34
for further information consult our website
www.raleigh.co.uk •
for video support & download
sPECiAList bikEs
Hub gear or utility bikes are mainly used for short distance work in town.
They’re nearly always designed to have an upright riding position, though
the actual frame is usually quite laid back. This means that nearly all your
weight is on the saddle, so this has to be pretty soft. By carefully adjusting
the handlebars, you can get some of your weight forward but not a lot. As
for saddle height, it’s best to position the saddle so that you can get the ball
of your feet on the ground while sitting on the saddle, without stretching at
all. That way you’ll be comfortable when held up by the traffic and be able to
hop on and off easily.
Toe clips are not usually used on this type of bike but you should still try to
pedal with the ball of your foot. If you pedal with your instep, it’ll be much
harder work, especially on hills.
Hub gear bikes have a different back wheel safety system, so take careful
note of how the wheel nuts and washers are fitted BEFORE removing the
wheel and stick rigidly to this arrangement when you replace it.
Adjusting a Sturmey Archer
To adjust a Sturmey Archer gear, if it slips or jumps when you’re pedalling
or when refitting the back wheel, turn the whole control chain clockwise. It
must be screwed into the gear as far as it will go.
Next, if you’re refitting the back
wheel, screw the cable connector
onto the end of the control chain
until it almost reaches the knurled nut
set in second gear. Then look through
the hole in the sleeve nut and locate
the main part of the control chain
(in red). Turn the connector until
the shoulder of the control chain
(arrowed, where the blue meets the
red) lines up with the end of the axle.
Finally, lock the connector with the
knurled nut.
To remove the back wheel of a hub gear
bike, you first have to disconnect the
control chain from the gear cable. So
undo the knurled nut about an eighth
of a turn anti-clockwise, then undo the
cable connector about 12 turns anti-
clockwise.
Let the cable dangle while you loosen
both hub nuts with a spanner. When
the long sleeve nut is free, pull it off the
control chain and lift off the two safety
washers that fit under the hub nuts. Put
the washers and nuts in a safe place.
To refit the wheel, wrap the chain round
the sprocket and lift the wheel up into
the slot in the frame. Make sure you fit
one of the heavy safety washers to each
side of the axle, under each hub nut
with the serrated side facing inwards.
Hub Gear Bikes
1
2
3
