Is it legal to download and run pirated abandonware because I'm curious about the software? rev2022.8.1.42699. KOGA adjustable stem gives a variety of seating postures. A split frame is necessary for mounting a belt. flight deck compatible. A sustainable and environmentally friendly solution with the additional resistance being negligible. In fact, the around the world record was once set on a Shimano Alfine 8-speed hub! My preferred method is to pre-lube before installing the gear cluster. Then drain and dry the all the parts and clean off any other of the removed components. Bicycles Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people who build and repair bicycles, people who train cycling, or commute on bicycles. This is where a long-lasting and robust Rohloff drivetrain clearly wins out. The above price includes VAT and excludes advised delivery costs of 12.50. NOTE, this has a left-hand thread, so clockwise to loosen do not remove yet. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Which bolt to use when aligning disc brakes? I use a cut off oil bottle or an old drink cup or anything that is a close fit to the gear cluster. Those plastic threads will strip easily if overtightened!Now replace the the non-drive side cone and locknut to the correct bearing adjustment, I basically aim for no end play as judging by rotational play is difficult due to internal resistance of the hub gearing. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The cable for the rear light is integrated into the rear carrier. But Id be careful here, especially if youre a heavier and more powerful rider. Moreover, the bike is easier to keep clean and has an improved sleek appearance. Electronic shifters are also nice on drop-bar bikes as you can easily pair them with Shimano hydraulic brakes for an ultra-low maintenance brake setup too. Once the dust cap is loosened, get a container ready to catch the oil from the hub after the next step which is to remove the non-drive side lock nut and cone (15mm and 17mm cone wrenches required). Next remove the metal dust cap and the plastic chain guard which just pulls off. This not only enhances the visual appeal but additionally reduces the risk of corrosion around the welds; an area which is traditionally susceptible to the formation of rust. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. What is the gravitational force acting on a massless body? I will answer all of this and much more in this in-depth Shimano Alfine resource. Shimano Alfine hubs are excellent, and for many people out there, I think theyre actually a better option than a Rohloff hub. Any stretch/settling should be handled with the barrel adjuster. Regarding gear shifting, its best practice to ease your pedal power momentarily when you change gears. Electronic shifters make perfect shifts every time, ensuring you do not damage anything inside the hub from improper cable maintenance. Extra vertical space in shaded theorem if ended with displaymath or itemize. Now diligently clean and degrease all the exposed areas to prevent dirt ingress into the hubs internals. In fact, on balance, I think the Alfine is the best hub for most people. As a result, you get a significant reduction in drivetrain maintenance, and with fewer components exposed to the elements a reduction in running costs too. And should you switch from your derailleur gear system to an internal gear hub? This is because theyre cheaper, quieter and employ trigger or neat drop bar shifters. When we calculate the climbing gear that this yields in gear inches, its simply not low enough for most bike travel. You might be thinking that Di2 electronic shifting is a bit of a gimmick, but when you understand how Alfine hubs shift, it can definitely be worthwhile. And you can hold the buttons and shift multiple gears at once. The downside is that oil slowly leaks out the side, so you will need to wipe everything down regularly. If you learn how to tune the Alfine gears and maintain your cables, you will likely have no problems with your hub. Please note that these issues do not apply to everybody in every situation. KOGA's SoleMate pedal ensures that the ideal foot position is automatically adopted. What does the Ariane 5 rocket use to turn? This is because you can damage your hub by putting high loads into the internal components before the shift is 100% complete. Your problem is that the cable is either too long or short even when the barrel adjuster is at the extremes of adjustment. They also offer 14 gears across a 526% gear range, which is about the same as a modern mountain bike drivetrain (1X drivetrain with a 10-52T cassette). The weight of the support and load is resting on the frame and not on the mounting bolts. Videos, The Incredible $199 Internal Gear Bicycle Hub: Shimano Alfine