News Rohloff AG

Michael Opper and Ulf Wahlers at Willingen BIKE Festival

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:30:00 +0200

As every year, the 2013 Willingen Bike Festival also held various MTB events including the coveted Bike Marathon. This year saw team Santos/Rohloff riders Michael Opper and Ulf Wahlers back to take on the worst the course could throw at them. Unbelievably good weather greeted the cyclists in the early hours of Sunday morning. The course was completely dry and perfectly prepped for the battle that was about to take place. Both Michael and Ulf had decided the following night to participate in the 52km short round over 1500 of altitude difference. The starter pistol was fired and the race began. Starting block 'A' immediately got down to business and soon reached the first ascent. It was here that Ulf and Michael initially seemed to suffer a little trying to hold their own amongst the incredibly high pace of the leading pack.. Just as Ulf found his pace his front tire began hissing at him meaning only one thing - a new tube was needed and fast. Shortly after, the rear tire decided to release its air. At this point we would like to give a huge thanks to Oliver Hodatsch for the replacement inner-tube. In contracts to Ulfs bad luck, everything seemed to run like clockwork for Micheal. Michael crossed the finish line without a single hitch achieving a time of 2:22.32 landing him a respectable 7th place in his class. Ulf finished as well despite the issues he had and crossed the finish line with a time of 2:47.22 which unfortunately only landed him with place 88 in his class. Better luck next time Ulf!

Every Inch of the Way - the book finally available through Amazon.

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:56:00 +0200

A little over a month ago we reported from Tom Bruce cycling around the world with his SPEEDHUB 500/14 equipped bicycle. The News article we wrote "Around the World by Bike" offered an extremely short introduction to the 26 year old from Peckforton (UK) and his fascinating journey. Well, we are pleased to announce that the book Tom wrote about his adventures has finally gone to print and is immediately available through Amazon. 'Every Inch of the Way' is a truly inspiring book well worth the read and certain to get every cyclist fidgety and wanting to hit the road. Very motivating.

Further information can be found at: www.tombrucecycling.com The book is available through Amazon ->Link to book

The Finnish light-bikepacking-cyclist Heikki Siivari is on the road again.

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:22:00 +0200

Heikki set off on his 2013 cycling tour yesterday leaving Ikaalinen (in South-West of Finland) behind him heading in the direction of Tallinn.

With luck his tour will go as according to plan which will take Heikki through multiple countries covering between 15,000 and 25,000km before September. The exact route is not yet defined and will strongly depend upon both the weather and other conditions en-route but the rough plan at present is to cycle through various Baltic countries, Eastern Europe, the Balkans and Bosporus. From there he will follow the Adriatic coastline north-west towards France.

Heikki hopes to arrive in France in good time to allow him a short detour to Spain (possibly Morocco too) and back. From there he plans to take a ferry to the U.K. and Ireland and onward later by ship to Iceland and Norway. Heikki intends to continue his cycle expedition from Norway on to Lapland before finally returning home to Ikaalinen.

Heikki Siivari is a Finnish geography student and passionate light-bikepacking cyclist who caught the attention of the cycle industry back in 2011 and 2012 with fascinating tales of his cycling exploits.

Heikki is currently sponsored by both the 'Rohloff AG' and 'Bike Station' in Finland.

Link to Heikki's photo albums
Link to Heikki's stories
Link 'about Heikki'

Around the World by Bike!

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:40:00 +0200

My name is Tom Bruce, I'm 26 and in March 2011, I set off from my home in Peckforton, Cheshire, England, to cycle unsupported around the world. My route took me from my front door in Cheshire, across France then along the Danube River through Europe. I cycled through Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan to the Caspian Sea, which I crossed on a Ferry to Kazakhstan. A long crossing of the Kazakh desert brought me to Uzbekistan then I cycled the high altitude Pamir Highway in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

I spent two months crossing China with my cousin Phil then two months crossing the Southern States of the USA.

