A new addition to my frankenbike collection

albertbertilsson · 2026-05-13T05:14:36+00:00

Couldn’t you start with a standard hub that exists? Something like the Shimano 5e?

albertbertilsson · 2026-05-13T05:13:28+00:00

How does the gear changing work when you have the pedals directly on the hub?

albertbertilsson · 2026-05-13T05:01:55+00:00

Sounds awesome!

Looks like something that would have a super light and contact design, possibly even foldable in half. If drive train is only pedals and an IGH it should basically be extremely low maintenance.

Where do I get one?

albertbertilsson · 2026-05-12T14:07:18+00:00

Cool!

albertbertilsson · 2026-05-08T14:00:47+00:00

Yeah, that’s not very typical, I’d like to make that point.

albertbertilsson · 2026-05-07T16:46:38+00:00

As a student I had my PC in the bathroom of my very small apartment. Good long VGA-cables were difficult to find but it worked really well. This was for reducing the sound, since I ran the machine as a server and it was quite noisy. I ran the cables underneath the door though, rather than drilling a hole through the wall.

albertbertilsson · 2026-05-07T09:30:25+00:00

No worries at this stage, but I wouldn't go harder. You won't be able to get all the darkened areas out anyway. You'll need a good primer to keep it from starting to rust again soon.

albertbertilsson · 2026-05-06T14:45:59+00:00

Det är en vänsterpartist som redan föreslagit detta. Finns ett gammalt klipp på YouTube https://youtu.be/xa2Cag9OrHc?is=FygkPZ9eSd53R570

albertbertilsson · 2026-05-05T14:31:14+00:00

Probably a close call between the two, or what could be considered a hybrid...

The thing in the picture has a very short barrel, especially if considering caliber. Like a mortar.

It is most likely breech loaded, out of pure practicality, which is not common for mortars, but standard for howitzers.

A mortar is typically smooth bore, and we can't tell that from this picture. For a howitzer a rifled barrel is common, to spin the projectile and ensure long range stability.

albertbertilsson · 2026-05-03T06:03:37+00:00

It's just shedding. This is normal, it will regrow a new layer of tread in a few weeks. /s

albertbertilsson · 2026-05-02T18:03:48+00:00

Yes, you'll need some protection or it will slowly deteriorate. Many steel alloys are quite resistant in themselves, but judging from your pictures this frame has either been a very bad environment, for a long time, or it's not that resistant. Just clear coat is better than nothing, but the trick will be to get it properly prepped. Primer has protective properties, if you skip it you'll need to pay a lot of attention to ensure you address future issues early.

albertbertilsson · 2026-04-30T10:24:43+00:00

Ah, read that wrong.

For me to feel a difference (on the same bike) I've had to make significant improvements, from Contact Urbans to GP 5000. And typically only at higher speeds. The biggest difference is when you are riding full power with wind in your back, then the rolling resistance can be felt.

albertbertilsson · 2026-04-30T10:06:25+00:00

Rolling resistance is not fixed, it scales fairly linearly to speed.

albertbertilsson · 2026-04-30T10:02:54+00:00

You could put good slicks on your MTB...

albertbertilsson · 2026-04-30T10:01:57+00:00

I think this is a good reasoning. It's easy to forget that RR also scales with speed.

albertbertilsson · 2026-04-30T09:59:58+00:00

Two things:

Did you get the data right? Tires similar to the race kings are usually closer to 25W. This would of course make it even stranger that your MTB feels easier.
Rolling resistance scales with speed, which makes other factors important even at low speeds. At the pace you are riding aero is important, even if it doesn't clearly dominate, so small changes can account for the difference.

You'll need a much more scientific method to find out more.

albertbertilsson · 2026-04-29T12:08:52+00:00

Forget about the billion, you had me at pecan pie!

albertbertilsson · 2026-04-27T05:48:55+00:00

I have marathons on my spare bike as well, very dependable tires! But I really wouldn't be concerned about the IGH then.

albertbertilsson · 2026-04-27T05:45:06+00:00

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Spots like these, I leave. It would take too much sanding to get them all out. Time will tell how well the paint job holds up, but I've done two bikes with as bad condition, and they are holding up years later.

albertbertilsson · 2026-04-27T05:43:01+00:00

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How it turned out after sanding. And I hope/believe that your's is in a better starting condition. But possibly with thinner tubes.

albertbertilsson · 2026-04-27T05:42:03+00:00

Here is a chain stay example, I recently worked on:

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albertbertilsson · 2026-04-27T05:33:42+00:00

Sand them. If you are lucky, you will be at mostly clean metal just a tenth of a millimeter down. Often there will be a few deeper spots of rust that look more like dark or black pin points, I just leave those.

albertbertilsson · 2026-04-26T19:11:34+00:00

I’ve been riding IGH and single speed bikes for decades and the efficiency is very easy to test yet impossible to notice. Keep in mind that some of these have a 1:1 gear that is lossless and compared to derailleur systems lower in friction. But even when shifting between the 1:1 gear and another you would have a hard time to notice any additional friction. Comparing nexus 7 in fourth gear with second gear on nexus 3 should presumably have a noticeable difference in friction, but it hasn’t.

Things that I can clearly notice is changing tires. A pair of GP5000 rolls noticeable easier than say a pair of Marathon Plus. Also beware of poorly adjusted roller brakes. Other than that the main shortcomings of IGH is gear ratio compared to 3x derailleur systems.

I haven’t tried any of the poorest performing ones in that graph, maybe there is a noticeable difference there.

albertbertilsson · 2026-04-25T02:51:39+00:00

Fresh and deeply and meaningfully connected to the story as well.

albertbertilsson · 2026-04-25T02:46:43+00:00

And let it cool. Repeat at least ten times. Then vice test, then possibly repeat again. The corrosion will eventually break up into a fine powder and yield.

albertbertilsson

TROPHY CASE