[ispoke]

One nice thing about waiting a year for a frame is that you have time to save up for nice parts. And plenty of time to wait around for the next great part to show up on the market.

Even Picasa couldn't balance the colors given the mixed lighting - fluorescent, halogen and LED. So I converted to B&W...

 

[MB1]

4 Chainrings?!?

A tandem?

 

[ispoke]

choices

4 Chainrings?!? A tandem?

It's just a road/rando frame, gonna be a double crank. I can't decide between 48/34 and 12-27 (what I'm used to), or 46/32 and 14-25. The latter choice spins out around 30mph but has a really nice spread of gears in the range I use most of the time. It's gonna be a 9-speed cassette since I'm recycling most of the drivetrain.

For those considering 10-speed, I noticed that Shimano now has 15-25 and 16-27 cassettes. Again the theme is giving up high gears that are rarely used and getting more where you need it most. Pretty cool to have so many options on the market. Perhaps versatility really is making a comeback...

 

[rockcrusher]

that is a gorgeous hub.

Love the brake pulls. Classic.

 

[JP]

What is the deal with that hub? It doesn't look like all the SONs I see. Is that the one for smaller wheels?

 

[ispoke]

it's the SON 20R

What is the deal with that hub? It doesn't look like all the SONs I see. Is that the one for smaller wheels?

It's the new SON 20R. Officially for 16-20" wheels if you follow German law stating that the dynamo must output at least 2.70W (full power) at 15 kph (9.4 mph). But on a 700c wheel it might not reach full power until 20 kph (12.4 mph). The testing was documented in Bicycle Quarterly Vol. 3 No. 4. Most 'sporting' cyclists ride faster than 12 mph, so brightness isn't an issue with the smaller hub. And there's less pedaling resistance than the SON 28.

And if you use an LED headlight built for a dynamo, then you'll get a brighter light at a lower speed than halogen. In other words, a step change in the efficiency (and lower pedaling effort) of dynamo light systems. Schmidt appears to be claiming nearly a factor of 10 improvement in brightness with LED:

http://www.nabendynamo.de/produkte/Edelux.html

Picked up the built wheel tonight and I gotta say it's VERY much lighter than the old SON. In my mind this hub eliminates weight weenie concerns and I hope that it approaches effortless pedaling during the day when the lights are off...

 

[rodar y rodar]

Wow, whether it works or not I like it cause it looks so COOL!

 

[DrRoebuck]

That hub is awesome. Great pictures, too.

 

[OldRoadGuy]

ohhh.... the precious..
Smart choice on the B&W.

 

[KeeponTrekkin]

Very nice hub....

For those who do not speak / read German and who are interested in the latest LED lighting options:

http://ncrandonneur.blogspot.com/2008/04/celebrity-death-match-brewing-schmidt.html

This blog contains a link to Peter White Cycles who is importing the Schmidt generator powered LED bike light. Peter's site includes the english version of the German spec sheet. As you can see, it generates a lot more light than the highly regarded E6, and generates lots of light at lower wattages than halogen lights. Also, according to Peter White, the 20R weighs 390 grams vs. 570 for the SON 28. It's still not a feather, but 180 grams out of the front hub is significant, in my book.

FWIW, I've corresponded with Dinotte and they tell me they are reevaluating their prior decision to not offer generator powered lights.

Going to the Son 20R looks like a great call.

 

[Slim Again Soon]

Classy

I can't believe that's a generator hub.

Isn't there a dork requirement for those?

That thing is kinda gorgeous.

I want one.

 

[minstrie]

same verse

I'm in line for a custom rando frame coming in about 15mo., looking at the build. Like your gearing thoughts. Mind if I ask where you get your TA stuff? And plans on shifters? I'm thinking downtube for durability. Thanks.
Minstrie.

 

[ispoke]

I'm in line for a custom rando frame coming in about 15mo., looking at the build. Like your gearing thoughts. Mind if I ask where you get your TA stuff? And plans on shifters? I'm thinking downtube for durability. Thanks.
Minstrie.

I got a number of things, including the TA cranks and the roller cable hangers, at Velo Orange.

After seeing some photos of how clean and simple the down tube shifter is, and thinking about eliminating the loops from barcons, and going to try the down tube. I'm recycling 9-speed Ultegra parts.

In the latest Bicycle Quarterly, Jan states that the first time he's ever used the largest gear on any test bike is on the 46-28 combo on the Coho randonneur. That says something coming from a PBP veteran. For us downhill coasters there's a lot more to gearing than the max. PM me if you want to discuss. I've had my head buried deep in Sheldon's gear calculator for months and I'm so dizzy that I can no longer decide!

I noticed a peculiar bit of misinformation concerning rando frames. The french word for bicycle, "velo", is masculine. Thus the bike should be called a "randonneur". But a number of frame builders are now using the feminine form (which should only be applied to a female rider, I presume, but not her bike)...

 

[JP]

Ah, that explains the hub. I am in the market for a second generator set, and I'm just waiting until that new LED is available. I wonder how slow you can go and still get the LED bright. On some of the very steep sections here, I can find myself right against the slow end of my current LED primary -- a D-Lumotec plus.

Cool stuff.

 

[rodar y rodar]

JP, is the "new LED" you`re talking about that Supernova model that somebody posted here a few months ago? If so, Harris lists it now starting at $200. Looks nice.
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/lighting/supernova.html

 

[JP]

JP, is the "new LED" you`re talking about that Supernova model that somebody posted here a few months ago? If so, Harris lists it now starting at $200. Looks nice.
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/lighting/supernova.html

I suppose I'm waiting for the Schmidt LED, but I can't tell you why. That Supernova might be the ticket...Good options.