On the way, I spent nights in people’s houses all over the world, slept in Yurts, camped with nomads, ate amazing food ranging from Tibetan stew to alligator meat, drunk homemade Georgian wine, was given clothes, partied with Kazakhs on the Caspian Sea ferry, saw photos of USSR soldiers in front of statues of Lenin, saw Stalin’s house, cycled through barren and sweltering deserts and over huge mountains, was treated for free by a Tajik Pamiri doctor and cycled with locals and old friends. My adventure was not a race around the world, nor an attempt to break a record. It was completed for the love of traveling and cycling so I had time to take detours through many beautiful parts of the world that are off the beaten track and to visit the places that I wanted to see.

I wanted the most reliable and robust bike that I could get. The remote desert and mountain crossings that I completed required my bike to be as reliable as possible as any large mechanical problem could have been catastrophic. That is why I opted for a Rohloff SPEEDHUB and the decision paid off. Not only did it require very little maintenance, I received excellent support from Rohloff throughout my trip and I am still using the hub today on the same bike, which I am now using as a mountain bike. I would recommend the SPEEDHUB as by far the best gearing option for anybody considering a long bike tour in the future.

For more information about my ride please visit my website at www.tombrucecycling.com. I will be releasing a book in the near future and release information will be kept up to date on my website. You can read more about the ride at my website and also in the following articles:

Nic Handy? Who is Nic Handy?

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:07:00 +0100

I am. Still living a car less lifestyle and riding my Rohloff equipped Moots everyday. I'm so excited to finally take my bike, that got a lot so much attention at the North American Handmade Bike Show, out into the wilderness and ride it to its limits. My training schedule is increasing, going out a few times each week on century + dirt rides and generally trying to get as much single track action in as possible including many weekend bikepacking trips.

This July I will be riding from Denver, CO up to Breckenridge, CO to compete in the Breck 100 mountain bike race after which my Farrhoots will take me to Denver where we will be competing in the 470 mile long Colorado Trail Race which snakes through the landscape from Denver, CO to Durango, CO. That's where everyone else's race stops but not mine. Once I get to Durango I will continue riding at a quick pace to South Lake Tahoe in California where my training will continue. So what am I training for? Next year, 2014, I will be competing in the Tour Divide Race - one of the most grueling self-supported MTB races in he world traveling along all 2,745 miles of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route which snakes through the Rocky Mountains all the way from Canada to the Mexican Border.

After the success of fellow SPEEDHUB rider Oliver Whalley in the Tour Divide last year, the Rohloff AG would like to wish Nic all the best with his training and upcoming challenges.If you want to find out more about Nic's travels and/or his specially build Farrhoots bike, his exploits can be followed on FaceBook by "liking" his page facebook.com/Farrhoots. Nic can also be followed on twitter at twitter.com/NicHandy.

GoExpo 2013 in Helsinki

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:41:00 +0100

GoExpo - Finlands greatest bicycle exhibition takes place in Helsinki from March the 8th, until March the 10th 2013. International manufacturers and local distributors will be presenting their newest products for the upcoming 2013 cycle-season. Visitors to the expo are offered the chance to watch, test and purchase these products. Bike Station, our Finnish distributor are present at the show and can be found at booth #7e59. Feel free to speak directly to them at the booth for answers to all your questions over Rohloff products and services. For those interested in Rohloff and Schmidt products, sample bikes equipped with a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14, SON hub dynamos and Edelux headlights will be available to test. There booth will also be displaying the lightest and most flexible bicycle trailer currently available - the Weber Monoporter. Just visit their booth for further info. For further information please also refer to: http://www.bikestation.fi

BIKE EXPO on February 3rd 2013 at the Autohaus HESSENKASSEL

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:29:00 +0100

The BIKE EXPO in KASSEL has become the biggest bicycle exhibition in North Hesse.
Bicycle retailers from the region will be presenting their products and services throughout the approximate 2.000m² of exhibition space. Products from the new collections of many bicycle manufacturers will be displayed amongst the range of products and services on show as well as a large array of bicycle parts and functional clothing. Amongst the attractions on display, the expo will also be holding a selection of workshops as well as diverse reports on bicycle touring and various product discussions. Information over Rohloff products will be available at the show from the following bicycle retailers:

