Independent Fabrication Independence Touring Bike w/ Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14

This beautiful Independent Fabrication touring bike went to a customer in Toronto, Canada. The rider had a solid vision for his bike, and came to us with very specific requests for the frame, custom paint, and components. Rohloff's SPEEDHUB 500/14 internal gear hub was the starting point for the build. As a previous SPEEDHUB owner who'd completed an extended tour with the hub, the rider was familiar with Rohloff's unparalleled reliability and wide gear range.

The rider's fondness for Independent Fabrication made them the obvious choice for the frame. Looking for a utilitarian and comfortable setup, he requested a dynamo front hub (which contains a small generator that powers the bike's lights and an on-board USB charger), upright seating position, and striking silver components to complement frame's unique paint job, which features sun-kissed orange crystallance with cream highlights. Cycle Monkey coordinated with IF to get the details worked out, and we couldn't wait to assemble the bike once the frame and fork arrived.

Independent Fabrication builds a variety of frames (steel, titanium, carbon, and titanium mixed with carbon) and forks (steel only) in-house at their facility in Newmarket, New Hampshire. They have built a reputation for both top quality frames and the extraordinary abilities of their in-house paint shop. IF builds frames on an exclusively custom basis, and they are no strangers to building bikes around the Rohloff SPEEDHUB. We have showcased several on our blog over the years, and have worked with shops and IF directly on many more.

IF's extensive custom frame program made it easy to accommodate the rider's requests and ensure compatibility with the SPEEDHUB and Schmidt SON SL dynamo hub. The fork required a special conducting plate inside the dropout to enable the use of the SL (connector-less) version of Schmidt's hub, which passes the current generated by the hub through the dropout up to the headlight and USB charger through wires hidden in the fork leg. The electrical connection between the fork and hub is automatic, eliminating the need for the manually-connected wires typically required with dynamo hubs. The fork also received mounts for a Pass and Stow front rack (not shown in photos) for future installation.

No wires needed here.

Cycle Monkey generally completes builds around custom frames that employ adjustable dropouts or an eccentric bottom bracket to tension the chain or belt. In this case, the rider was more comfortable with a chain and opted to keep the frame as simple as possible by using a Rohloff chain tensioner. While we generally prefers the use of adjustable frames with the Rohloff hub, the tensioner option does offer two distinct advantages when running a chain on long-distance self-supported adventures:

1) The spring loaded jockey wheels automatically adjust for wear in the chain and maintain consistent tension.

2) The tensioner holds the chain in place when the wheel is removed,  just like with a rear derailleur, instead of having it fall to the ground.

Without a rear disc brake mount or a dedicated Rohloff dropout, this bike required an alternate method to secure the hub axle to the frame. One option would have been to to use the Rohloff torque arm, but that was not the preferred method.  Adding an eyelet to the left dropout to accept a bolt compatible with the Rohloff OEM2 axle plate was a cleaner solution that was fitting for a custom frame.

This customer opted for the use of a chain tensioner for this particular build to keep the frame as simple as possible

Cable routing was set up to run the Rohloff shift cables along the down tube and left chainstay to feed into the cable box of the external shift mech on the SPEEDHUB. Taillight wires run piggybacked onto the shifter cables, then up the rear rack to the light. The rear brake cable runs under the top tube in a standard cantilever setup, and rack and fender mounts are included for additional utility.

The custom paint job was the finishing touch on this beauty. At a distance, it looks fairly straightforward, with just a bit of masking to create the panels and stripes. However, crystallance paint requires three layers, one of which includes glass flake that can be difficult to top with an additional layer. Naturally, the expert painter at IF worked enough magic to apply the cream color over the orange base layer and make everything come out looking top notch.

