KneesUp
Guru
I've recently bought a Dahon folder as I have to commute partly by train a few days a week - I quite like it, and in fact I've been using it as a general utility bike because it's now often the one that's easiest to get out of the bike shed.
I've swapped the crank from a 52t to a 44t to drop the gearing because my knees are wrecked, so I'm a spinner - with the 52t I found I was using 2nd and 3rd around town, which didn't leave many lower gears for uphill. It's good uphill now, but it spins as a consequence it spins out downhill - which is preferable because lets be honest, I'm not racing anyone on a steel folder - but ideally I'd like more range, especially as I'm now thinking that the train I get to work ultimately goes to Scotland, and how I could stay on it one weekend of and go off touring for a night or two.
So I got to looking at the Sturmey Archer RF3 (SJS link - other site are available) This is a 3 speed hub that allows you to fit an 8/9 speed cassette too - which sounds perfect, if a little heavy. However, it's 135mm OLN, and my frame, it seems, is 130mm OLN.
My question (got there in the end) is, would you say
a) It's never going to fit - just cope with 7 gears, it's only a commuting bike for goodness sake. You'll never find time for skipping off for the weekend!
b) Cold set the frame (I'm concerned that as the stays are so short because it's only got 20" wheels, the bend might be a bit severe, even though I only need 5mm) It is a steel frame btw.
c) You can just fit thinner lock nuts on the hub and it will fit the frame just fine.
Thoughts appreciated. Cheers.
I've swapped the crank from a 52t to a 44t to drop the gearing because my knees are wrecked, so I'm a spinner - with the 52t I found I was using 2nd and 3rd around town, which didn't leave many lower gears for uphill. It's good uphill now, but it spins as a consequence it spins out downhill - which is preferable because lets be honest, I'm not racing anyone on a steel folder - but ideally I'd like more range, especially as I'm now thinking that the train I get to work ultimately goes to Scotland, and how I could stay on it one weekend of and go off touring for a night or two.
So I got to looking at the Sturmey Archer RF3 (SJS link - other site are available) This is a 3 speed hub that allows you to fit an 8/9 speed cassette too - which sounds perfect, if a little heavy. However, it's 135mm OLN, and my frame, it seems, is 130mm OLN.
My question (got there in the end) is, would you say
a) It's never going to fit - just cope with 7 gears, it's only a commuting bike for goodness sake. You'll never find time for skipping off for the weekend!
b) Cold set the frame (I'm concerned that as the stays are so short because it's only got 20" wheels, the bend might be a bit severe, even though I only need 5mm) It is a steel frame btw.
c) You can just fit thinner lock nuts on the hub and it will fit the frame just fine.
Thoughts appreciated. Cheers.