Pedalwerk
Fahrradhof
Mauers Baikshop
Neddermann
Bike Facts
Radhaus Melsungen
Fahrradladen Gudensberg (Habenicht)

www.bike-expo-kassel.de

Koga Signature now offers additional color options for both SPEEDHUB and SON

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 06:36:00 +0100

Bicycle manufacturer Koga Signature has developed a new and innovative custom bicycle configuration program. The Koga Signature Configurator offers the discerning cyclist the ability to build their new Koga bicycle around their individual requirements much like a modular system. This can be done either at their local Koga retail outlet or from the comfort of their own living room. One additional benefit Koga customers now have is the rare option of choosing anodized blue versions of both the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 (chain or belt-drive) and the SON hub dynamo with Edelux lamp. Further information can be found under: www.koga-signature.com

SPEEDHUB 500/14 revised permitted transmission factor now 2.1!

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:46:00 +0100

The permitted sprocket ratios for the SPEEDHUB 500/14 were set to ensure the hub would not be damaged due to a high input torque. These limits were set identical to the lower limits of derailleur systems of the day (2.35) but these obviously also contained a small buffer.

Current derailleur systems offer lower gear ratios now which are particularly favored by 29er cyclists for hard off-road climbs. Due to the increased interest in these bicycles the Rohloff AG has reviewed our permitted ratios and reduced the transmission factor further to just 2.1 for solo cyclists under 100kg. The 'buffer' that the SPEEDHUB previously had available is not longer present and this new factor must not be reduced further.

Gear-meters Table Online
Gear-meters Table PDF

SPEEDHUB equipped bicycles may now achieve 1.36m per crank revolution in their lowest gear without risk of losing warranty cover.

Calculating the Transmission factor:

36 tooth front chainring with a 17 tooth rear sprocket = 36:17= factor 2.11 (updated Table can be found in the Owners Manual, page 20).

The Transmission factor of 2.5 still applies for Tandem use and cyclists weighing over 100kg!

Rohloff Revolver 3 Chain riveting tool also compatible with Shimano 11-speed derailleur chains!

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:55:00 +0100

The availability of Shimano's new 11-speed derailleur chain has led to a substantial increase of questions regarding the Revolver 3 chain tools compatibility. Tests have proven that the Revolver 3 chain tool can indeed be used to correctly separate and rejoin these 11-speed chains. The Shimano 11-speed derailleur chain is constructed with flat outer link plates identical to their 10-speed chain. As such please follow the Revolver 3 instructions for 10-speed derailleur chains.

Further information: Rohloff Revolver 3

SANTOS race light uses Rohloff and Carbon Drive transmission

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:19:00 +0100

With the Race Light SANTOS has developed a road bike which uses both belt drive technology and a Rohloff IGH. A very sportive bicycle for commuter rides as well as or for longer cycle tours. The use of both a Rohloff SPEEDHUB and a Carbon Drive belt guarantee minimum required maintenance, the narrow tires offer reduced rolling resistance allowing for higher speeds and mudguards offer protection during rainy days. Using the Gilles Berthoud twist shifter, the Race Light allows regular racing handlebars to be used whilst keeping the twist shifter in the correct place - on top.

review: www.santosbikes.com/bericht

Information under: www.santosbikes.com

White Balance - Winter Trials video with Marco Hösel

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 09:31:00 +0100

Marco Hösel:- his trial bike carrier started in 1992 in his home town of Thalheim. Now, over 2 decades later he is able to claim the following titles:

6 time World champion
6 time World championship runner-up
19 time German Master
3 time Worldcup Overall Winner
3 entries into the 'Guinness Book of Records'

The following video below will no doubt go some way in convincing you of his abilities. His bike of choice for this shoot - a standard SPEEDHUB and Carbon Drive equipped Nicolai Argon FR. Enjoy. Further Information

Monkey Bone - Postmount brake adapter

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:25:00 +0100

The Monkeybone offers a simple method of anchoring the axle of the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 to a frame through the disc brake mount. In order to use the Monkeybone, your SPEEDHUB 500/14 will need an OEM2 axleplate, your frame must have an International Standard disc brake interface, and your disc brake caliper must have a Postmount interface. The Monkeybone is not compatible with IS direct-mount disc brake calipers or frames with Postmount disc brake interface.

