Gear hubs – the perfect solution for the city?

Many people ask us about the operation, types, and advantages and disadvantages of planetary hubs, which are popular on city bikes. To fully satisfy our readers, we asked Andrei, our chief mechanic, to write an article on this topic. His extensive experience servicing Dutch bicycles allows him to tell us much more about them than manufacturer websites or online forums can. Gear hubs hold no secrets for him!

Gear hubs and city bikes

Andriy Shchypanov - Antymateria chief mechanic

In the rhythm of the city's lively pulse, with the growing demand for a comfortable, healthy, ecological and fashionable transport alternative, brave warriors of urban space are increasingly turning to the purchase of a reliable two-wheeler. Although consumer awareness is constantly developing regarding bicycle types and equipment specifications, we would like to highlight a few topics inherent to the very concept of a "city bike" for people planning to purchase reliable equipment that will last for years. With this introduction to a series of posts inspired by the experience gained from many years of messing around with grease, our Antimatter team invites knowledge predators to spend some pleasant time in the world of stuck screws. The concept of a city bike has always evoked images of a heavy, indestructible machine, one that, armed with a shovel, could take on a Soviet tank. This stems from the inseparability of the concepts of strong, maintenance-free, and durable, and the weight of the components. One of the heaviest components of a city bike, besides the frame, is the multi-speed hub, which I'm about to introduce to the reader. The advantage of the planetary gear mechanism is a gear shifting system that does not require primary school education, the ability to shift gears while standing still or without turning the connecting rod, ease of keeping the drive components clean and lower costs of replacing them. The disadvantage of all multi-speed hubs is their weight, resulting from their more complex design, which requires the use of stronger and more durable materials. Parts availability is also poorer due to the complex mechanism, which operates on a similar principle to a car gearbox. Below, I briefly present the most important planetary hub manufacturers on the market.

Sturmey Archer

STRURMEY ARCHER are pioneers of multi-speed hubs. Created between tea breaks in 1902, the three-speed hub design remains unchanged to this day. Precisely crafted from robust materials, this hub requires care when servicing, as it is 100% disassemblable, and many small components are not secured against removal. Sometimes, when disassembling the entire unit, gears, pawls, and springs emerge, their location and function not entirely obvious. In addition to the flagship model, the range also includes numerous gear, brake, and color options.

Sachs/Sram

A renowned German company specializing in motorcycles, motorbikes, and car and bicycle parts. This brand began its development in 1895, producing bicycle hubs and bearings. Their offerings include simple, indestructible hub designs with three, five, seven, and twelve speeds, as well as a two-speed automatic model. Structurally simple and refined, they boast incredible hardness and precision in the components, especially the bearings. They're very user-friendly and logical to disassemble and reassemble. These hubs were designed to withstand wear and tear. It's worth noting that Sachs, and later Sram, didn't make a habit of changing their hubs over the years. Consequently, parts from products from the early 20th century often fit modern models. Currently, the company's bicycle division is being purchased by the American company Sram. Unfortunately, last year, the Americans announced the discontinuation of gear hub production.

Sram hubs were based on Sachs technology.

SHIMANO - the most popular gear hubs

The absolute monopoly of the Japanese manufacturer on the affordable accessories market also covers the gear hub segment. Shimano offers three-, four-, five-, seven-, eight-, and eleven-speed hubs. The classic three-speed hub is built around the proven pushrod shifting mechanism, which beats the competition primarily in terms of availability. Other Shimano models utilize a ratchet system in the hub axle itself. This disengages unnecessary combinations of satellites, allowing you to shift gears while turning the crank. Servicing these hubs requires specialized knowledge and experience. In addition to the above, it is also worth mentioning the German brand Rohloff, whose products are famous for their extraordinary durability and, at the same time, sophistication (and price), but this is a topic for a separate post.

14-speed Rohloff hub

In our workshop, we tackle every challenge when it comes to multi-speed hubs. For Antymateria bikes, we've chosen Shimano Nexus three-speed hubs. They offer the best value for money, are easy to service, and are the perfect choice for a lightweight city bike. Text: Andriy Shchypanov Edited by: Maciej Ataman