Bloody 6-speed freehub!?!?!?! Who knew

RonSonic said:

Thinking to turn my old mountain bike into a single speed, I order a

freewheel.

Quoted message said:

Why not? It's a six speed and the cluster's held on by the last

unsplined cog.

Quoted message said:

It's a freewheel right?

WRONG!!!!!

It's a freehub. I didn't even know such a thing existed.

If you have a used bike shop in your area, they'll be able to set you
up cheaply with a suitable replacement wheel with a threaded hub.

You can also substitute spacers for all but the desired cassette
sprocket on the wheel you already have, arranging them in whatever
order gives you a good chainline.

Chalo Colina

Life is full of angst ;-) Enjoy life while you can as it is NOT a practice session.

RonSonic said:

Rant's over. Thanks for your kind attention.

Ron

RonSonic said:

Thinking to turn my old mountain bike into a single speed, I order a freewheel.
Why not? It's a six speed and the cluster's held on by the last unsplined cog.
It's a freewheel right?
WRONG!!!!!
It's a freehub. I didn't even know such a thing existed.
[censored]. Now I get to kick myself for paying not nearly enough attention and
start this plan over again.
Rats!

Just use one new cassette cog [1] of your preferred size
along with a few free spacers [2] and secure it all with
that existing end cog.

Alternately, buy a wheel ($40 &up) or look for a salvage
freewheel hub wheel I suppose.

And I suppose you thought about just leaving all six,
removing the changers and trimming the chain to fit around
your favorite one. Lacks 'cool factor' but works fine.

[1] Minor modification required to use a modern HG cog on a
UG cassette body. One HG spline is wider. Cut away 1mmx2mm
of material and slip it right over your old style body.

[2] Spacers may be pulled from any scrap cassette cog set -
new or old

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Werehatrack said:

On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 03:49:02 GMT, RonSonic <[email hidden]>

may have said:

Thinking to turn my old mountain bike into a single speed, I order a freewheel.
Why not? It's a six speed and the cluster's held on by the last unsplined cog.

It's a freewheel right?

WRONG!!!!!

It's a freehub. I didn't even know such a thing existed.

Ah, yes, the UltraGlide, predecessor of the IG and HG. If it's a
Shimano hub, you could also swap out the freehub and make it an 8.

Wasn't it known as Uniglide?

On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 03:49:02 GMT, RonSonic <[email hidden]>

may have said:

Thinking to turn my old mountain bike into a single speed, I order a freewheel.
Why not? It's a six speed and the cluster's held on by the last unsplined cog.

It's a freewheel right?

WRONG!!!!!

It's a freehub. I didn't even know such a thing existed.

Ah, yes, the UltraGlide, predecessor of the IG and HG. If it's a
Shimano hub, you could also swap out the freehub and make it an 8.

Quoted message said:

[censored]. Now I get to kick myself for paying not nearly enough attention and
start this plan over again.

Well, as someone already suggested, you could just leave the six
sprockets in place and only actually use the one that you prefer.
Alternately, since you didn't say that you were attempting to concoct
a fixie, you can scrounge the spacers from a couple of other cassettes
and just position the selected sprocket using the spacers as needed to
put the sprocket in the best position, and clamp the whole thing in
place using the existing small sprocket as a lockring. (Don't grind
the teeth off, or you'll have a hard time getting it tight.)

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 22:15:21 -0700, "M. Chandler"

may have said:

Werehatrack said:

On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 03:49:02 GMT, RonSonic <[email hidden]>

may have said:

Thinking to turn my old mountain bike into a single speed, I order a freewheel.
Why not? It's a six speed and the cluster's held on by the last unsplined cog.

It's a freewheel right?

WRONG!!!!!

It's a freehub. I didn't even know such a thing existed.

Ah, yes, the UltraGlide, predecessor of the IG and HG. If it's a
Shimano hub, you could also swap out the freehub and make it an 8.

Wasn't it known as Uniglide?

Yes, Uniglide. I had intended to note in a different thread that
Shimano had managed to cheat themselves out of the option of using the
Ultraglide name by having already used the UG initials, and the
moniker got stuck in the buffer. (I'm still sort of curious as to
what handle Shimano will hang on their Next Great Thing in cassette
design. Superlatives get scarce beyond Hyper.)

