BIKE: Low maintenance commuter bike

[Eric Anderson]

Folks:
 
My first city-bikes were all Sturmey-Archer internal hubs. Today we have the far more technologically advanced Nexus 3-7 speed hubs. I primarily rode these standard 3-speed and wide-range 5-speed hubs nearly 20 years, with few if any problems and nearly zero maintenance other than hub-oil and proper cable tension.
 
First was the standard Dutch 3-speed with enclosed chain-guard, fenders and racks, which I rode all over the Netherlands my senior year of high school. I rode the bike the five km to Ateneum near Rotterdam, and was able to ride the train with the bike as well.
 
Back in the states, as a student at the University of Minnesota In Minneapolis, my choice was the Raleigh DL1, or "English Bobby Bike" with rod brakes, 3-speed hub and 28" wheels. Though heavy, the beast took much abuse before it was stolen after two years.
 
My "urban assualt vehicle" of choice was a double-top-tube, 1932 Gambles Tiger Flyer (a racing bike), built up with Mavic rims, 27 x 1 3/8 tri-cross tires, BMX bottom bracket, Sturmey-Archer 5-speed hub, and all the alloy that would fit. This bike rode from 1984 until 1996 when like an idiot, I trashed the internals on the Barton Creek Greenbelt.
 
The Tiger Flyer (with 5-speed hub) weathered 13 years on two hubs, the same wheels, and eight Minnesota winters. As a Cruzer, the bike suited me just fine for another 4 years here in Austin, and its cracked frame awaits repair, and certainly a new reincarnation with the Nexus 7-speed hub.
 
Like Dick Ryan, I would highly recommend the Bianci Milano. Bianci also has a a couple of other nice commuter bikes, one equipped with a modern "dyna-hub" for your lights.
 
By far, choices of high-quality low-maintenance commuter bikes are far greater today than 25 years ago. Whether a sexy Milano, a trash-mobile home-built three-speed, cruzer or fixed gear, these bikes all perform well for moderate commutes, and are ready to ride when you are.
 
Eric Anderson

Richard Ryan <dicryan> wrote:
Hi John:
 
I've had a Bianci 7-speed internal hub hybred for about three years.
 
It's great.  Low maintenance, you can shift it while it's stopped, you can slam it from 1st to 7th going down hills -
 
I consider it the perfect commuter bike.  I got mine at Discovery cycle on 24th.
 
Dick Ryan

John SomdeCerff <jsomdecerff> wrote:
After buying a new bike and reading its owner's manual I'm reminded of all the maintenance a bike needs.  (Lane warned me about buying a Wal-Mart bike, but I thought I wanted a nice, new, shiny bike.  Maybe latter I'll post my trials and tribulations with the thing.)  

My manual calls for:
Once a week +:  Oil the chain (plus every time you ride in dusty or wet conditions, or it gets rained on.)
Once a month:  Disassemble and grease the shift levers.  Check derailleur adj., check brake adj., check all bearings, check all bolts are tight.
Every six months:  Oil freewheel and disassemble and grease the brake cables.  Check chain for wear.
Every year:  Basically tear apart every bearing and regrease.

My Toyota car (which I hardly drive anymore)  just requires an oil change a few times a year and some work -timing belt, tune-up, etc. - every 100,000 miles.  Every Every 60,000 miles or so I need brake pads, one particular wheel bearing, tires, etc.  If it were a bike, I'd have to have the engine rebuilt every year:)

So anyway, does anyone have any experience with lower maintenance bikes?  I think getting rid of the derailleur system would be good start.  I'd think that the sturdier chains on single speed or internal geared hubs would be less finicky.  Anybody have a Shimano 7 or 8 speed Nexus hub, with our without the drum brake?  The old 3-speed hubs (Sturmey Archer?) would slip when you really torqued on them, are the new ones better?  I've heard that you give up some efficiency with the internal gears but I did not notice that when I test rode a Novara Fusion REI:  http://rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47841655  

(Even better may be a bike with no messy, maintenance prone chain at all:  Here are a few sites:

Drive shaft bicycles:
http://www.sussex.com.tw/se1.htm
http://www.dynamicbicycles.com/bikes/default.php
A couple of  pounds of added weight, probably some loss of efficiency even though they claim 1% power loss vs 2% for chain drive.

A belt drive bike would be good.  Here is a new belt drive system company:  http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2004/11/prweb181653.htm  A quick google turned up this folding bike with belt drive:  http://www.strida.com/bike/index.php  Maybe not a great example, but it shows that belt drive can work.  I think many Chinese commuters use belt drive. 
I did find this on a discussion list:

From: SteveSgt (Steve Sergeant)Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1992 10:54:38 PDTSubject: Re: what about toothed belts, then?Most of the 'ordinary' commuter bikes I see when I go to Japan aresingle-speed, front-caliper and rear drum (band) brake, belt drive bikes. The belt drive is considered more maintanence free and reliable.  Butefficiency is not such a big issue for them; reliability is.  These bikeshave a a bit of spring-loaded shock absorbing give in the crank pulley toprotect the belt from high instantaneous forces.
I think for me something like this would be good.  I'm not so worried about every last percent efficiency.  When climbing hills, the steepness of the hill and your load determines your speed (check out the load calculator at:  http://www.bikesatwork.com/hauling-cargo-by-bike/hpv-cargo-capacity.html)  At higher speeds wind is your enemy.  In either case another few percent power to the wheels won't make a big difference in speed.

Thanks for any insight you may have.

John Somdecerff
Beginner bike commuter (mostly ride the bus)

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Eric Anderson <bikeeric>
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