This paint job shines nearly as bright as the dynamo headlight

With the one-off frame shining in all its glory, our Wheel House got to work prepping a shiny silver set of wheels. Silver anodized Rohloff and Schmidt hubs were laced into polished Velocity Cliffhanger rims with Sapim Race spokes and brass nipples. The Cliffhanger is Velocity's burliest touring rim, making it well suited for this aggressive touring build. Cream-colored Schwalbe Big Apple tires wrapped around the hoops to complement the frame's unique colorway while adding comfort to the ride thanks to their large air volume.

Cushy tires, sparklin' rims

At Cycle Monkey, we constantly promote the durability of the Rohloff drivetrain for a variety builds, including touring setups like this rig. With a 526% gear range and long-term reliability that's been proven with over 20 years on the market, SPEEDHUB is the drivetrain of choice for long distance touring.

Gebla's Rohbox is a ratcheting shift box that allows for the use of SRAM or Campagnolo shifters with the SPEEDHUB

Despite the SPEEDHUB's many benefits, some riders don't mesh with the feel of Rohloff's twist shifter. Luckily, we have an alternate option for these riders. Gebla's Rohbox allows the use of SRAM MTB shifters (among other options) to shift the hub instead of the traditional grip shifter. The Rohbox was just one of many high end parts included on this build to provide ultimate comfort and durability.

This rider approached us with a very specific vision of his ideal bike, and we worked with him to source the components and build up the bike of his dreams. But you don't need to have it all figured out to get started on your dream build. Whether you have a detailed plan or a rough outline for your next bike, get in touch and we'll figure out the best way to make it happen.

Build details

• Frame: Independent Fabrication Independence custom steel
• Fork: Independent Fabrication custom steel with Schmidt SL dropout
• Headset: Chris King Steelset NoThreadset
• Stem: Velo Orange
• Handlebar: Nitto Bosco
• Shifter: SRAM X9 triggers, modified with Gebla Rohbox
• Grips: Ergon GP1 BioKork
• Seat post: Kalloy Pillar
• Saddle: Brooks B66
• Front Hub: Schhmidt SON28 SL
• Rear hub: Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14
• Spokes: Sapim Race
• Nipples: Sapim Brass
• Rims: Velocity Cliffhanger
• Tires: Schwalbe Big Apple
• Cranks: White Industries VBC
• Pedals: Velo Orange Sabot
• Bottom Bracket: SKS
• Chainring: White Industries Direct Mount
• Rear Sprocket: Rohloff
• Chain: Wippermann 8sX
• Chain Tensioner: Rohloff
• Brakes & Levers: Velo Orange Crand Cru
• Skewers: Pitlock anti-theft
• Headlight: Busch & Müller Lumotec Classic T Senso Plus
• Taillight: Busch & Müller Toplight Line Brake Plu
• USB Charger: Sinewave Reactor
• Fenders: Velo Orange stainless steel
• Rear Rack: Tubus Cosmo stainless steel

Classic Commuter: Rohloff-Equipped Rivendell Sam Hillborne

This classically-styled commuter belongs to a local Bay Area customer who was looking for the convenience and reliability of modern components like dynamo lighting and internal gearing for his vintage-inspired Rivendell Sam Hillborne frame. 


The project began with the desire for a Schmidt SON28 dynamo hub and Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 internal gear hub. As a daily commuter, reliability, lack of maintenance, and ease of use were absolute requirements for every component of this build. Dynamo lighting from Schmidt fit the bill with its self-generating, no-charge-required illumination, and Rohloff’s SPEEDHUB was the clear choice for a wide-range drivetrain that would perform reliably day after day in any weather conditions. 
 
Built as a high-end commuter, the build was completed with top quality components in polished silver and brown leather to complement the nostalgic design of the lugged steel frame.