Assembly instruction Monkeybone for 160/180mm discbrake (English):

Required Tools: • 5mm Allen wrench
• Torque wrench
• TX20 Torx wrench

Required Parts: • Frame with IS51 disc caliper interface
• Disc brake caliper with Postmount interface
• Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/15 with OEM2 axleplate
• Monkey Bone
• 2x M6x16 bolts (sold separately; typically included with disc brake caliper)
• 2x M6x18-20 bolts (sold separately; often included with disc brake caliper)
Installation Instructions: 1. Ensure that you have the Monkeybone that is appropriate for your disc rotor diameter (160mm or 180mm; 203mm rotors can be used with 180mm Monkeybone and spacers (sold separately).

2. Attach the Monkeybone to the frame using two M6x18-20 bolts. Ensure the slot for the OEM2 axleplate faces the dropout. Tighten bolts to a torque of 6 Nm/51 in-lbs.

3. Connect disc brake caliper to Monkeybone using two M6x16 bolts. Leave bolts loose enough that caliper can slide for adjustment later.

4. Install wheel into dropout taking care to align slot in end of OEM2 axle plate with cutout in Monkey Bone and the disc rotor between brake pads.

5. Check position of EX shift arm with OEM2 axle plate engaged with slot in Monkeybone; reposition axle plate as needed for desired cable routing using the TX20 Torx wrench (see Rohloff Owners Manual). Tighten axle plate screws to a torque of 3Nm/25 in-lbs.

6. Fully seat axle in dropout before tightening quick-release lever or axle nuts. Threaded axle nut torque: 35 N-m/310 in-lbs; Pitlock or bolt-on skewer torque: 7 N-m/60 in-lbs.

7. Follow brake manufacturer’s recommendation for setting brake caliper position. Tighten brake caliper bolts to a torque of 6 N-m/51 in-lbs.

CAUTION:
Use of the Monkey Bone with some frame geometry can result in the wheel being pulled out of the dropout while pedalling due to the forces exerted by the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 onto the frame. When the anchoring point of the OEM2 axleplate is located in front of a line parallel to the dropout slot, there is a component of the reaction force in the lowest gears that tends to push the axle down and out of the slot. Per Rohloff’s recommendation, the Monkey Bone and OEM2 axleplate combination are not recommended for use on frames with such geometry (see page 30 of the Rohloff Owners Manual for more info). Use of the MonkeyBone and OEM2 axleplate is entirely at the user’s own risk. The forces applied to the disc brake mount by the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 can damage some frames. Please contact your frame manufacturer to determine whether this setup is appropriate for your frame and whether its use affects your frame warranty.

Further information: www.cyclemonkey.com

Rohloff offers live-stream bicycle retailer seminars

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:04:00 +0100

Following the successful initial run of webinars last year, the Rohloff AG again offers our retailers the chance to participate in our dealer seminars per live-stream via the internet. Retailers who are unable to visit us here in Fuldatal are can still join us on November 15th, 16th, and 19th online to follow our seminars. Questions can be posed over the chat console and will be answer in real-time as an integrated part of the seminar.
Many retailers found the online information a modern and ecological alternative to the usual seminar format and the feedback from last year informs us that this is a great way to improve your Rohloff knowledge. With the ever increasing fuel costs, the Webinars not only offer an education from the comfort of your own home, but also great savings as the expense of travel and accommodation required for traditional seminar visits is eliminated.
Only registered Rohloff retailers are able to participate at present so if you run a cycle workshop/retail outlet, get in touch and register yourself as a Rohloff customer. If you a registered Rohloff customer and have yet to receive an email with the login details, we will provide these on request.

Private consumers need not feel left out. You will have the opportunity to join us for detailed subject-specific seminars in the future. Watch this space!
Your Rohloff Team.

Rohloff AG sponsors RDP-integration at X2go project

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:24:00 +0100

The Rohloff AG has been supporting the use of Open-source software for a number of years now. Software such as Debian Server, Kubuntu, Libreoffice, Typo3, Firefox, KDE etc. The Thin-Clients used within our HQ work together with the open source project X2go. This easily allows us the ability to offer our employees a modern KDE based working place.

