Thorn Sherpa with Rohloff

[rualexander]

........ Is it really so easy to add a Rohloff to a Sherpa? Must read more into chain tension/slack?

Yes it really is very easy, especially if you do use a chain tensioner. The Rohloff tensioner is expensive unless you get it with the hub version you buy, but you can use other types of tensioner no problem, i.e. Surly, Shimano Alfine, or any of the cheaper brands.
I wanted to get away from the tensioner and this is all described earlier in this thread.
The other way to go about it, if you use an external bearing chainset system is with the Trickstuff Exzentriker which turns the bottom bracket bearing into a form of eccentric bottom bracket.

[nigelsbicyclejourneys.com]

..........if you use an external bearing chainset system is with the Trickstuff Exzentriker which turns the bottom bracket bearing into a form of eccentric bottom bracket.

Now where talking. Checked their website out. Nice bit of Guzzi kit! Expensive but worth it I think.

One day if I decide to go that route, if I justify the Rohloff? In the meantime expect to keep to what I know 'works and how' on a Sherpa in due course.

Many Thanks.

[Danneaux]

Nigel,

Phil Wood also make an eccentric OBB called the PhilCentric: http://www.philwood.com/products/bbpages/philcentric.php
Instructions here: http://www.philwood.com/philpdfs/philcentric.pdf

Nice to see ever greater options.

Best,

Dan.

[rualexander]

Dan,

Do you know what happened to Forward Components?
They made one of these eccentric external bearings too but their website seems to have gone.

[Danneaux]

Hi Rual!

Canadian maker Forward Components appears to have fallen on hard times. They first ceased production of their eccentric bottom bracket/bearing assembly in 2009, then posted a notice on their blog in 2010 forwarding interested buyers to their new site, http://www.forwardcycle.com/ It now comes up blank, and the registration with Tucows is due to expire 25Mar2014. Their blog is still up with the last post in 2010: http://forwardcomponents.blogspot.com/

A 2011 snapshot of the EBB On their ForwardCycle.com website is here: http://web.archive.org/web/20110208072101/http://forwardcycle.com/
More here: http://web.archive.org/web/20110216070406/http://www.forwardcycle.com/products.html

The company was located in located in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, and are no longer listed in the telephone business directory there. The last active capture of their site I've found dates from 26Apr2011.

A review of their EBB appeared here: http://forums.mtbr.com/singlespeed/review-forward-components-ebb-conventional-bb-shells-490528.html

There are a number of EBB options coming available for the still-evolving BB30 standard, but that won't help those of us with Thorn's standard-diameter BB shells.

It seems Phil has filled FC's niche in the marketplace, though installation and adjustment look a bit fiddly and there isn't a whole lot of adjustment. However, the Mercury's EBB doesn't have as much adjustment possible as, say, a Raven or Nomad, but it gets the job done, so the Phil still looks to be an alternative to tensioners. Rual, where you had things so very close with no tensioner at all, an EBB-in-standard-shell conversion might be just the thing if you wished to abandon the tensioner. I am now running a Phil OBB/EBB on my Nomad, hoping the lifespan will be good; based on my stellar experience with past Phil BBs of conventional design, I'm optimistic.

All the best,

Dan. (...who is spending part of today chasing car parts by bicycle and the rest of it installing them)

[nigelsbicyclejourneys.com]

Thanks Dan. Very nice 

[rualexander]

Turned my sprocket and chainring and put a new chain on so now back to running without a tensioner with a nice tight-ish chain.
Just back last weekend from two weeks touring, one week on the Isle of Mull and one week in the Scottish Borders, photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/rualexander/sets/72157635761518755/show/with/9873847765/

Couple of drawing type effect photos of Sherpa in the wild and a couple of bothies we stayed in :

[jags]

super cool

[Danneaux]

Oh! What a treat as always -- Rual-Tour pics!

I've always enjoyed your tour accounts and go back time and again to see the photos; thanks so much for posting the link.

Such gorgeous country, well-captured by you.

You must be incredibly quick to set the self-timed shots in the bothies, then achieve a natural posture when the shutter clicks. I wish I could do that!

The bike is looking fantastic as usual and continues to be one of my most-admired.

All the best,

Dan.

[rualexander]

Winter is approaching and the studded tyres will have to go on soon, but had a glorious day out on sunday in Perthshire, there was some ice in the puddles at the side of the road, although the road surfaces themselves were clear.

[Danneaux]

Wow, Rual!

What absolutely fantastic photos from you, as always. What a corking-good day as well, with blue skies and lovely colors. My favorite is the second-from-last...I keep going back for one more look.

The gallery is always special to me for the "window on the world" it provides for us no matter where we live. 'Always a treat to see where others ride and the places special to them. The bike looks terrific also!

Thanks so much for sharing these with us.

All the best,

Dan.

[John Saxby]

Rual, just too brilliant as always.  You really should work for the Scottish Tourist Board or the weather office, or both...

[Relayer]

Fantastic photos Rual, just caught up with the Mull and Borders ones too.   

[in4]

I've just been down memory lane too. Brilliant shots of Mull; a very special place indeed. I tried to stay at the Kinloch hotel once after my Vango was battered into submission. The owner took one look at my bedraggled mate and me and said 'sorry we are full'. Undaunted we pushed on to Tobermory and stayed at Mad Morag's and had a great time.

[Andre Jute]

Super photographs, Rual!