Stop! Hammerschmidt

[SkinnyBoy]

Being a bit of a tech head the idea of a Hammerschmidt crank appeals to me. Do we have any owners here who are running them that can give some real world experience?

http://www.sicklines.com/2008/08/21/preview-truvat...

The price is fairly reasonable now and the kind of riding I do would benefit from one.

[erdnase]

Don't have a clue about Hammerschmidt cranks, but have this:



..for a cool thread title

[SkinnyBoy]

I was thinking about the exact same picture when I posted!

[Gnarlybluesurf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNoLSkr_h1M

[Mars]

^^^ The guy in that vid is funny.

A good demo of it working:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBak0R4qYz0

I love this idea. If they can replace the cassette with something similar for the rear (not a specific hub) then I reckon derailleurs will be a thing of the past.

[P-Jay]

I love the idea of one of those along with an Alfine rear for a really smooth shifting maintenance free drivetrain.

Can they be fitted to standard BB shells?

I've heard nothing be good things about them, apart from a guy on Bikeradar who had one fail and was refused any warranty repair, can't recall the reasons why.

[Mars]

Any reason why you couldn't use an Alfine for MTB work? I thought they were pitched more at city-bikes.

Can you change gear whilst pedalling? With the old Sturmey Archer 3-speeds you could only change gear while you were coasting. I can see Hammertime (!) changes that up front - if the rear could operate the same I would struggle to understand why they don't completely replace deraillier systems. No doubt you could also use them with a belt drive too.

[Mandog]

just get 1 by 10. mush less faff, weight and cost.

[SkinnyBoy]

Mandog said:

just get 1 by 10. mush less faff, weight and cost.

Get out.



As for standard BB fitment, I think that is a no no. Doing some research it looks like you have to modify an ISCG mount and possibly shave a few mm off your BB drive side. No biggie but not exactly a straight bolt on. The search now begins for one at a good price.

[anonymous-user]

Take a look at Pinion.eu

[Floor Tom]

I have riden one though never owned one. There are a few things that would lead me to very much not recommend them. They is noticeable drag in high ratio, AKA the ratio that you will be riding in nearly all the time. Most full sus frames are optimised around a 32 T chain ring (standard middle ring), so you get more pedal feedback with suspension movement when using a Hammerschmidt. They have a ratchet in them and constantly click when pedaling, I found this to be unbearably annoying, however you might not have a problem with it. I'm pretty sure you need ISCG tabs on your frame to run them too.

[SkinnyBoy]

The pinion is ace but its hardly retrofit. Much like the Zerode line of mountain bikes with an alfine in the centre above the main pivot.



Best I start selling some stuff so I can get one as I was obsessing about one today when I got my new brakes delivered, thinking, it would finish off my bike perfectly.

[Mars]

SkinnyBoy said:

I think that is the coolest thing I've ever seen in the world of bikes..!!

My life is now incomplete, and will remain so until I own one.

[SkinnyBoy]

Mars said:

think that is the coolest thing I've ever seen in the world of bikes..!!

My life is now incomplete, and will remain so until I own one.

I know!!! look at the ground clearance. There are a few vIds on the tube and the thing looks ace.

[Rich S]

I have had one on a few bikes now

Does it work ? - yes you bet , instant shifts no matter what you do with the peddals , and you never loose the chain

Will it fit any frame ? - no you need ISCG tabs , the ones I have always fitted it to have been the 05 type , but no other frame issues

so it shifts great , you don't loose the chain , and it will probably fit most hardcore frames you want to fit it to

and because there is no front mech , if you have frame room , you can fit silly wide tyres

so what are the problems ?

Well I have lost a few bolts over time , but locktite fixed that

there is drag on the overdrive gear , you do notice it , but if you are only using it to crank up the speed downhill , it isn't that bad

Also , you are effectively in the small ring all the time , and that doesn't work too well with certain suspension designs

lastly , this isn't a light bit of kit (not for XC , ok for AM)

Overall , I think it works well , for what it is designed for , and if the weight penalty doesn't bother you , and you can pick it up for the right money , and it will work with your suspension design , or you are going to fit it to a hardtail (as mine is after being on two suspension frames in the past !)

[SkinnyBoy]

Thanks Rich.