We have recently provided the X2Go project with a native RDP (Windows terminal server) implementation of their TCE-client. The majority of companies and universities tend to use mixed server presently. Thanks to this technology it is now possible to run both Linux and Windows terminal servers simultaneously on one X2Go Thin-Client. This will no doubt increase the popularity of the X2Go project for an increasing number of companies and institutions.

Announcement on the mailing list!

The Rohloff AG regularly sponsors open source projects, as we strongly believe it's important to give something back to the community!

Links to project: X2Go TCE-Clients
Linux-User 10/2012
X2Go article

Rohloff Brochure finally available in Finnish

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:53:00 +0200

Translation of the well known Rohloff brochure "no slogans, 14 facts" has finally been completed into Finnish. The Rohloff AG in Cooperation with our Finnish distributor 'Bike Station' in Ikaalinen saw the need for this growing market to receive our literature in their mother-tongue and thankfully, Bike Station stepped to the plate, accepted the challenge and offered to complete this task on our behalf for Rohloff enthusiasts in Finnland. Bike Station have been a reliable partner to the Rohloff AG for many years and the completion of this brochure will ensure they are able to continue offering the best service and support to there customers in the months and years to come.

Brochure in Finnish

Bike Station
Poppelikatu 1 B 11
39500 Ikaalinen
Tel: +358-044-3244010
www.bikestation.fi
shop(at)bikestation.fi

Nico Muschiol starts now in SANTOS-Rohloff Team

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:35:00 +0100

Das SANTOS-Rohloff Team begrüßt einen neuen Teamfahrer. Mit Nico Muschiol hat sich das Team um einen Langstreckenspezialisten verstärkt. Nico bestritt bisher alle Rennen für das Rohloff-Speed Team unter der Leitung von Ralf Kropp. Im letzen Jahr konnte Nico besonders bei 24h-Rennen und Etappenrennen seine hervorragende Kondition beweisen und glänzte dabei mit einigen Podestplatzierungen. Die Rohloff AG wünscht Nico einen erfolgreichen Start in die Saison 2013 und hofft, dass er sich schnell an sein neues 29er SANTOS Bike gewöhnen wird.

Saisonrückblick von Nico Muschiol:
Dieses Jahr begann etwas schwierig für Nico, nach einem Sturz zu Beginn der Saison beim SKS-Kellerwald Bikemarathon dauerte es eine Weile bis er wieder in Schwung kam. Daraufhin erfolgte auch gleich das erste Highlight in diesem Jahr, die Alpen-Tour-Trophy in Schladming (AT). Dabei konnte er nach vier harten Tagen einen sehr guten siebten Platz bei den Herren erkämpfen. Außerdem waren die erfolgreichsten Rennen im Jahr 2012 der Bike-Marathon in Willingen (13. Platz), der vierte Platz beim SKS Bike Marathon „Rund um Zierenberg „ und ein zweiter Platz beim 24h-Rennen in Chemnitz.

Zum Steckbrief von Nico Muschiol

End of season in Wiemeringhausen/Germany

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:37:00 +0100

Das Rohloff Speed-Team war beim Mountainbike Rennen in Wiemeringshausen mit 5 Fahrern vertreten, welche nochmal mit guten Leistungen das Jahr 2012 abschließen wollten. Christian Götzel, Daniel Pohl, Felix Schweckendiek, Inga Flieter und Ralf Kropp starteten auf der 44 Kilometer Runde auf der 1100 Höhenmeter bezwungen werden mussten. Auf der Strecke warteten schöne Singletrails und rutschige Abfahrten auf die Teilnehmer.

Inga Flieter konnte sich bei den Damen durchsetzen und beendete das Rennen auf dem 1. Platz. Ralf Kropp hatte am Anfang mit einigen Problemen zu kämpfen, sodass er am Ende als 14. die Ziellinie überquerte. Durch das Ergebnis beendete Ralf Kropp die Nutrixxion Marathon Trophy Serie auf dem 3. Platz.

Fazit von Kropp:
Ich habe mich sehr darüber gefreut, dass so viele von meinem Rohloff Speed Team sich zum Saison Abschluss in Wiemeringhausen eingefunden hatten. Die größte Freude bereitete mir allerdings der Sieg von Inga, die sich damit gleich bärenstark ins Team eingefügt hat.

