Dynamo hubs

Hey, you're in Oslo. Me too.

Shimano hubs got great seals, finding some with centerlock and 32h shouldn't be a problem.

I'd get a son hub they're German engineering

Seems like less of a selling point since the VW Diesel scandal

Really?

Ironically I thought it spoke volumes in favour. They managed to make their cars smart enough to know when they were being tested and smart enough to cheat!

This is how it begins

Got a reply from Rose bikes regarding the stuff coming out of the hub:

Hub looks ok, actually they use a little bit more grease which comes
outside after a few miles.

xtr.

Alright so about to bite the bullet on a dynamo set-up and am thinking:

Rims: H Plus Son Archetype 24h
Front hub: Shutter Precision 9 series
Rear hub: Ultegra
Front light: Supernova E3 Pro 2
USB: Supernova Plug III

So any obvious substitutions? I'm hoping for a discount on the Supernova stuff so bare that in mind.

Any experience with the SP-9 series? There's not too much on the internet about it

Is the 9 series their super tiny/lightweight version? Only suggestion would be to check the speed at which it will output whatever the lights require (6v?), less of an issue when road riding but might be an issue if you're planning on doing a lot of mountainous "gravel grinding"

The dynamo is pretty good. Avoid maybe Archetypes and get DT460.

http://www.stradawheels.co.uk/product/h-plus-son-archetype/

1 Attachment

Fine from what I had on the last steep hills at PBP. Reflecting exactly my slightly laboured cadence.

Bit that is with any dynamo at speeds closer to 5 then 10 mph?

I just checked the graphs on SP's website, with 700c wheels the SP8 will output 6v at ~14km/h, with the SP9 it's closer to 18km/h. Like I said though it's more an issue to consider if off-road/gravel riding where your average speed will be lower.

So which dynamo do you get to ride at half that speed?

I'd be tempted to go a few more spokes than 24, just so it's bullet proof.
Snap a spoke in 32h wheel and it'll be near true still. Snap one in a 24, and you're not going anywhere.

Not used SP but they're meant to be just fine and good.

If the price of the plug is not much less than a sinewave revoloution, get the sinewave, far better product.

I use the E3 Tripple. Get that, it's far brighter than the pro 2. Get the brightest one you can.

You could just get a 105 rear hub, check out rose bikes. Why need a new rear wheel? H+son are fine, but maybe the hipster choice, better wheels out there. I got hed belgium to hope evo, because I splashed the cash.

Make sure you get it built by a serious wheel builder, that's what matters. That's what will keep it rolling good for miles after 1000s of miles. I had mine built by justridingalong, paid them full price. Worth every penny. Top class wheel builders.

@andy_k The wattage seems to be alright for my needs (no off-road) but might be a concern for prolonged climbs although a strong

@skinny how many spokes did you run?

I didn't really look into USB that much I just saw the Plug III and it looks like a neat design but perhaps its more style than substance. Where abouts did you mount yours?

Well I've now been put off the Archetypes - any other suggestions? Would you recommend the Hed Belgium rims? I'm happy to spend a bit of money as the wheels seem to be my only significant purchase for next years race and I've managed to siphon off £500 from this terms student loan already which I'd kinda earmarked for wheels and a dynamo set-up.

Last year I used Mavic Ksyrium which were fine but it retrospect could have been a real problem had a spoke broken.

Yeah it's a luck thing really. As you sussed.

I put mine in my frame bag, so it just sat in there plugged into a battery. I might cut into the wire and put a switch so I can turn it on and off with a switch, instead of rummaging around and unplugging the cable, but that's just streamlining. You can also just tape it to any tube. I don't like that the plug has to be mounted into a hole really. I think the design of the sinewave is leaps ahead. It's performance is too.
The plug will be fine. Loads of people like them. The design of the sinewave just worked better for me.

If you're using discs? Then spending on rims makes sense, as you won't need to replace them. If you're using rim, then a good rim brake rim is better. @edscoble will tell you which rim is best, he knows far more about rims.

I ran 32, because I like to limit risks. I did eye up some Zipp 303s though. It's one of those decision that comes down to personal choice.

Last year I used Mavic Ksyrium which were fine but it retrospect could have been a real problem had a spoke broken.

Wasn't Ultan's TCR effectively ruined (well, any chance of a podium) by a taxi in Sofia and not being able to easily retrue his pringled front wheel?

That and his punctures on the strada dell assietta (took him over 12 hours)

@skinny no discs yet. I'll just wait on the usb until I found out whether they'll offer me the discount. Is your backlight Dynamo powered?

Talbot Wheelworks on here built me a SON with a HED Belgium rim, which I can't recommend highly enough.

No battery.

posted up a wanted, but thought I'd bomb this thread. Looking for a fully built dynamo disc hub 700c, if you have a light that you're looking to get rid of as well, will take that off your hands as well.
Thanks in advance..

Looks like I've killed the bearings on the SP PD-8 I've was running on my 29er. Laced up in and in a truing stand it wouldn't even manage 1 1/2 rotations. I assume it was the two very wet trips to Wales this summer even though I'm sure I managed to keep it out of all those well over axle deep puddles and river crossings... Thankfully LBS and distro are sorting everything. Checked the one I have on the road/cross bike and that's still spinning well! Phew!

Anybody used the cheaper Dn30 shimano hubs?

How do you know the Sinewave is better than the b&m usb werk and the plug iii? Got any comparison reviews?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NhWvmrcNEnY

Interesting comments. Also:

https://github.com/coddingtonbear/bicycle-dynamo-measurements/blob/master/readme.rst