Rivendell is a Bay Area company located in Walnut Creek, just down the road from Cycle Monkey. Their calling card is lugged steel frames, and they offer a variety of platforms for daily commuting, road riding, trail riding, and touring. Rivendell is a small company, and they pride themselves on taking a different approach to frame materials and construction than most contemporary builders:

All of our bikes have lugged steel frames. We believe it's the best and most beautiful way to make bicycle frames, and trends won't sway us. We don't sell bikes for racing, and rather than apologize for that, we'd like to point out that since we are unburdened by racing values, we're free to design better-than-racing bikes. Bikes that fit better, ride better, and are more comfortable. Bikes that let you carry a load, whether that load is a tent and camping gear, a computer and files, or groceries. Our bikes are safe, comfortable, practical, and beautiful. Racing bikes might be lighter, but they are less comfortable, less useful, and for the most part, harder to like the looks of - Rivendell Bicycles

Rivendell's aesthetic and design choices might fall outside the norm, but their commitment to this unique approach is unwavering, and their execution of classic steel frames is second-to-none.

Rivendell presents the Sam Hillborne an all-rounder road bike packed with style and value. Clearance for 40mm tires provides the flexibility to comfortably take on dirt road adventures, while rack and fender mounts provide easy set up for commuting and errands. Add the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and self-powered lights, and the Sam Hillborne is quickly transformed into the ultimate commuter.

Cycle Monkey's Wheel House assembled a pair of eye-catching wheels with polished-silver hubs, Pacenti PL23 rims, and double butted Sapim Race spokes with brass nipples. The highlight, of course, is the Schmidt SON28 dynamo hub. Providing self-powered lighting of both the front and rear lights that help riders stand out in traffic and light the road ahead, dynamo lights are a no-brainer for commuters like this customer.

The Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 internal gear hub is an excellent option for any commuter because of its durable, hardened steel internal gear wheels, wide gear range, and sealed shifting system, which protects shifting components from everyday wear and tear. The SPEEDHUB provides long-term dependability in all riding conditions, making it the perfect drivetrain choice for a bike that is relied on for daily transport. 

Rivendell does not design frames with Rohloff-specific or disc brake compatibility, so this build required an aftermarket SPEEDHUB setup that will work with virtually any standard frame.  

The torque arm connected to the left chainstay fixes the hub axle to the frame and prevents it from spinning while the rider is pedaling. Chain tension comes courtesy of Phil Wood's Philcentric thread-in eccentric bottom bracket, which also allows for a small range of tension adjustment. In the end, this setup functions the same as bikes designed specifically around the SPEEDHUB.

Cycle Monkey completed the classic commuter build with high-end components from Chris King, Nitto, Paul Components, Gilles Berthoud, and Brooks, all of which contributed to the desired aesthetic. 

This build demonstrates the possibilities when you take a beloved frame designed for traditional drivetrain components and build it up around a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14. Cycle Monkey relished the opportunity to put together a build kit that inspired this customer ride his Rivendell and brought more enjoyment to his daily commute.

If you have a stock frame and want to run a Rohloff SPEEDHUB or make you frame belt drive compatible, just give us a call.  We'd be thrilled to talk it through and help you get the process rolling.

Build details

• Frame: Rivendell Sam Hillborne

• Fork: Rivendell Sam Hillborne

• Headset: Chris King Threaded

• Stem: Nitto Technomic

• Handlebar: Nitto Albatross

• Shifter: Gilles Berthoud for Rohloff SPEEDHUB 

• Grips: Brooks

• Seat post: Nitto Dynamic

• Saddle: Brooks B67

• Seat Clamp: Seat binder 

• Front Hub: Schmidt SON28

• Rear hub: Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14

• Spokes: Sapim Race

• Nipples: Sapim Brass

• Rims: Pacenti PL23

• Tires: Surly Knard 700 x 41c

• Cranks: Middleburn RS8

• Pedals: MKS Sylvan

• Bottom Bracket: Phil Woods Philcentric

• Chain ring: Middleburn RS7

• Rear Sprocket: Shimano 39T single speed ring

• Chain: Wippermann 8sX

• Brakes & Levers: Paul Racer

• Torque Arm: Rohloff
• Front Light: Schmidt Edelux II
• Rear Light: Schmidt SON Taillight
• Fenders: SKS Longboard  
• Rear Rack: Tubus Logo Evo 