Ralf Kropp rides 4th place at Trans Zollernalb

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:00:00 +0200

There is no doubt about the Zollernalb belongs to the most beautiful mountain bike areas of Germany. Especially the mountain bike center Albstadt, which calls thousands of bikers each year to the Albstadt LBS Bike Marathon and the GONSO Albstadt MTB Classic has an excellent reputation as a bicycle sports town. Regularly, thousands of spectators from the whole region are up to watch the sport competitions.
The entire town of Albstadt and surrounding area seems to be infected from the bicycle sport fever. In 2010 and 2011 the venue of the Sparkasse TRANS Zollernalb - as first competition of the MTB stage race and highlight for the region, which leads through the whole area of the Zollernalb - already casted a spell over thousands of spectators as it did in 2012, too.
At the end of the season the world class mountain bike scene met again:
With the men Christoph Sauser, Alban Lakata, Moritz Milatz, Robert Mennen, Jochen Kaess and many more. With the women: Sabine Spitz, Esther Suess and Borghild Loevset. Next to the named favorites above Ralf Kropp of the SANTOS-Rohloff Team was on the start.
 1st stage Haigerloch - Bad Imnau - Balingen 58,8km/913hm
A fast leading group formed quickly after the start including Ralf Kropp. Together they crossed the finishing line. He came in after 60km with a lag of 14:14 min. to the days champion Moritz Milatz. In the overall standings Kropp lies now at place 56 and end place in the master's 2 assessment.
Kropp's upshot: First day should be the warm up only, but the technical easy and even track is a strain which is not easy to cope with when riding high speed. Pity, it didn't work out for a place on the podium.

2nd stage Balingen - Albstadt 79,4km/1668hm
During the Kings stage Colt and wet weather Made it Hard vor the competitors. The stage was crowned with a hot run over a Ski slope which meanwhile has transformed to a muddy slide due to the rain. Ralf Kropf came in again 4th place in the master's 2 assessment.
Kropp's upshot: On this course I had a weak group in the beginning and had to speed up in order to get along with a faster group. Riding with Sabine Spitz and Esther Suess was better. We could ride at an even fast speed. In the end, I was too exhausted to keep up with this group crossing the finishing line.
 3rd stage Albstadt - Hechingen 77,4km/1216hm
The third stage lead around the Hohenzollern Castle and offered marvelous sights. Kropp finished with a fast group again, so he could gain 4th place once more.
Kropp's upshot: It took a while until I came close to the group around Sabine Spitz and Esther Suess. But then it went fast again to the finish.

Gisela Gartmair's new race reports

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:15:00 +0200

For two years now, Gisi is on her way Down Under with her Rohloff Speedhug 500/14 where she takes part at several mountain bike races. She is the only female athlete sponsored by Rohloff who participates mountain bike races on the Australian Continent. She convinced with a number of podium places and top rankings. With a 2nd place in Queensland and a 3rd place at the Karri Cup in Northcliffe she confirms her good condition.
Those who are interested in the mountain bike events in Australia can read a great number of race reports in Gisela's blog.

www.gisela-gartmair.com

Ralf Kropp 3rd place at 3 Valleys Marathon in Titmaringhausen!

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:16:00 +0200

In Titmaringhausen started the 6th run of the NRW Mountain Bike Marathon series. For the first time the little village hosted the race of the Marathon Trophy. Accordingly, the starter field was large.
Ralf Kropp took the middle distance of 63km. From the start on he rode with the followers, which could not reach the leading group around Klaus Reinisch from Focus Rapiro Racing Team. So it was a battle for a top 10 rank. Kropp could gain a formidable 7th place and 3rd place in his age group.
Kropp's upshot: Again the podium, I'm glad about it! It is not long to seasons ending, but there are still some nice races left and my condition is very good at the moment, so I could imagine some more achievements to follow.

