Via Hubstripping, The German magazine Aktiv Radfahren is reporting on the new Rohloff prototype.
The new version of the widely acclaimed 14 speed internally geared hub will have a number of changes over the current version:
- It still has 14 gears with even steps all the way, but the overall ratio increases from 526% to 580%
- The hub shell will be about 20% smaller. Useful for building into small wheels
- The weight will be about 1400g, compared with 1700g of the current version
- It will not be suitable for use in tandems or other "hard core" uses.
- A new shifter will be available, though it's not clear whether this will be an STI/Ergo style shifter for use with drop bars.
The first prototype will be shown at Eurobike 2008.
Not perfectly correct:
It is clear that it will be NOT a STI/Ergo style shifter for use with drop bars. It will not even be a thumb shifter (unfortunately).
They stated that they develop a different kind of ‘Grip-Shift style’ shifter.
Also the new hub is not aimed at the racing bicycle market (even larger steps!)
Peter, Thanks for the info. That’s disappointing – lots of non-racing riders use drop bars too, and some would like a suitable shifter, without resorting to the usual hacks.
I found: with current R’off grip shifter, 22.5 OD tube , 22.2 or 7/8″ + powdercoat, needed coating sanded off to slide over tube. [ITM Selego adjustable trekking bar]
a couple aftermarket solutions , 3 piece drop bar , 2_ 7/8″ bends , joined by clamping center section. so twist grip on top center right,
and a oversize gripshifter with shim , so as to perhaps slide around bends in road style bars.
and stems made up with stub on the side to fit gripshifter,
and last the use of barcon shift expander, and machined tube to fit at low end of the H-bar less tidy location IMHO.
Scott/Modolo Drop in bend [history] which has lower end curving in to center again
could be a clever adaptation, but as tubes tend toward 23mm diameter some reduction in OD needs to happen.