9:ZERO:7 Fat Bike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and Gates Carbon Drive Belt

This 9:ZERO:7 Slider is a build we did for a customer in Herndon, Virginia. He wanted an adventure fat bike that would stand up to anything he might encounter off the beaten path. Low maintenance and dependability were top priorities. He had already purchased the frame set, so he sent it to us to build up with a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 internal gear hub and Gates Carbon Drive belt drive. With this extremely durable drivetrain, a rigid fork, and large volume tires for comfort and traction, this bike can handle just about any terrain with almost no maintenance.

Ventana Wolfram Plus-Tire Mountain Bike Packages

We worked with Ventana Mountain Bikes USA to create a new plus-sized trail hardtail called Wolfram. Available with 27.5"+ or 29"+ wheels, the geometry follows current trends of longer top tubes for use with shorter stems, slack head angle for better stability on technical terrain, and short chain stays for a more playful feel and to make picking your way through obstacles easier. The oversized plus tires provide amazing traction and give the back end a little squish. We like to call it an all mountain hardtail.  Some might call it an enduro hardtail.  One of our friends would call it a Funduro. Whatever you call it, it is a very capable bike that is tons of fun to ride.

Completely manufactured in-house at Ventana's factory in Northern California, the Cycle Monkey editions of the Wolfram 27.5+ and 29+ feature dedicated cable routing for the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and stealth dropper seatposts and are belt drive compatible through Ventana's clever adjustable dropout system for the most maintenance-free trail bike drivetrain available. Check out the packages below or call us to discuss a custom build.

Bikes packages are available in two build levels:

• Signature: $7090
• Standard: $6040

Both packages come with a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 14-speed internal gear hub and Gates Carbon Drive belt system.

 

Contact us at info@cyclemonkey.com or 510-868-1777 for more information or to place an order.

Cyclocross / Gravel Grinder: Traitor Cycles Crusade with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and Gates Carbon Drive

A Kent, Washington-based customer contacted us to talk about building a commuter/dirt road exploration bike with our signature Rohloff/Gates drivetrain. Already a Rohloff rider, he was excited about the simplicity, dependability, and longevity that the combination of the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 internal gear hub and Gates Carbon Drive belt offers. He liked Traitor Cycles Crusade frame for it's cyclocross geometry, affordable price, adjustable dropouts, and ability to run a tapered carbon fork. He sent us his Rohloff wheel, and we built it into a cool new bike.

Super Commuter / Adventure Road: Calfee Designs Luna with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and Gates Carbon Drive

This custom carbon fiber Calfee Design Luna went to a customer in Juneau, Alaska. He was looking for a bike that he could use for his 15 mile daily commute as well as some weekend gravel road rides. He wanted it to be lightweight, versatile, dependable, and built-up with all the bells and whistles available for a great commuter.

He and his wife have been very happily riding on a carbon fiber Calfee tandem with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 internal gear hub and Gates Carbon Drive belt drivetrain for several years, and he wanted the same reliability on his new commuter. He liked the idea of having Calfee build him another frame and ultimately decided on the Luna model. We worked with him to outfit the bike with dynamo hub-powered front and rear lighting, hydraulic disk brakes, fenders, and a rear rack/pannier system for a properly outfitted commuter.

Expedition / Adventure / Backcountry Touring: Lynskey Fatskey Fat Bike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 XL

A customer from Hickory, NC called us to discuss building up a new bikepacking rig. He wanted to use 29+ wheels with a maintenance-free and dependable Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and Gates Carbon Drive belt drivetrain to take on the Great Divide and other adventure touring routes. 

There are limited options available for dedicated 29+ bikes to begin with, and he wanted something lighter than the popular Surly Krampus and ECR steel options. Fortunately, most fat bike frames will accept 29+ wheels, so he was able to use the lightweight titanium Fatskey frame from Lynskey. He sent us the frame and Carver O’Beast carbon fork that he had already picked up, and we worked with him to pick the rest of the components for the build and put everything together.

