Organization: Private Site in Berlin
Subject: Re: Rohloff chains
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 93 13:00:00 +0100
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On 04.01.93, casseres@apple.com writes:

> What we need now is some
> reports from the field.  Somebody out there must be riding with these
> chains, so how about it, folks?  Do they work well?  Do they last a long
> time?  More specifically, do they work *better* than, say, HypeGlide, and
> do they last longer?  Are they worth the higher price?

Not easy to answer. ;-)
Yes, I got some meters of Rohloff chains years ago, and I used them. It
is a charming design: While a Shimano chain works well with Shimano 
sprockets, a Union chain with Regina and Suntour sprockets, a Daido 
<to be continued>, the Rohloff seems to work well with every bicycle 
sprocket on this earth.
But for me, this would't be enough to buy it.

Let me explain something first: Unlike Jobst Brandt, I always found
the black standard Sedisport a durable chain. On my commuter bike, I 
didn't care a lot and had to throw it away after 2000 km.
On a loaded touring bike and with a bit of care, I could cycle 4000km along
Norway with one Sedisport and reuse all seven Suntour New Winner sprockets
afterwards.

I'm sure the Rohloff lasts longer than the Sedisport, but I didn't log my
kilometers in the last years. I'm sure it does not last longer than two
Sedisports, however. A Sedisport is 12 DM here, and a Rohloff 55 DM. 
Not a good deal.

----------    ,-)
Without doubt, the Rohloff is the best-shifting-chain. So if you like to
go with the best, you have to buy it. Rohloff even makes a chain with
one gold-plated link for you, and a fully gold-plated version is also
available. I asked Bernie wether the gold-plating is technically superior
to nickel plating, but didn't get a straight answer.
----------

If you are an unexperienced rider and do not have Hyperglide cogs, my
advice is: Use it. On the bike of a friend with 21speed-Campy I changed
a Sedisport for a Rohloff, and she named it a "wonder chain".

If you are like me (I learned to shift with cheap Huret or Simplex 
derailleurs in the seventies, and I am not able to shift under load),
you don't need it. (I also can't spot a lot of difference with
Hyperglide, I know from others it's there). On Sachs ARIS sprockets 
or Shimano UG, a Sedis ATB is good enough for me. This is 22 DM, and a 
Rohloff is 55.         
And my commuter bike still shifts with a black Sedisport. 

There is one exception: Shimano STI. I don't like the Shimano policy of
not distributing single HG sprockets (Do you get these in the US?). They 
also don't sell my 14-16-17-18-19-21-24-28, that fits to my riding style
on a "race"bike. So I use 8speed-Uniglide with Shimano Dura-ace STI. 
With any other chain, this setup does not work reliably, because there 
is not enough overshift in the STI levers. With a Rohloff, it works 
(for me). And in the long run, Rohloff plus Uniglide is cheaper than 
Shimano plus Hyperglide.


One warning: Some people use lubricants that are able to take away rust.
Using this kind of lubricant is a guarantee to enjoy the advantages of
a _new_ Rohloff chain rather early.  ;-)


Ciao
Hajo

--
Hans-Joachim Zierke  ##  Tel.: +49-30 / 394 8445  ##  Fax: +49-30 / 394 8447
                         h.zierke@bi-link.owl.de