Open Discussion Group

Capreo Gearing

Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • February 27, 2017 at 11:31 am #5490
    Alexander Johnston
    Participant

    Steven
    This is very interesting.
    IMHO this is the ideal gearing set-up for a Moulton.
    A range of 84 gear inches from 22 to 106 is absolutely brilliant. It provides an excellent highest gear and an excellent lowest gear; the latter get the most mature and not-so-fit Moultoneer up the steepest hills without having to get off and walk. It also provides the opportunity to ride really quickly on a long gradual decline.
    It overcomes the narrower range of gearing offered by bikes with smaller wheels for any given combination of chain rings and rear cassette.
    The 22 inch lowest gear is significantly lower than that offered by a new TSR and the 106 highest is significantly higher than the highest on a new TSR.
    As far as I can establish the 22 inch gear is similar to that provided by only 2 new Moultons models (most have a lowest of about 25/26 inches) and the 106 is the same as that provided by the highest geared Moultons.
    By using a triple combined with the capreo you have provided both on the same bike.
    A pity that this wide range isn’t standard specification IMHO.
    By the way I’ve heard that the Bike Friday “Capreo” is better than the Shimano and can be bought from dealers in the USA.

    February 27, 2017 at 12:09 pm #5492
    Steven Brandist
    Member

    Hello Alex

    I used the standard Capreo rear hub as I managed to get one at a very cheap price.
    It seems fairly free running so far and you can buy spares for it. Apparently the water sealing isn’t brilliant on it, so time will tell.

    If I did another build I would use a Bike Friday (BF) hub, they are claimed to be 70 grams lighter (not a big deal) and uses 4 cartridge bearings for longer life (a big deal). The BF unit is available in 24 and 36 hole versions.

    Steven

    February 27, 2017 at 12:44 pm #5493
    Alexander Johnston
    Participant

    The other thing which I like about your gearing set-up is that it is 9sp. which I think is ideal: 4 up and 4 down and 1 in the middle.
    IMHO 10 and 11 speed are unnecessary for the vast majority of cyclists.
    9sp is a good compromise between number of gears and durability.
    Your set-up would be even more attractive if there were a wider choice of 9sp triple group sets.

  • Author
    Posts
Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.