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Werehatrack said:

Yes, Uniglide. I had intended to note in a different thread that
Shimano had managed to cheat themselves out of the option of using the
Ultraglide name by having already used the UG initials, and the
moniker got stuck in the buffer. (I'm still sort of curious as to
what handle Shimano will hang on their Next Great Thing in cassette
design. Superlatives get scarce beyond Hyper.)

Scarce, AND more cringe-worthy:

Mega-
Super-
Xtreme-

:-/

--
jc

Remove the -not from email

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 23:15:27 -0600, Werehatrack <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 03:49:02 GMT, RonSonic <[email hidden]>

may have said:

Thinking to turn my old mountain bike into a single speed, I order a freewheel.
Why not? It's a six speed and the cluster's held on by the last unsplined cog.

It's a freewheel right?

WRONG!!!!!

It's a freehub. I didn't even know such a thing existed.

Ah, yes, the UltraGlide, predecessor of the IG and HG. If it's a
Shimano hub, you could also swap out the freehub and make it an 8.

Quoted message said:

[censored]. Now I get to kick myself for paying not nearly enough attention and
start this plan over again.

Well, as someone already suggested, you could just leave the six
sprockets in place and only actually use the one that you prefer.
Alternately, since you didn't say that you were attempting to concoct
a fixie, you can scrounge the spacers from a couple of other cassettes
and just position the selected sprocket using the spacers as needed to
put the sprocket in the best position, and clamp the whole thing in
place using the existing small sprocket as a lockring. (Don't grind
the teeth off, or you'll have a hard time getting it tight.)

Andy, Chalo, Ken, Were, thank you all for the tips. Yep we're going to plan B.

Already broke down the cassette. Doesn't have the cog I want, and the closest is
horribly worn. No big. there are plenty of bike shops around and someone'll have
what I need.

I just feel silly not noticing. Oh well. It'll be a really cool bike.

Ron

Jeremy Collins said:

Werehatrack said:

Yes, Uniglide. I had intended to note in a different thread that
Shimano had managed to cheat themselves out of the option of using

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Ultraglide name by having already used the UG initials, and the
moniker got stuck in the buffer. (I'm still sort of curious as to
what handle Shimano will hang on their Next Great Thing in cassette
design. Superlatives get scarce beyond Hyper.)

Scarce, AND more cringe-worthy:

Mega-
Super-
Xtreme-

They've already got Mega-Range cassettes and freewheels, affectionately
known as Megastrange in my workshop. Basically a 14-28 with a 34t
dinner plate of a largest cog, aimed very squarely at the recreational
riders who need a copout gear. Requires enormous jockey wheels in a
special derailleur to cope with the sudden 6t jump, so well up to the
big S's usual standard.

I truly hope Shimano doesn't start spelling "extreme" with the wrong
number of E's, that would put me in an even worse mood than usual.

RonSonic said:

Already broke down the cassette. Doesn't have the cog I want, and the

closest is

Quoted message said:

horribly worn.

For SS use, you can just flip the sprocket backwards to refresh it.

Chalo Colina

An anonymous poster said:

They've already got Mega-Range cassettes and freewheels, affectionately
known as Megastrange in my workshop. Basically a 14-28 with a 34t
dinner plate of a largest cog, aimed very squarely at the recreational
riders who need a copout gear.

This design is what used to be known as an "alpine" gear. I used to
have a '50s bike with a 14-16-19-26 freewheel, same basic concept.

The idea is to get a wide range and a serious climbing gear without
introducing unpleasantly large jumps into the cruising range where most
cycling is done.

This is a Good Thing, in my opinion. One of my bikes has the 7-speed
11-13-15-18-21-24-34 version and I think it's terrific.

See: http://sheldonbrown.org/rambouillet

In addition, this specific variation has a totally redesigned freewheel
body that is superior to every previous design.

See: http://sheldonbrown.com/mega7

It's not just for recreational riders, also very good for serious
cyclists in hilly areas.

Quoted message said:

Requires enormous jockey wheels in a
special derailleur to cope with the sudden 6t jump,

That is absolutely false. These work with any derailer that will handle
a 34 sprocket. I'm using an old 400LX on mine.

Quoted message said:

so well up to the big S's usual standard.

That's one place I agree with you! They're great!

Quoted message said:

I truly hope Shimano doesn't start spelling "extreme" with the wrong
number of E's, that would put me in an even worse mood than usual.

