I’ve had my Schlumpf built since August 2023, and have been meaning to post an update for a while, so here’s 3 pics (hub with homemade truing stand, close up of wheel, whole g26 as ridden):
G26 DETAILS:
hub: Schlumpf M1429, inscription “Eternity”;
frame: repurposed from a Nimbus Oracle 32 (125mm axle);
seat: KH Freeride;
clamp: KH double bolt;
handle: Nimbus Shadow straight, cut short;
bar ends: zoom fat boy (ends cut to fit, wrapped in hockey tape);
wheel: Dominator 2 with 26*3.0 tire repurposed from a Nimbus Oracle 26;
rotor: 203mm Schlumpf disc rotor;
caliper: Shimano BR-M447 (with new resin pads);
caliper adapter: Shimano SM-MA-F203P/SA;
cranks: Nimbus VCX ISIS 150mm;
pedals: Nimbus plastic (not studded);
total weight: 9kg.
BUILD NOTES:
spoking: the spoke heads were fitted the “standard” way, against the flat side of the flange (i.e., not in the recessed part of the hole). All “head inside” spokes had a slightly longer J section. The 9 “head out” spokes on the non-disc side used a brass washer against the head. The cranks were tightened using a well-fitting T handle hex tool - I was very careful to push down firmly while tightening and so avoided any damage to the Schlumpf axle bolt. The brake rotor was put on the hub using a single (Schlumpf provided) set of spacers. Minor filing was done to the caliper/adapter.
No real issues after the build - I re-tightened the bearings and cranks early on and no problems since then.
RIDING:
I’m just your average rider (now in my 75th year on the planet), and I decided I would always stop to change gears. This meant I could happily ride with size EU 42 sandshoes and my foot arch (not ball) on the pedal, as is my habit, while using zero-Q 150mm cranks without worrying about accidental shifts.
Learning didn’t take too long. For a very short while it reminded me a little of learning to ride my first unicycle. The hardest part was after getting used to high gear riding, then restarting in low gear felt very weird. I use a standard static free mount, with just a little push before placing my rear foot - this means I get my front foot on in a good way to balance and push in a high gear start, and I am less likely to accidentally put too much weight on the back pedal when starting in low gear.
Braking downhill is surprisingly easy just using leg power - more force is needed, but the slower rotation speed makes it easier to control. I am trying to minimize use of the disc brake (because of forum comments about premature wear, and just to get more leg control practice in). So, I haven’t had much wear on the pads and rotor.
I didn’t have many falls while learning, BUT I have discovered that the way to do a “superman” fall is to become confident, ride fast on a dirt track, come to a hill and accelerate hard to make sure to get up the hill in high gear, get a minor road irregularity with the pedal in the dead position, discover that there is no more torque possible in the balance envelope, and… superman!
Anyway, very expensive, but plenty of fun learning. And it really does feel nice when riding with a bit of speed on a smooth cycle path in high gear. And it fits easily into the boot of my little car.