Marsmission starts in Leipzig

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:47:00 +0200

Only few know that two Leipzig scientists who were participating in the Apollo Moon Program were close friends of the late space travel pioneer Neil Armstrong (Jesco von Puttkamer, Eberhard Rees).
 The younger generation has made this program to the international center of its trade fair city long ago. Pupils and students of the Space Education Institute show their brilliancy at international space travel competitions receiving distinguished prices like: Best Design Award, Telemetry Award, System Safety Award and the World Championship in building a moon buggy. The exhibits meanwhile are placed in national museums of the NASA and Russia next to the Apollo lunar module in Huntsville and the Russian Lunochod in Kaluga. In the meantime students of the International Space Education Institute in Leipzig have built 3 moon buggies already which are equipped each with a Rohloff Speedhub 500/14. With the landing of "Curiosity" on Mars the work range has increased. Now the next vehicle should be a "Mars Buggy". We are looking forward to it!
 More information under: www.spaceeducation.de

Gesamtwertung SKS-ROHLOFF MTB-NORDHESSEN-CUP

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:20:00 +0200

The idea for the SKS-Rohloff MTB-Nordhessen-Cup has been developed in order to sponsor the mountain bike sport in North Hesse. Therefore the Rohloff AG and SKS Metaplast Scheffer Klute GmbH have joined in with three Hesse MTB Marathon organizers.
The SKS-Rohloff MTB-Nordhessen-Cup consists of the following three races:

1. 22.04.2012 - SKS Kellerwald Bike Marathon

2. 06.05.2012 - SKS Bilstein Bike Marathon

3. 19.08.2012 - SKS Bike Marathon "Rund um Zierenberg"

After all three events the overall winners and overall standings are determined. Of course, all of the Rohloff riders were on the start of these race series. Especially enjoyable was the overall winner Tanja Nehme over the short distance. She took the lead in a sovereign way against her competitor Anne Gnendinger.
Unfortunately, no male rider of the Rohloff team gained a place on the podium. Ralf Kropp and Marco Morgenstern ended the race series with 8th and 9th place. Oliver Hodatsch should be satisfied with a 11th place. Ulf Wahlers missed the podium only just. He gained 5th place in his age group.

Name	Track	Overall standings
Tanja Nehme	short distance	1st place
Ulf Wahlers	middle distance	5th place
Ralf Kropp	middle distance	8th place
Marco Morgenstern	middle distance	9th place
Oilver Hodatsch	middle distance	11th place

Link to complete list of the results: sportident.com

13th SKS-Bike-Marathon "Rund um Zierenberg"

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:21:00 +0200

The Sunday before for the Rohloff Team there stood the ending race of the three races of the SKS-Rohloff MTB-Nordhessen-Cup on the schedule. With Tanja Nehme, Michael Opper, Marco Morgenstern, Ulf Wahlers, Nico Muschiol, Oliver Hodatsch and up-and coming rider Henrik Umbach on the start.  As the men should be satisfied with good results, Tanja Nehme could win a place on the podium. She showed a good performance over the 35km track and was rewarded with a 3rd place.
Next generation rider Henrik Umbach won 11th place in his age group and gained some good experience for coming-up races. Apart from a tyre defect with Tanja Nehme all other riders had no problems with their bikes.
  

Name:	Track :	Result:
Ralf Kropp	53km	6th place
Michael Opper	53km	4th place
Ulf Wahlers	53km	23rd place
Marco Morgenstern	53km	16th place
Oliver Hodatsch	53km	15th place
Nico Muschiol	106km	4th place
Tanja Nehme	37km	3rd place
Henrik Umbach	37km	11. Platz

Journey to the TransAlp

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 10:32:00 +0200

10:00am this morning was to be the start of a long journey towards the Alps. Both team „Santos-Rohloff“ TransAlp teams lset off in pursuit of victory.

All team members were lucky enough to have friends local to the area with whom they could reside. The Alpine views draped in light mist and sunshine acted as a well accepted apology for the terrible rain and traffic jams suffered en-route. The day ended with a healthy meal and a relaxing evening in mental preparation for teh upcoming challenge.

The general atmosphere is relaxed and happy even though the anxiety over the first stage is felt in every team member. Tomorrows stage takes the athletes from Oberammergau toImst on a route which will cover 97 km and 2206 meters of altitude. The Roadbook uses the word 'selective' when describing the day of ascent to Marienbergjoch. Needless to say we will remain very curious!