Commuting / Touring: Co-Motion Americano with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and Gates Carbon Drive

This Co-Motion Americano was built for a customer in Corpus Christi, Texas. He had been riding on a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 for many years that he loved and wanted to move it to a new bike. He rides to work everyday and wanted to get a great commuter with dynamo powered lights and a frame that was sturdy enough to be used for moderately loaded touring. He was also excited about using a Gates Carbon Drive belt. Co-Motion's top quality, American made, Americano model covered all of his requirements, so we used this as the starting platform.

Gravel / Adventure Road Bike: Shand Cycles Stoater with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and Gates Carbon Drive

This Shand Cycles Stoater adventure road bike was built for a local customer in San Francisco. He wanted a no fuss commuter/adventure bike that was fun and comfortable to ride to help him get back into a regular riding routine. A friend of his had worked with us to get a Rohloff-equipped touring bike and raved about the drivetrain, so he decided to get in touch with us to test ride the internal gear hub and Gates belt and to discuss potential build options. He really like the aesthetic of the Shand Stoater demo bike we have at the office, so we based the build around this frameset.

Super Commuter: Independent Fabrications Club Racer with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14, Gates Carbon Drive, and Dynamo Set-up

This custom super commuter is now climbing the hills of San Francisco, CA. The customer already rode with a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 internal gear hub and Gates Carbon Drive belt, and while he really loved the drivetrain, he was less happy with the original frame. So, he came to us to discuss options for moving the Rohloff and belt over to a new frame. Besides wanting to re-use his drivetrain, the main goal of the bike was quick, responsive handling like his road bike to add a little excitement to his daily commute.

Independent Fabrications was high on his list due to the many choices available through their custom program, and he ultimately decided to go with a stainless steel Club Racer frame with a 3/4 paint job. We worked with him to spec the bike with commuting essentials, then dialed in the fit and got in touch with IF to work through the frame details.

Surly Troll with S&S Couplings, Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14, and Gates Carbon Drive Belt

This customized Surly Troll was built for a customer in Easton,Maryland who wanted a bike for travel touring and general utility use. He came to us looking to get Surly's newly released World Troller frame built up with a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and Gates Carbon Drive. However, at the time, the World Troller frames had not started shipping, so we took a standard Surly Troll frame and modified it by adding S&S couplings, a belt drive splitter, and a new coat of white powder coat to get very nearly the same result with the additional feature of being belt compatible.

Cycle Monkey Now Offering In-house Frame Modifications and Repair

We are excited to announce our new on-site fabrication shop. We will now be able to perform all of the standard steel or titanium frame modifications common on many of our builds as well as a comprehensive list of frame repairs. Having this workshop on site will reduce lead times for bikes being built in the Monkey Lab as well as expand our service offerings.

Demo Bike: Lenz Lunchmoney Full Suspension Trail Bike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and Gates Carbon Drive Belt

This Lenz Sport LunchMoney is one of two new demo bikes that came about as a project to combine a Gates Carbon Drive belt drive and Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 internal gear hub with a full suspension frame. To accomplish this goal, we got in touch with Devin Lenz, who created one of the first - and still one of the only - suspension frames that is compatible with a tensioned single speed chain or belt. We worked with him on a few design details, then put in an order for a medium frame with 27.5+ wheels and an XL frame with 29+ wheels.

Jones Plus Bikepacking Bike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and Gates Carbon Drive

This customized Jones Plus bike went to a customer in Sunset, South Carolina. He originally contacted us about building a bikepacking/offroad adventure bike with plus size tires, Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14, and Gates Carbon Drive belt for riding dirt routes that he had picked out across the US. The bike would be used for serious back country riding and needed to be built to stand up to anything he might encounter off the grid. For these types of adventures, where every piece of equipment needs to work without fail over various terrain weather conditions for hundreds or even thousands of miles, the Rohloff/Gates drivetrain is a perfect fit. He was interested in the "Plus" model from Jones Bicycles based on reviews he had read, and a test ride on our demo bike coordinated with a business trip to San Francisco confirmed that this was the right choice.

