Sometimes I don’t find out about things until it’s too late. Paul Webb, being the kind soul he is, alterted me to the fact that Rob’s been working on a series of new dropouts that will interface with the system created for the One Way and the Season tikit.
You can see them here from left to right: disc brake version, Rohloff disc brake version (uh oh, Vik’s in trouble now), Rohloff version, and standard derailleur version.
Technically there is one kink left to be worked out of the Rohloff version, but it’s a minor adjustment and we should have the new version shortly to test out. Still, we’ve managed to fit it to a bike as you can see here. Within the week this one should be ridable at the factory, so if you want to come down for a test ride, we can do it.
As for the disc brake version, we’ve just put it on a really blinged out Alfine Season tikit and it worked without a hitch. It’s only too bad it’s got hydraulic discs on though because the standard brake line is way too short. There’s going to need to be some extra work done on this one, so don’t get overly excited about the concept of hydraulics! Still, the proof is in the pudding: it’s ridable. This one’s going out to a customer; can’t wait to see what they think!
The disc mounts in front, by the way, are two threaded posts mounted to the back of the fork. Just in case you’re curious.
The coolest thing about all of this is that if you have this system (say, you already have a One Way or a Season tikit), you can easily switch to any of the others without making any frame changes or anything. What’s even crazier than that is that if you have the derailleur version (which can be useful even if you have a internally geared hub or single speed with a chain tensioner– which, by the way, is bad on a fixed gear!!) you have a somewhat adjustable wheelbase. How cool is that?
Those of you that have really been keeping track of things may wonder how Paul Webb managed to get these on his standard tikit. He bought a new frame and changed all the parts over, which is an option to all you other folks. Get in touch with the service department to make that happen. Being that this is the down time, this is a perfect opportunity for that!
mmmmm…..sweet! I think I may hold off until the end of 2009 and see what you guys got cooking…I suppose I new Bike Friday each December wouldn’t make me look too fanatical…hahaha
=-)
Vik
http://www.thelazyrando.com
[...] Walter just posted some info on his blog about new dropouts Bike Friday has developed for the Tikit. The upshot is that one frame can be adapted from a derailleur setup to an IGH Nexus 8 to a Rohloff to a fixed gear…not to mention that you can run disc brakes if you like in some of these configurations…sweet! [...]
Think about it Vik: you like the tikit, you like internally geared hubs, you like the Rohloff, and you need a large which you don’t have on the Season tikit. You *NEED* one.
Wow, this is very cool! I’ve been considering the possiblity of a Rohloff Tikit for a while now and these dropouts with the Season Tikit frame make for a very clean looking and functionally flexible solution :^)
I love the idea of discs on a Tikit but I’d need to accept the idea of a bit more weight on top of the Rohloff (yeah, I’m one of THOSE people!) Off topic but, I’m eagerly awaiting Rohloff’s next-generation Speedhub which is said to be significantly lighter and smaller (+/- 400g lighter). Do you have any insider buzz on when Rohloff might release it?
So on the Tikit you set up with disc brakes, what hub was used on the front? I know that Tikits normally use BF’s proprietary 74mm axle width hub. Has a 74mm disc-compatible version been fabricated or did you just create a wider 100mm fork and use any old disc-compatible hub? A 100mm fork/hub would not be as compact when folded but I guess there would more hub options.
Could you please post or email an overall pic of the complete disc Rohloff Tikit?
No news on the new Speedhub yet, sorry. 400g is awesome though!
As for the discs, the front is still something we’re working the bugs out of. In the case of the two we built, one was a large and one was a medium (we’ll likely never see smalls with discs). Both used 100mm forks. The first one was the one with the hydraulics and had the mounting on the back. The clearance is a bit tight (certainly not enough for mechanical disc brakes which we would MUCH prefer to use) so on the Rohloff we’re making a new fork with mounting on the front which should allow clearance for the mechanicals.
Now don’t everyone start getting pumped up– 100mm forks will only work if there’s no derailleur or chain tensioner.
When the Rohloff is done, I’ll drum up some pics, sure. Why don’t you just come on down and try it?
Walter,
Thanks for the clarifications. I’m assuming Bike Friday would prefer to use mechanical disc brakes because they would be much simpler/faster to set up than hydros, right? Are the factory hydrolic hose lengths too long for the front and too short for the rear? From a performance, weight and caliper size standpoint I’d prefer hydos but from an installation and maintenance standpoint I’m sure mechs are the way to go.
As far as visiting you at Bike Friday HQ and trying out the bike, I’d love to! Alas, I’m in So-Cal so it’s a long way to pedal…Oh well!
-Tom
What about Nexus IGH, dynohubs and Roller brakes? Feasible? I know Shimano USA won’t admit to the existence of them
But I have ordered them for my full sized bike from WorkCycles in the Netherlands ;>)
Aaron
Tom– what you said about mechs. Regarding getting up here, I’d say fly or take the train.. but you don’t have a Friday yet, do you?
You haven’t been paying attention, Aaron. The Season tikit comes standard with the Nexus and we SHOULD be able to do a roller brake version. Shimano only makes dynos in 100mm width but the tikit (in general) needs 74mm. We could make it work with a IGH in the back, though.
Regarding the roller brake, now’s a perfect time for us to try it out. We have a little extra capacity. Care to make yours the first? Give me a ring!
Mechanical discs would have meant I was tempted to ride the blinged up Alfine model right now, which in the UK blizzard conditions would not have been a good month.
I meant ….would not have been a good move
I can understand your concern Gareth! Ice + cables = not good. BTW, all, this is the proud owner of the aforementioned hydraulic disc tikit.
Very cool stuff for the Tikit.
Thanks.. we’re (always) trying!
How to? the original tikit’s rear drop outs is 130mm, but Rohloff is 135mm. so how to put rohloff into tikit?
It’s all about spacing. Stick some spacers between removable dropouts and frame and you have different spacing. I’m running a 120mm hub. There’s ample room for anything from that all the way up to any 135mm hub.
Hi Walter,
There are a couple of picks of these dropouts on This Cycling Life.
and
I’ve now got around to rebuilding the bike as single speed, so I’ve actually used the flexibility of swapping out the right hand dropout for one with not derailleur hanger and adjusting the chain tension. It’s all working well
Paul, looks fab! BTW we call that thing that looks like a dinosaur head a Dinosaur. We’re very into technical terms.
True story: a long time ago someone asked me what this odd looking piece that was part of our first generation recumbent was called and I said it was a Nigel. It has been called that ever since. 
For those not clear on what Paul means, click on his name and you’ll go to This Cycling Life, his blog, and you can see the pix, along with some tandem and Pocket Rocket pix, too.