Guts for Change – A bicycle tour for better sanitary supply

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:38:00 +0200

From April 2012 Maushami, Johann and Erik are on the road. A bicycle tour from Berlin to India for charity. Over 10,000km leave enough space to advertise for the realisation of a project for sustaining dry toilets in India.

In addition the three bicycle travelers want to draw attention to the fact that billions of people world wide have not even the simplest sanitary facilities and 780 million people have no clear drinking water.

The young men collect money on the tour for their India project. With these donations sanitary installations are financed to work against contamination of the waters of the arid environment and to provide a solid infrastructure for the poorest of the poor.
More information to the project: www.gutsforchange.de

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Mountain bike restriction in Hesse planned - your vote counts!

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:42:00 +0200

No good news from Hesse:
Hesse has created a new bill to prohibit mountain biking in the nature.

According to plans of Hesse environment minister Lucia Puttrich mountain biking should be allowed only on paved ways which can be used by cars all-the-year as well. That means a width of approx. 3m! Biking would be permitted only on tracks which are wider than 3m.

Here you can obtain all information the planned bill and what you can do against it!
Here you'll find a petition against the bicycle prohibition in Hesse!

SANTOS-Rohloff Team presentation at the 'Bike' Festival in Willingen (Updated Video)

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 21:36:00 +0200

This weekend (15th June – 17th June 2012), saw the return of the largest e Bike Festival in Germany. Hundreds of exhibitors presented their new cycling related products to the awaiting visitors. The Rohloff AG was also present as is tradition for us with a booth offering technical support and servicing for all Rohloff enthusiasts. The 2012 Bike Festival also proved the perfect opportunity to present the new SANTOS-Rohloff Team. We took to the stage on saturday afternoon to do exactly this. Alongside the introductions of our 2012 team riders, the new SPEEDHUB equipped 29er team bikes from Santos were unvieled. SANTOS were also on hand to supply the crowd with technical information over these new bicycles and to explain the various benefits the frames had to offer. The Santos/Rohloff team will of course also be hitting the hills and competing in the Rocky Mountain Marathon hoping to make use of the benefits their new bicycles had to offer. We wish them all the best as the following races are already looming:- The Mad East Challenge 500 and the TransAlp.

The HimoBiker's are in Japan!

Thu, 31 May 2012 20:58:00 +0200

Following their successful exhibitions through Brazil and Namibia, the Himobikers have chosen the location of their next tour - Japan! 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the Grimm Brothers first fairy tale publication and so what better time than now to celebrate the works of these famous brothers and spread their name throughout the misty hills of the east. Aside from the celebrations and promotion of the complete Grimm works, the Himobikers are looking forward to tackling the rough, desolate tracks of japan, a country which is far from well developed as far as cycle trails is concerned, "it’ll be an adventure, that’s for sure"!

The plan attracted so much attention that we all have the chance to share the experience this time. A camera crew from a German television network and also a journalist from a renown German newspaper will be following the Himobikers throughout the tour.

Update: Hessen TV broadcasted the approximate 40 minute reportage on the 04.06.2012.

Further information under: www.himobiker.de

New Workshop Videos in Full HD now online!

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 22:54:00 +0200

To ease the mounting and service procedures that may need to be completed on the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14, we have uploaded a selection of new Workshop Videos in Full HD in both the English and German languages. These videos can be found in the Technology section of our website and also over the standard 'Youtube' postal. All the major service and repairs are shown such as the 'Oil Change' procedure, 'Sprocket replacement', 'Shifter grip replacement' etc to form a visual aid to completing these tasks.

Of course, the additional benefit of 'Youtube' format videos means that should you require technical guidance mid-tour, the videos can be shown on all Smartphones and Tablet computers.

Workshop-Videos in Technology section

Workshop-Videos in Youtube Portal

In addition, the Technical-CD, that was previously available as an Adobe Flash format, is now also integrated into our Website under Technical Info and now also tablet (Ipad, Android, Playbook) compatible. These animations allow everyone to see and understand how the inner-workings of the SPEEDHUB 500/14 work.