Tout Terrain Metropolitan Commuter Bike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and Cinq Trigger Shifters

This decked out Tout Terrain Metropolitan was built for a customer in Sacramento, CA as his daily commuter. He had ordered the frame with a few customizations and picked out most of the parts he wanted to use, then came to us for the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 internal gear hub and Gates Carbon Drive belt system as well as to fill in a few missing parts for the build kit. He is a heavier rider who wanted a bike that would be reliable under the strain of daily commuting, and this Tout Terrain frame is a perfect fit, having been designed with durability in mind as well as being Rohloff and belt ready and having many commuter-specific features built in.

Tech Talk: Neil's Cinq Shift:R Rohloff Trigger Shifter Review

During the past 8 years representing Rohloff in the US, I have received many requests for a trigger shifter for the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 and fielded lots of questions about whether it is possible to connect stock derailleur shifters (road and mountain) to these internal gear hubs, both of which were not previously possible.  This has changed over the past year and a half with the introduction of the Cinq Shift:R and Gebla Rohbox.  Now that these shifting options are available, we have seen strong interest in them, which has led to new questions about how they work mechanically and how well they function out on the roads and trails.

After using the Cinq Shift:R trigger shifting system on my mountain bike over the past 4 months, I feel like I have a pretty good feel for the shifting performance of this system.  Also, after visiting the Cinq factory in Southwestern Germany last fall and getting a detailed overview of how to install and service them, combined with the installs we have done at the Monkey Lab, I feel like I have a good understanding of their inner workings.

In this post, I will give some background on the history of trigger shifter designs for the SPEEDHUB and discuss the pros and cons of the Shift:R as they apply to my riding as a long time mountain biker and SPEEDHUB rider. Look for a future article covering the Gebla Rohbox after I have spent more time on it.

Tech Talk: Shifter Options for use with Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14

The Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 internally geared hub has always enjoyed a lot of interest with it's 14-speeds, low maintenance, 526% gear range, high durability, and extreme reliability, but not all riders are aware of the flexibility of bike set-up that new shifter options allow. With a variety of aftermarket options available, shifter options for Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 hubs have never been better.

Drop bar, flat bar, Jones H-Bar; these new shifter options provide the flexibility to use your preferred set-up on your Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 equipped bike.

Drop Bar Options: 

• Rohloff twist shifter with HubBub bar end adaptor
• Rohloff twist shifter with Rodriguez Doohicky headset spacer adapter
• Gilles Berthoud twist shifter
• Co-Motion twist shifter
• GELBA Rohbox with SRAM or Campagnolo brake/shift levers
• Cinq Shift:R thumb shifters

Flat Bar Options:

• Rohloff twist shifter
• GEBLA Rohbox with SRAM trigger shifters
• Cinq Shift:R thumb shifters
• Gilles Berthoud twist shifter

Co-Motion Klatch - Adventure Road Bike with Rohloff SPEEDHUB and Gates Belt

This bike started into motion when our customer in Burlingame, CA first rode his friend's Rohloff-equipped touring bike. He liked the internal gear hub so much he decided to design a bike of his own around the system. During his research into potential frame options, he found our Monkey Lab blog post about a previous Co-motion Klatch we built and got in touch with us to discuss building him something similar. He wanted a low-maintenance bike that was suitable for bike-packing, gravel rides, and mild single track. He knew the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 would meet his drivetrain needs perfectly, especially when combined with a Gates Carbon Drive belt, and he had a top shelf build kit in mind to finish off his dream bike. Once we had all the details in place, we got in touch with Co-motion to finalize the frame details and set out on making the bike happen.