Author Topic: rohloff world tour - what spares to take?  (Read 2945 times)

Laid Back Rich

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rohloff world tour - what spares to take?
« on: April 01, 2013, 12:47:28 am »
Good evening all

I've just bought a Rohloff geared recumbent for 30,000km world tour next year - what Rohloff spares would people here advise me to take?  I will buy new chains en route, this is my shopping list at the moment:
sprocket & removal tool
cables
oil change kit
owner's manual

thanks
Richard

Danneaux

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Re: rohloff world tour - what spares to take?
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2013, 01:53:54 am »
Hi Richard!

Welcome to the Thorn Cycles Forum, and best of luck on your upcoming world tour -- a wonderful trip awaits!

A good starting point for recommended Rohloff spares can be found in Andy Blance's publication, Living with a Rohloff. It can be downloaded here: http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/thornpdf/ThornLivingWithARohloff.pdf The list appears on page 22.

This guide has been recently revised, the key point being these are the tools Thorn consider absolutely necessary to provide field support for a trip such as yours. If the trip is an extended one, I would suggest carrying a second oil-change kit...not that the distance or time would necessarily require it, but a flush-and-refill seems to cure many of the shifting and smoothness problems that can occur, not matter how unlikely. Flushing out the odd bit of debris or removing wear particles does wonders if the hub does't work well. Rohloff spares aren't commonly available in the back-of-beyond, and carrying spares is less expensive than the cost and delays incurred by shipping.

Rohloff hubs are overwhelmingly trouble-free in most use, but if problems do occur, they seem to have a greater incidence fairly early in their lifespan. Accordingly, I would suggest putting some distance on the hub before your departure. That way, if any problems come to light, you'll still be near home and less inconvenienced.

Others will be along shortly with their own good suggestions, but this should get you started.

Best,

Dan.

John Saxby

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Re: rohloff world tour - what spares to take?
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2013, 02:54:31 am »
Hi there Richard -- welcome, and wow!

Here's the link to the blog of one Dave Conroy now en route around the world on a Rohloff-hubbed Thorn Nomad, maybe somewhere in Southern Africa as I write:  http://www.tiredofit.ca/2011/03/10/thorn-nomad-mk2/

A good read, and I expect he could advise you on spares & tools from his experience.

Safari njema (= "safe journey", as they'd say in Dar-es-Salaam)

John

il padrone

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Re: rohloff world tour - what spares to take?
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2013, 08:27:24 am »
The owner's manual is available on-line as a PDF. Save yourself some weight and carry it on a USB or saved to your netbook/Ipad/smartphone.

Danneaux

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Re: rohloff world tour - what spares to take?
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2013, 08:43:16 am »
Quote
The owner's manual is available on-line as a PDF.
In English, here: http://www.rohloff.de/uploads/media/Service_en.pdf

Best,

Dan.

NZPeterG

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Re: rohloff world tour - what spares to take?
« Reply #5 on: April 01, 2013, 08:43:43 am »
The owner's manual is available on-line as a PDF. Save yourself some weight and carry it on a USB or saved to your netbook/Ipad/smartphone.

This is a very good idea  :) light and small, you can also load manuals for things like Schmidt Dynamo hub, Cooker, etc!

Pete
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Laid Back Rich

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Re: rohloff world tour - what spares to take?
« Reply #6 on: April 01, 2013, 09:23:10 pm »
Welcome to the Thorn Cycles Forum, and best of luck on your upcoming world tour -- a wonderful trip awaits!
[snip]
Rohloff hubs are overwhelmingly trouble-free in most use, but if problems do occur, they seem to have a greater incidence fairly early in their lifespan. Accordingly, I would suggest putting some distance on the hub before your departure. That way, if any problems come to light, you'll still be near home and less inconvenienced.

Thanks Dan and others for tips and pointers so far, it feels like I have come to the right place!  I am indeed planning to get some miles in on the bike before next year, 5,000k round the Baltic in August will be quite a test both for the hub and for me. 

Danneaux

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Re: rohloff world tour - what spares to take?
« Reply #7 on: April 01, 2013, 09:48:01 pm »
Quote
5,000k round the Baltic in August...
Marvelous, Richard! I'll be following your progress eagerly. Though not on a Thorn, it promises to be a cracking-good Adventure, and I wish you all the luck in the world with all best wishes for a safe and enjoyable tour.

Best,

Dan. (...who wishes he was taking that very same route!)