Ah, the old "straw man" argument. What about the various companies who
mis-spell "laser" as "lazer?"

I guess that stands for "Light Amplification by Ztimulated Emission of
Radiation"

Sheldon "Megarange Fan" Brown
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Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

Quoted message said:

riders who need a copout gear. Requires enormous jockey wheels in a
special derailleur to cope with the sudden 6t jump,

What's the reasoning behind this?
--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

Marvin said:

...
They've already got Mega-Range cassettes and freewheels, affectionately
known as Megastrange in my workshop. Basically a 14-28 with a 34t
dinner plate of a largest cog, aimed very squarely at the recreational
riders who need a copout gear. Requires enormous jockey wheels in a
special derailleur to cope with the sudden 6t jump, so well up to the
big S's usual standard....

I have a 9-speed 11-34 XT cassette and it shifts quite well with an XTR
derailleur and SRAM Plasma Grip-Shift.

--
Tom Sherman - Earth

Sheldon Brown said:

An anonymous poster said:

Requires enormous jockey wheels in a
special derailleur to cope with the sudden 6t jump,

That is absolutely false. These work with any derailer that will

handle

Quoted message said:

a 34 sprocket. I'm using an old 400LX on mine.

Not to mention that the 7-speed Megarange freewheels sport an enormous
*10-tooth* gap from the big to the second sprocket.

The enormous jockey wheels are largely immaterial to shifting quality.
Shifting is controlled by the upper pulley, which is "normal" size:
http://www.shimano-europe.com/cycling/catalogue/content_prodx.phtml?pid=10455&psid=10492
and
http://www.shimano-europe.com/cycling/catalogue/content_prodx.phtml?pid=10485&psid=10481
The lower pulley's larger diameter does allow the derailleur cage to be
a little shorter, which means it doesn't look quite so ungainly.

Jeff "Tooth gap? Where are we, Tennessee?" Wills

Quoted message said:

Sheldon Brown said:

An anonymous poster wrote:

Damnit, am I posting anonymously? Google Groups obviously doesn't do
as it's told...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Requires enormous jockey wheels in a
special derailleur to cope with the sudden 6t jump,

That is absolutely false. These work with any derailer that will

handle

Quoted message said:

a 34 sprocket. I'm using an old 400LX on mine.

Heh, guess I should've put my brain into gear first. All the
Megarange-compatible stuff in my workshop has always had those
oversized jockey wheels, I never stopped to wonder whether it was
actually necessary. Now I think about it, it increases the amount of
chain wrapped by the derailleur and that's about all. The only use I
can think of is for allowing a more constant chain tension, which is
nice if you're in the habit of picking silly gear combinations but,
quite right, not necessary. My bad.

Quoted message said:

Not to mention that the 7-speed Megarange freewheels sport an

enormous

Quoted message said:

*10-tooth* gap from the big to the second sprocket.

That's what I meant, honest. Not having trouble counting today, oh no.

cheers
Dave M

Sheldon Brown said:

An anonymous poster said:

They've already got Mega-Range cassettes and freewheels,

affectionately

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

known as Megastrange in my workshop. Basically a 14-28 with a 34t
dinner plate of a largest cog, aimed very squarely at the

recreational

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

riders who need a copout gear.

This design is what used to be known as an "alpine" gear. I used to
have a '50s bike with a 14-16-19-26 freewheel, same basic concept.

The idea is to get a wide range and a serious climbing gear without
introducing unpleasantly large jumps into the cruising range where

most

Quoted message said:

cycling is done.

This is a Good Thing, in my opinion. One of my bikes has the 7-speed

Quoted message said:

11-13-15-18-21-24-34 version and I think it's terrific.

See: http://sheldonbrown.org/rambouillet

In addition, this specific variation has a totally redesigned

freewheel

Quoted message said:

body that is superior to every previous design.

See: http://sheldonbrown.com/mega7

Well, I've learnt something, so my day hasn't been a total waste.
However, just because the freewheel is good doesn't mean the sprocket
choice isn't bad :-)

Quoted message said:

It's not just for recreational riders, also very good for serious
cyclists in hilly areas.

