Cycling

I’m a cycling nut (or nutcase, depending on who you ask). The majority of this blog content is cycling focused, whether it’s an experience, a trip, an issue, a gear review or something else somewhat related.

How to remove a wheel with a Shimano internal hub

Posted by elliottzone at 3:52 pm Cycling

Sep 102010

A few minutes ago I had to pull the rear wheel of my MEC Hold Steady bike. This was the first time I’d removed the rear wheel, which has a Shimano Nexus internal hub on it. For rear wheels with derailleurs, removing the rear wheel is a matter of seconds — pop the quick release and out it comes. Not so with the internal hub wheel…

Undoing the 15mm bolts was a no-brainer, but then there was the matter of removing the chain and gear cable which, I assumed, was also a no-brainer. Wrong. I unlocked a locking ring (which I shouldn’t have done) and suddenly there were a whole bunch of loose parts flopping around. After finding the right combination of red and yellow dot alignments, I got everything back together but still didn’t have the gear cable unhooked.

Time to look in the manual (a first!). Unfortunately, there was nothing in the manual about removing the wheel or cables. So, off to YouTube and… success!

Here is the right (and very easy…) way to properly pull a rear wheel that has a Shimano Nexus or Alfine internal hub.

Foggy ride to work

Posted by elliottzone at 7:09 pm Cycling

Sep 072010

This morning’s ride was a chilly one and the fog down in the river valley was really dense. There was no wind (for a change) so the fog just hung over the trees waiting for the cyclists to whoosh down into it, sending clouds of white swirling off the pathways.

Mark Ronson & The Business Intl - The Bike Song

Posted by elliottzone at 9:01 pm Cycling

Sep 062010

I Want to Ride My Bicycle – Flash Mob

Posted by elliottzone at 2:22 pm Cycling

Aug 092010

MEC Hold Steady review

Posted by elliottzone at 2:31 pm Cycling, Gear Reviews

Jul 122010

Well, it’s been about three months since I bought my MEC Hold Steady so it’s time for a review.

My route is a combination of pathway and roads, flats and hills, and at this time of year means riding on some roads covered in winter gravel. It also means that on my rides I’m alternatively being buffeted by insane winds, bashed by ice pellets, soaked with rain or scorched by the sun.