Explained. When I ride, I feel the hub skipping around gear 6-7 and I guess that's the reason. Many manufacturers are now offering stabilized bikepacking bags and harnesses that promise a better user experience. With a 1.2:1 gear ratio, a 50kg/110lb rider only puts 72Nm into the hub when standing on the pedals. Just pour the oil into the cluster and let it sit for a short while. The Alfine 8 Di2 (or Nexus 5E Di2) hub will automatically change gears for you based on your speed, cadence and torque. Servicing my Shimano Alfine 11 Internal Geared Hub, AdamKs Touring Bike Surly Disc Trucker, Trail Riding Tour Olympic Discovery Trail et al, Flight Path Trail adds Mile (kilometre) Posts, AdamKs Touring Bike Surly DiscTrucker. The eccentric bottom bracket for easy tensioning of the belt or chain. After removing the wheel from the bike, remove the brake disc if so equipped. The rear carrier of the KOGA F3 series is elegantly mounted by means of a hidden structure on the underside of the mudguard. To give you a sense of how this compares to a derailleur drivetrain, its a bit higher than a 112 mountain bike drivetrain (SRAM 10-52t, 15% gear steps). Sporty, lightweight, and in a limited series. How to prove that both people know the same dictionary word? I dont usually recommend Alfine hubs for touring and bikepacking due to the climbing gear ratio thats too high, and fact that mechanical failures are not unheard of. When your climbing gear is too high, youll be working much harder than necessary, which results in more muscle fatigue, and frankly, makes hills much less enjoyable. Transform characters of your choice into "Hello, world!". I recommend the 8-speed version for a simple grocery-getter or for someone who simply just wants a bike that works. The Alfine gear hubs both weigh around 1700 grams (3.75lb) while regular rear bike hubs are often under 500 grams (1.1lb). How To Increase Shimano Alfine Hub Reliability, 5 New Bicycle Gearbox Drivetrains (Revolute Hub1, 3X3 Nine, Pinion), The Fastest Bikes of the Tour Divide Ultra Race (4,400KM Non-Stop), Heinz Stcke Talks About His 50 Year Bike Tour Through 196 Countries (Podcast), Video: Our Full Experience Bikepacking The Baja Divide (2937km / 60 Days), Complete List Of The BEST Bikepacking Panniers For Off-Road Use, The BEST Stabilized Bikepacking Bags & Harnesses (With Rack Supports), Comfort Goods! This lasts up to 3 times longer than a chain. The S7001-series Alfine hubs are rated for eBike use, but be careful as the maximum torque of the motor will need to be on the low side. The Alfine 11-speed hub operates inside an oil bath. Shimano hub oil SG-S700 which is a mineral oil, is stupidly expensive so after some searching around to see what other riders are using, I decided on using Royal Purple Maxgear synthetic oil SAE 75W-90W. Additionally, should you crash or drop your bike, there is no rear derailleur (or hanger) to put out of alignment, or worse destroy. These drivetrains are cleaner, quieter and longer-lasting. Bicycle Touring . The Shimano method states to drain the old oil from the hub oil port via a bleed nipple, hose and syringe, basically suck the oil out! The big advantage of this design is that it is hard for water and debris to make their way inside the hub shell. Better yet, pair an Alfine hub with belt drive and enjoy a grease-free and long-lasting drivetrain for years to come. Announcing the Stacks Editor Beta release! So, how good is a $199 Shimano hub? The latest S7001 11-speed hubs employ six new internal components that were re-designed to prevent damage, but these hubs do still leak some oil that periodically needs to be wiped off the hub. 24t front, 20t rear) to achieve a similar climbing gear to my touring bike and with no problems at all. I discussed the issue of low gear ratios and Alfine hubs previously. Now screw on the the plastic dust cap and seal, remember left-hand thread, so anti-clockwise to tighten and only hand-tighten. These are all great characteristics, but the Shimano Alfine hubs are actually better in a number of ways. Ive analysed many of the top-tier bicycle gearboxes on this website, but have spent little time discussing the Shimano Alfine internal gear hubs that offer almost unbelievable value for money. For about US $1000 or 1000 you can get an 8-speed bike with a belt drivetrain thats fully decked out and ready to go. Once everything is clean just loosen the drive side dust cap and seal. For example, Ive known Shimano hubs ($199) to have worked well for around 90,000km (56,000mi). The cable life of an alfine inner is much longer than for a brifter-style. You could say the same thing about a Rohloff hub, but with their track record for reliability, its a very safe bet. The Feather Shock is comfortable with a sporty look, but is also much lighter than a standard model suspension fork. So I decided to remove the hub from the shell and clean it out properly before adding new oil. In comparison, the 8-speed hub has 14% to 22% steps between the gears, which means that gear changes wont feel quite as predictable. With an Alfine-equipped bike, you will enjoy just how easy, cheap and low maintenance an internal gear drivetrain is. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Servicing my Shimano Alfine 11 Internal GearedHub. How can I tell when FFMPEG is done writing a file? Shimano hydraulic disc brakes for stable brake performance in all weather conditions. You will find lots of people who have successfully completed bike trips on Shimano Alfine hubs. I did try a heavier weight of the Royal Purple but found that it made the shifting sluggish in the colder winter months. In terms of ride feel, the Alfine hubs are spongy compared to Rohloff hubs due to the use of roller clutches inside the hub. Once youre satisfied that everything is clean it is best to pre-oil the gear cluster before reassembly. Thanks - I followed your advice and took the bike to the shop. KOGA Crown Connect technology, with the headlamp, mudguard,front fork and lighting cables perfectly integrated. Diff-in-diff parallel trends with a positive outcome. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. For touring, another thing an internal gear hub needs to be is reliable. Are Shimano Alfine Hubs Suitable For Touring & Bikepacking? Install the plastic chain guard, sprocket, snap ring and the plastic driver cap. This is a pretty fuss-free design, although, if its not grease-packed appropriately for wet environments water can and will work its way into the hub. New bicycle gearboxes are coming onto the market quicker than at any time in history. You can get Alfine hubs with either 8 or 11 gears and they are only compatible with regular 135mm dropouts (sorry, thru-axle frame owners). How can I align the hub when the bolt does not go far enough? Thats significantly cheaper than a Rohloff 14-speed hub (US $1500). Here are three things you can do to keep your Alfine hub reliable for many years to come. Ok, Ive just mentioned that Alfine hubs are excellent thanks to their electronic shifting, so lets take a closer look at these components. The first oil change is the most important one, and its after just 500km. One the cassette joint is removed, lift off the plastic driver cap. Gear steps are the percentage difference in gear ratio when you change your gears. This is more like a 111 gravel bike cassette with 11-42 tooth sprockets (13% gear steps). Now you can remove the sprocket noting the direction of the dishing. The following is a rundown of the procedure to accomplish what I consider to be a superior method of changing the oil and flushing out any impurities. What are the advantages of internal gear hubs? (LogOut/ (LogOut/ What are the differences between the Alfine 8 and the Nexus 8? As the 11-speed hubs are much more sensitive to cable adjustment than the 8-speed hubs, you will need to keep a closer eye on its shift components. What's probably happened is that the cable has stretched or the housing has moved a little bit (common in new bikes). The lightest Alfine bike Ive ever seen was just 7.6kg (16.7lb) its pictured above. So when my first 1000 km came, oil change time! (LogOut/ In fact, they can last upwards of 30,000km. If youre not mechanically adept, this may seem daunting, but you could always hire your local bike shop to use this method at least for the first two or three oil changes or until there is little to no evidence of metal particles. As the oil slowly seeps out of the Alfine 11-speed hubs, you will need to conduct regular oil changes. These hubs offer unparalleled value for money. By the way, according to Shimano, its not pronounced Al-fine or Al-feen. Enjoy you new bike. Dual control lever. But over the last decade, Ive been riding around the world on expensive Rohloff hubs. While the Gear cluster is soaking, pack the non-drive side bearing with fresh grease and grease the seals in the cone and drive side dust cap.The hub should be ready for reassembly now and you can either add oil now or with a syringe through the oil port later. Underneath that you will see a snap ring that can be pried off with a couple of small thin screwdrivers if you dont have the correct snap ring pliers. In your case this is used to fine tune the cable length to achieve proper gear selection in the hub. The fork provides additional comfort for wrists and shoulders without compromising the direct handling feel. KOGA is part of the Accell Group, an international stock-exchange listed conglomerate of leading cycle manufacturers. Remove the cassette joint by lining up the yellow dots on the cassette joint fixing ring (turn counter-clockwise) which will allow it to be lifted off. The Shimano Alfine 8 averages 17% gear steps across its gear range. Beautiful and functional integration of the switch, brake lights and cables. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Concur - once the stop is clamped down on the inner cable in the correct place, it won't need to be moved ever again. There is even a guy out there who has cycled 430,000km on a Rohloff hub, which is about five times the life expectancy of an Alfine hub. Ok, lets now talk about maintenance and damage prevention. Add in the nine chains ($63), six rear sprockets ($18) and three front sprockets ($33) that your drivetrain will wear through over 90,000km, and youre looking at US $313 to ride more than twice the circumference of Earth! Keep an eye out for bikes with Shimano Nexus 8-speed hubs too, as these hubs are virtually identical to the Alfine 8-speed with the exception of the brake types available. It only takes a minute to sign up. Riding up steep hills with an Alfine either requires more power output or a lower pedalling cadence, both of which will tire you out faster. So, whats the difference between the 8-speed and 11-speed Alfine hubs? But if you ride flatter trips and keep on top of the shift cable maintenance, Alfine hubs work out great. How should I reinstall parts on my axle when I forgot what order they were in? I recently got a new bike (Cube Travel SLT, with belt and Alfine 11). By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. After selling my road bikes (no great need for speed anymore), I decided that I really needed a recreational bike that would require as little maintenance as possible. Other nice features include the ability to shift gears while stationary and the rear wheel can also be built stronger thanks to the shorter spokes and even spoke tension. But if an 80kg/176lb rider did the same thing, they would put 115Nm into the hub, increasing the chance of internal damage. Now, Alfine hubs are often very reliable, especially the 8-speed model. Equipment . That means that improper cable adjustment and dirty or damaged cables can prevent the hubs internal components from engaging properly which can result in gear slipping, grinding, or worse internal components breaking inside the hub and making a mess of things. The hub is not aligned. Thanks for contributing an answer to Bicycles Stack Exchange! Low climbing gears are important for bicycle touring as they allow you to ride up hills at a sustainable effort with all of your luggage. To understand this concept a bit better, lets set the lowest Alfine gears so that they have you spinning the cranks at 60RPM at 8.4kph. This is because its the shifter that controls the alignment of the planetary gears in an Alfine hub. For someone who rides a bit more seriously, the 11-speed version offers smaller and more predictable gear steps, along with a wider gear range. Once the gear cluster is out the oil will drain into the container, this is when you can see the build-up of metal particles in the oil, especially when the hub is relatively new.Flush out the hub shell, non-drive side bearing and gear cluster with a degreaser (I use a citrus based degreaser) to remove as much of the old oil as possible. Pour as much oil into the shell as will allow without leaking out through either side. You can actually see how much forward movement there is in the hub when you step on the pedals from stationary. If the shell was pre-soaked, add an extra 25 ml of oil through the oil port then reinstall the oil port screw making sure that the small o-ring is under the head of the screw. (17 pages), Manual will be automatically added to "My Manuals", Installation of the Cs-S500 Sprocket with Chain Guard, For Internal 8-Speed (Oil Maintenance Kit: Y00298010), In the Case of 11-Speed Internal Geared Hub (Oil Maintenance Kit: Y13098023), Installation of the CS-S500 Sprocket with Chain Guard, Installation of the Cassette Joint to the Hub, Replacement and Assembly of the Indicator Unit, Bicycle Accessories SHIMANO FlightDeck SC-7900 Service Instructions Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano FlightDeck SC-6500 Service Instructions Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano Ultegra ST-6870 Dealer's Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano SC-M500 User Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano ST-6510 Service Instructions Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano NEXUS SG-7C26 Service Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano SM-EC79 Service Instructions Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano SM-EC79 Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano SM-PCE1 Help Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano SM-CD800 Dealer's Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano SORA Series Dealer's Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano DURA-ACE ST-7970 Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano METREA SL-U5000 Dealer's Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano UM-8VR0A-008 User Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano GRX RX 815 Series Dealer's Manual, Bicycle Accessories Shimano PD-MX80 Manual, Page 12: Installation Of The Cs-S500 Sprocket With Chain Guard, Page 13: Installation Of The Cassette Joint To The Hub, Page 15: Installation Of The Disc Brake Rotor, Page 16: Installation Of The Hub To The Frame, Page 18: Installation Of The Shifting Lever, Page 19: Installation Of The Shifting Cable, Page 35: Replacement And Assembly Of The Indicator Unit, Page 39: For Internal 8-Speed (Oil Maintenance Kit: Y00298010), Page 41: In The Case Of 11-Speed Internal Geared Hub (Oil Maintenance Kit: Y13098023). Glad to hear youre still riding. Both Shimano Alfine hubs achieve around 90% drive efficiency on average. Additionally, the Di2 drop bar levers can be programmed in a number of ways. To pre-lube, lean the wheel at an angle so that the non-drive side bearing and edge of the hub shell are at the same angle. Getting an Alfine hub fixed can waste a lot of time potentially ruining a trip. I especially like the drop bar electronic shifters. Rider weight is critical for maintaining a low input torque. Aluminium Racktime rear carrier with SnapIt function, Light and comfortable version from the Venya-series. Eccentric crankshaft for easy tensioning of the belt. You can find the 8-speed hubs for less than US $200 and the 11-speed hubs under US $400. Make sure that is not too tight as the bearings and cone will be damaged in short order. Its worth noting that the 11-speed hubs offer consistent gear steps throughout their range. Internal Geared Hubs (IGH) have always intrigued me, so I bought a bike from a well known local store, Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) with a Shimano IGH. Panniers can make a very useful contribution to a bikepacking setup, especially if youre cycling in remote areas and need to carry food for multiple days. This oil can later be saved and reused as it is only pre-lubing clean components. How to put image and link under PropertyPane Description field for the web part in SPFx? The shifting on Alfine hubs is incredibly fast when the shift cable and cassette joint are running perfectly. Caveat If you decide on any other oil than the Shimano recommended oil, I bear no responsibility for the outcome, I can only attest to the fact that I have used the Royal Purple now for over four years and over 25,000 km Summer and Winter riding with no adverse effects to the operation of the hub. The KOGA Feather Shock front fork suspension is a unique KOGA innovation specifically designed for avid touring cyclists. If youre using the 8-speed hub in wet and gritty conditions, make sure to get the hub re-greased every year. Looking at the manual, for instance at http://www.koga-signature.com/docs/Maintenance-Manual.pdf (bottom left of page before last) it says to shift down from 11 to 6, then align the yellow dots with the cable adjustment bolt. The user manual seems to show there is a little clamp on the cable that locks into the hub, the position of that clamp probably needs to be adjusted to bring the gear alignment back into the adjustment range of the barrel adjuster. Internal gear hubs replace the derailleur gears on a bicycle, and you can actually remove your derailleur drivetrain from your bike and fit one up right now. The gear range of the 8-speed hub is 306% and the 11-speed hub is 409%. The Alfine 8-speed hub is considered to be the most durable option of the two. Finally, install the cassette joint and fixing ring lining up the red and yellow dots respectively.My hub has had about five oil changes now and the last two resulted in very little to none of the metal contamination that I experienced when the hub was new. Cycle Touring and Hiking on the Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia COVID-19 Style! The Latest Suspension Seatposts, Stems and Handlebars, The biggest reason for me is that they run significantly. Out of the two Alfine hubs, electronic shifters make the most sense on the 11-speed model, as the cable adjustment is especially sensitive. It should be hand tight as it just has plastic threads, some rubber gloves or a rag help to get a good purchase on it. Low-maintenance, lightweight Gates drive. Visit your local dealer to determine the best size for you. And after draining a small amount of oil via the oil port, I saw that indeed there was a great quantity of the small metal flakes in the oil. A lightweight, belt-driven, electric-free commuter and weekend leisure tour bike for sporty riders who demand top-level components and the luxury and ease of 11 hub-driven gears. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. In addition, theyve been tested to be around 4% more efficient than the Alfine hubs across the gear range. But note that this doesnt mean youll be 5-7% slower on an Alfine bike when you do the maths, its close to 2%, or a minute per hour when compared to a well-lubricated derailleur drivetrain. Sturmey Archer has manufactured IGH hubs for over a century, and Shimano is easily the biggest manufacturer of gear hubs on the planet. Shimano released their first internal gear hub in 1957 and has slowly built on their multi-speed hub designs ever since. Was it accurate (history-wise) for Koenig to know about robots? In the electronic shifting section, I discussed in detail why cable maintenance can prevent gear slipping, grinding, or internal components from breaking inside the hub and making a mess of things. Luxury KOGA Feathershock front fork suspension for extra comfort. The gear steps are actually quite similar between the Rohloff and Alfine 11 for the most part (13.6%). Speaking of the STEPS internal gear drivetrains, theyre super cool! Shimano Alfine hubs are low maintenance, but they are not zero maintenance. How to properly align the rear wheel to the bike (granny bike, single speed). Well done Adam, you have always done a proper and efficient way of doing things, much appreciated by all. And its not by a little bit either; the first gear on the Alfine is about the same as my fifth gear on my Rohloff bike (27 to 30 gear inches). And that is the whole procedure. If the bike is new you should be able to take it back to the shop you bought it from for free adjustments (at least that's common practice I the US, I would assume the same is true in the Netherlands). This simply means that the biggest gear ratio is 3.06x times bigger than the smallest ratio on the Alfine 8, and its 4.09x bigger on the Alfine 11. If you've learned a thing or two from me, consider supporting my independent resources, Bikepacking . Inspiration . It might sound like an Alfine hub will add a significant amount of weight to a bike, but when we peg Alfine bikes against derailleur bikes at similar price points, we often end up with a weight penalty of less than half a kilogram (<1.1lb). http://www.koga-signature.com/docs/Maintenance-Manual.pdf. With an ultra-low gear ratio (1.2:1), a 100kg/220lb rider can stand on the pedals and put 143Nm into an Alfine hub, which is more than the maximum input torque that Rohloff allows (130Nm) and thats a hub rated for tandem use. You can change the buttons so that your left-hand shifts down and your right-hand shifts up. The sporty, light weight version from the Venya-series. A hub dynamo provides power to both the headlamp and rear lights. Align Alfine 11 when the bolt does not go far enough? Can I get a clock signal from a 4-pin crystal oscillator circuit by applying 5V to the input pin? The name Alfine is derived from the phrase Always Fine, but a quick search online reveals endless forums with examples of Alfine hubs that didnt do their job. The Di2 hub design is different. Now skipping is reduced but still exist, so I'll have to go back. Bicycling The Vancouver Island & Sunshine Coast Loop, Bike & Hike Ruckle Park on Saltspring Island, Cycle Touring the San Juan Islands of Washington State. Position the wheel hub over the container and remove the drive side dust cap and seal assembly completely, then you can fully remove the gear cluster from the shell. The low cost of the Alfine products also translates into complete bikes that are very well priced. I wouldnt be too concerned about servicing and spare parts in the UK or Europe, as internal gear hubs are common and you are often close to a bike shop that can help. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. The Rohloff holds the advantage here as the gear indexing is inside the hub, rather than from the shifter. Id also researched the Rohloff IGH, but pricewise it was prohibitive even though it is a well-built reliable unit. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Cannondale Touring Bikes are Back Almost! Ultimately, the Alfine hubs are optimised for urban use, which usually means getting around town on flatter terrain. Ethical implications of using scraped e-mail addresses for survey, Explain Certbot's HTTPS redirect configuration. The thing you might miss is the extra-wide gear range of the Rohloff (526%). I can align very precisely when in gear 7, but that's not the point. Image on the above left is normal position, image on right is removal position. That said, in poor weather conditions, its not unfeasible for the Alfine hubs to work out more efficient, as there are fewer places in the drivetrain for mud and debris to get caught.