them. I can ride up roads that are uphill and
covered in black ice, roads that I could not walk up.

--

David L. Johnson

What is objectionable, and what is dangerous about extremists is not
that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant.
--Robert F. Kennedy

[Matt O'Toole]

On Sat, 27 Oct 2007 21:39:38 -0400, David L. Johnson wrote:

> landotter wrote:
>
>> I really liked the Michelin Idilis cx tires I ran the last winter
>> there. Very sticky tire, about as nice as you can expect on black ice,
>> short of studs.
>
> Why stop short of studs? I've used studded tires for winter riding for
> years, and swear by them. I can ride up roads that are uphill and
> covered in black ice, roads that I could not walk up.

But can the cars and trucks around you negotiate the ice as well?

Other than that, I've used studs before too and they're great.

Matt O.

[Peter Cole]

Matt O'Toole wrote:
> On Sat, 27 Oct 2007 21:39:38 -0400, David L. Johnson wrote:
>
>> landotter wrote:
>>
>>> I really liked the Michelin Idilis cx tires I ran the last winter
>>> there. Very sticky tire, about as nice as you can expect on black ice,
>>> short of studs.
>> Why stop short of studs? I've used studded tires for winter riding for
>> years, and swear by them. I can ride up roads that are uphill and
>> covered in black ice, roads that I could not walk up.
>
> But can the cars and trucks around you negotiate the ice as well?

Perhaps not, but it's better for one to have control than neither.

>
> Other than that, I've used studs before too and they're great.

Yeah, my winter bike is a fixer with studs -- dead simple, redundant
braking.