Front Derailer-Internal Hub Fix it, repair it, how do I do it, what's the best part to use, and now: how do I get there?

[NoideKites]

Hi,
I read over some of the posts containing info on internal hubs and it got me thinking back on a build I had been thinking about for a while...

I had put the project on hold once I started realizing the costs involved and because an awesome deal opened up on a Salsa La Raza with Campy Veloce out of Recycled Cycles. Lately, the idea has been coming back to me, because I've been riding the La Raza all over and love it (it's my only bike outside of a old Marin with slicks), but its been getting really beat up. I'm careful but man..

Has anyone heard of an internal hub with a front derailer?

From what I've understood it would need a chain tensioner with a lot of take up, like "Paul Component Engineering's" "Melvin", but then am I back to square one with something in the same spot and equally exposed as a rear derailleur?

If I could do without the tensioner that would be great, but would it then allow me to use a bike with vertical drop outs?

Any ideas you guys have on the matter would be great because what I'm thinking is a lightish road bike with a double up front (bar end shifter) and the internal hub grip shifter running through a "HubBub" adaptor (alternatives would be great cause this thing is like 50 bucks).

This is kind of a "proof of concept" I would love to do and ride hopefully on the cheap to mix it up from my road bike and cringe a little less everytime I lock up the La Raza. I'm thinking 25c tires, platform pedals with cages, drop bars or better yet something funky like moustache bars or... and fenders (of course since we are in seattle)

Cheers :)

[Alex]

[joeball]

[lantius]

val actually just switched to running the nuvinci on the dreadnaught, so that's a thing.

i'd recommend the sram i9 without a front derailleur, it has a pretty dramatic gear range. on my pugsley it goes from 25" to 95", not quite the range of a 3x9 but still about as low as i need to about as fast as i'm gonna go. on a 'proper' bike you could easily get away with a higher low gear and a better top-end.

[Alex]

[SeditiousCanary]

[martin]

[SeditiousCanary]

[martin]

[SeditiousCanary]

[NoideKites]

[SeditiousCanary]

[lantius]

[NoideKites]

[ksep]

[Alex]

[ripper]

[joeball]

54$ is 54$ but when you spend more than 1200$ on the better part of a drive train then 54$ seems like it should not mean much. Just make sure you order it at the same time as the hub.

[NoideKites]

[SeditiousCanary]

[Alex]

[SeditiousCanary]

[martin]

[Alex]

[Alex]

[martin]

[martin]

[Alex]

[martin]

[Alex]

It sounds like the Nexus 8 is a good option for you then, especially if narrowness is important.

[SeditiousCanary]

My current limitation is it must have disc brakes.

i-Motion 9
Alfine
Rohloff

Grr

[lantius]

[SeditiousCanary]

[NoideKites]

[martin]

[martin]

[martin]

[Alex]

[lantius]

[Alex]