Black Hawk Down
Senior Rookie
I have to admit. I'm getting used to the twist shifter and I like it.
Pinion gearbox
- Thread starter jhammond
- Start date
YOGA_O
Member
FWIW, just like learning to ride a CB takes some miles, it’s similar for the Rohloff. You will get used to it, as there’s a brief point in pedaling where the pressure is low and *click* you twist shift. Riding my ICE Sprint trike up the Rockies, Ozarks and Appalachians with the Rohloff were easy from a gear shifting perspective, even if my legs and lungs weren’t too happy about it.
Looking at your pics I think I would struggle with a twist shifter, but it sounds like you’re getting used to that as well.
Looking at your pics I think I would struggle with a twist shifter, but it sounds like you’re getting used to that as well.
Black Hawk Down
Senior Rookie
I don't like the twist shifter on the end of the bar. I'm talking to my LBS tomorrow about moving it.
Black Hawk Down
Senior Rookie
McWheels
Off the long run
Can confirm. Even with a budget Sturmey-Archer 8sp, you learn to shift early and shift often. You don't wait until you need to shift, you go a second or 2 early so the slightest moment of off-pressure gives you the space and time to down-shift. I like to think I was reasonably OK at that seeing as I also learnt my first CB at the same time. I don't think you lose anything in convenience while riding, it's just different. and when you're stopped you can shift as much as you want.
The previous comments about efficiency are largely true though. But it wasn't a racing bike and the chain line was exemplary.
Black Hawk Down
Senior Rookie
I have become much more adept at shifting the Rohloff but I still can't shift fast enough to get up one of my most steep and sudden hills. If I start in high gears to keep the momentum up, I can't get shifted down fast enough to be in the lower gear needed to finish off the hill. If I start in a low gear, I can't keep the momentum going and I slow down too much so that even in my lowest gear, I can't spin up the hill. It's just too steep. I was able to almost always get up the hill with my Shimano 2X11 DI2 drive train (V20) and my SRAM AXS 1x12 drivetrain (S40). Electronic shifting just can't be beat. It's fast and you can crank on the pedals while shifting. In saying that, I like the Rohloff and mostly bought it for the durability and low maintenance for my touring. The hill in my daily ride is unusually steep. I can't get up it in 1st gear, which, on the Rohloff is very low. I'm willing to walk up this kind of hill on the tour.
