I took a brief but rather nice ride this afternoon between projects, choosing the 2003 errand Riv so I could pick up some books from the library, but also because after badmouthing it for a couple of year, I've recently been riding the S3X, but with freewheel (17 t, 48 t ring, 24.75" tire, 70-53-44 gi).
I'm out of shape for hills -- I generally ride mostly N-S along the River valley (at just about exactly 1 mile high; 4980 at lowest point near me, IIRC), which is dead flat, eking out my workload in strong southwestery winds.
So on the way to the library I decided to try a nice detour west of me toward Boca Negra canyon, and see what I could do to the short but sharp climb. In "hill shape" I can make it 2/3 of the way in a 67" gear on a light bike; but I've not yet cleared teh steepest part.
It went well. The grade starts out at 3 or 4% and then quickly steepens to 9 10, 13 before decreasing to 10 and then again 4 near the summit.
In shape I could easily do the steep bit in the 53" with effort, but the 44 allowed me to clear it -- standing, of course -- with only moderate exhaustion, so to speak: I was tired, but I could have done at least a bit more.
I'd love to replace the fw with a fixed cog, but 70" is just too low to spin at any downhills speed, and for me, at least, the huge lash is just too annoying to tolerate. So fw it is.
Segueing: Give me advice on hub gears with these qualities:
1. Lowest drag (my reading indicates that this is the AW or, at least, 3 speed hubs with single planetary systems; ami right?
2. Biggest gaps. Again, while I know that SA made very wide ratio hubs, the standard 3 speed today is 1.33, 1.0. 0.75 -- or have I missed one?
3. 130 or at least ~127 OL spacing.
4. 32 or 40 holes -- I want to use 32 hole rims, not 36.
5. Aluminum shell if possible.
6. Reputation for durability and reliability of operation -- doesn't creep out of adjustment and leave you straddling the top tube after it slips in 1st while you are honking hard and slow up a steep hill.
Cost is a very, very distant #7.
Thanks.
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Still 'round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though we pass them by today,
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the Moon or to the Sun. --- J.R.R. Tolkien-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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