4 ms·

I've destroyed a number of Sturmey Archer planetary drive clutches - the square cross-shaped bit which transfers force from the sprocket holder to the drive - b

I've destroyed a number of Sturmey Archer planetary drive clutches - the square cross-shaped bit which transfers force from the sprocket holder to the drive - by just using them, leaving me wary of planetary drives. While I've also gone through derailleurs they do seem to handle power better than planetary drives and have the additional advantage of feeling far more like a direct drive. One of the advantages of a bicycle is its simplicity, there is not much between your feet and whatever goes for road you happen to be on. I'll gladly give up 2% of efficiency to keep the system simple, repairable with off-the-shelf parts which can be found anywhere in the world and affordable.

analog31 6y ago
Then you're a stronger cyclist than me, because I've ridden S-A AW hubs for decades and have broken Zero of them. I've have had them open to determine that they tend to stay in pristine condition under normal use. But the common IGH's do come with specs for minimum gear ratio front to back (2:1, I think), suggesting an implied torque limit. I've always wondered which part was the weak link. The cogs wear out under normal use (I've replaced a couple so far) but that's true on derailleur bikes as well.
- Yetanfou 6y ago
  > I've always wondered which part was the weak link. Well, now you know... especially in 3d gear (when the cross drives the planetary hub by engaging on the top of the cog axles) the clutch is under high load. I often rode that bike with a heavy trailer (made from a shipping crate and some moped wheels which I happened to have lying around) to haul my guitar, amp and saxophone through the Dutch countryside to practice with my band, this may have put too much of a load on the hub.
  - analog31 6y ago
    I'm a double bassist, and have only seen pictures of people cycling with their basses, but they are all either from the Netherlands or NYC.

analog31 6y ago

Then you're a stronger cyclist than me, because I've ridden S-A AW hubs for decades and have broken Zero of them. I've have had them open to determine that they tend to stay in pristine condition under normal use. But the common IGH's do come with specs for minimum gear ratio front to back (2:1, I think), suggesting an implied torque limit. I've always wondered which part was the weak link. The cogs wear out under normal use (I've replaced a couple so far) but that's true on derailleur bikes as well.

Yetanfou 6y ago
> I've always wondered which part was the weak link. Well, now you know... especially in 3d gear (when the cross drives the planetary hub by engaging on the top of the cog axles) the clutch is under high load. I often rode that bike with a heavy trailer (made from a shipping crate and some moped wheels which I happened to have lying around) to haul my guitar, amp and saxophone through the Dutch countryside to practice with my band, this may have put too much of a load on the hub.
- analog31 6y ago
  I'm a double bassist, and have only seen pictures of people cycling with their basses, but they are all either from the Netherlands or NYC.