Excuse me while I beg to differ. I don't know what the profile of your
average hill is, but on most things I climb if I need a 34t sprocket
I'm going to need a 30t somewhere nearby. Trying to either grind up it
in a 24t or twiddle up in the 34 just ain't going to cut it. I can
understand the desire for a large rear sprocket, but the "icecream cone
on a dinner plate" look is surely taking it too far.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Requires enormous jockey wheels in a
special derailleur to cope with the sudden 6t jump,

That is absolutely false. These work with any derailer that will

handle

Quoted message said:

a 34 sprocket. I'm using an old 400LX on mine.

As previous post: ooops. Obviously been reading Shimano's tech specs
for long enough that I believe them.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

so well up to the big S's usual standard.

That's one place I agree with you! They're great!

....er, how do I get the angry hornets back in their nest?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I truly hope Shimano doesn't start spelling "extreme" with the

wrong

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

number of E's, that would put me in an even worse mood than usual.

Ah, the old "straw man" argument. What about the various companies

who

Quoted message said:

mis-spell "laser" as "lazer?"

They'd annoy me too :-). But then I come from the other side of the
Atlantic so I'm almost required to complain about US spellings.

cheers
Dave M

I said:

Quoted message said:

This design is what used to be known as an "alpine" gear. I used to
have a '50s bike with a 14-16-19-26 freewheel, same basic concept.

The idea is to get a wide range and a serious climbing gear without
introducing unpleasantly large jumps into the cruising range where
most cycling is done.
This is a Good Thing, in my opinion. One of my bikes has the 7-speed

Quoted message said:

11-13-15-18-21-24-34 version and I think it's terrific.

See: http://sheldonbrown.org/rambouillet

In addition, this specific variation has a totally redesigned

freewheel

Quoted message said:

body that is superior to every previous design.

See: http://sheldonbrown.com/mega7

Someone demurred

Quoted message said:

Well, I've learnt something, so my day hasn't been a total waste.
However, just because the freewheel is good doesn't mean the sprocket
choice isn't bad :-)

Doesn't mean it is either! Have you tried actually _riding_ one of
these, or are you dismissing it because it doesn't look good to you on a
computer screen? This is a VERY common reaction, I get a LOT of email
from people complaining about this, invariably from people who have
never actually ridden the freewheel in question.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It's not just for recreational riders, also very good for serious
cyclists in hilly areas.

Excuse me while I beg to differ. I don't know what the profile of your
average hill is,

I don't use the 34 on "average" hills, and on _most_ rides I never use
that sprocket at all.

It is nice to have it in reserve for extra steep hills or for when I'm
very tired.

I don't carry anything heavier than my Powerbook on my Rambouillet, and
the 42/24 gets me up most things with perhaps a bit of huffing and puffing.

Quoted message said:

but on most things I climb if I need a 34t sprocket
I'm going to need a 30t somewhere nearby.

That's not true. You never "need" a higher gear unless speed is a major
issue for you.

Quoted message said:

Trying to either grind up it
in a 24t or twiddle up in the 34 just ain't going to cut it.

Never met a hill I couldn't "twiddle up" in a low gear.

Quoted message said:

I can
understand the desire for a large rear sprocket, but the "icecream cone
on a dinner plate" look is surely taking it too far.

Speaking as someone who has actually put quite a few miles on this rig,
I have to disagree. If you were to actually try it, you too might come
to like it.

Sheldon "Proof In The Pudding" Brown
+----------------------------------------+
| All theory, dear friend, is grey, |
| but the golden tree of actual life |
| springs ever green. --Goethe |
+----------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

"Sheldon Brown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I said:

Quoted message said:

This design is what used to be known as an "alpine" gear. I used to
have a '50s bike with a 14-16-19-26 freewheel, same basic concept.

The idea is to get a wide range and a serious climbing gear without
introducing unpleasantly large jumps into the cruising range where
most cycling is done.
This is a Good Thing, in my opinion. One of my bikes has the 7-speed

Quoted message said:

11-13-15-18-21-24-34 version and I think it's terrific.

See: http://sheldonbrown.org/rambouillet

Nice ride Sheldon,
how do you like the Brooks Swallow for comfort?
-tom

I said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>See: http://sheldonbrown.org/rambouillet
>

Tom Nakashima said:

Nice ride Sheldon,
how do you like the Brooks Swallow for comfort?

That has been my favorite saddle for about 45 years.

Sheldon "I Own 4 Or 5 Of Them" Brown
+---------------------------------------------+
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+---------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com