Every cyclist who has experienced it has no doubt: the Rohloff Speedhub is a masterpiece of engineering!

Until now, we don't know of any bike transmissions that can compete with the performance of this German hub gear. Fast, intuitive and maintenance-free, it is the dream of every cyclist who ventures long distances.

Do you know the problems of hub gears that snap, gears that jump or that do not fit smoothly? You can leave it all behind with a Rohloff Speedhub 500/14!

So let's find out how it works and why it's so popular with cyclists all over the world.

The history of the Rohloff Speedhub

Like all products of exceptional quality, the Rohloff Speedhub also has a rather special history, but few people know about it. The idea for this hub gear came from a beach bike adventure. It was 1994 and Mr. Bernhard Rohloff was on the French coast riding his bike, when he decided to challenge in speed the long waves that bathed the coast.

Everything was fine until the unpredictable happened: the rear wheel is stuck on the sand and changing gear when stationary is impossible, so comes the much-feared wave that wets in a moment the cyclist and the bike. A few seconds pass and another salt shower arrives and that mix of sand, salt and water blocks everything: the hub gear is gone!

Mr. Rohloff doesn't give up: there must be a hub gear capable of facing extreme conditions and beating the waves at speed! That's how the challenge comes from this experience: since such transmission does not yet exist, the time has come to create it.

Three years go by, full of research, design and testing, but finally in 1997 the Rohloff hub gear came into being. This is how the world's most performing hub gear was born, the only fastest wave hub gear...

Rohloff Speedhub: operation and performance

Let's get right to the point: what's so special about this hub change? To understand it, just compare it to a common 27-speed chain hub gear.

The Rohloff Speedhub is unparalleled in its speed of change and simplicity of operation. Simply turn the knob to engage the chosen gear in a fraction of a second. The cyclist can shift gears with extreme precision and in any condition, without pedaling, under stress and even pedaling backward.

The numbers on this transmission are just what we like. The total ratio of the Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 is 526%, compared to 519% for the traditional chain transmission. In addition, the jumps are all regularly climbed by 13.6%, so that both the experienced cyclist and the amateur sportsman can find the right ratio, in any circumstance and pedaling on a regular basis.

It is as smooth as a chain hub gear, with a degree of performance of 95-99%, and the actual ratios are 14 as in the chain hub gear, but you get in a single turn of the knob and without any splitting. Let's be honest! We cyclists always use the same 6 or 7 gears, because they are often double, too close or you simply don't even know them, but with the Rohloff Speedhub you can really use all 14 gears according to your needs.

The wheel is extremely stable with 32/36 spokes and the hub width is 135mm. The high flange with symmetrical centering fits almost all types of bikes.

Rohloff Speedhub maintenance

This high-performance Speedhub is the result of an innovative technology developed in Kassel, Germany, and has changed the world of bike propulsion. Compared to the classic transmission, crowns, sprocket sets, front derailleurs and rear derailleurs have been eliminated and now replaced with a single crown, a single pinion and a system of 3 gears arranged in a planetary pattern.

The absence of the sprocket set makes the camber of the wheel symmetrical, to the benefit of the greater strength of the wheel itself.

The Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 Speedhub is located on the rear hub and is perfectly sealed. This characteristic gives this innovative hub gear a further advantage, in fact the maintenance of the Rohloff Speedhub is almost non-existent.

The complex transmission mechanism is sealed and works in an oil bath, so it is always well lubricated and protected from dirt. The result is a car-like hub gear that is easy to clean. With your mtb Speedhub, you can also handle sand, dust and water without fear.

No need for adjustments, it keeps clean and you just need to make an oil change every 5,000km or once a year. The pinion is symmetrically tilting, in fact when it is worn on one side, just rotate it.

Chain, pinion and crown are always aligned, silent and wear very little. Despite the complexity of the mechanism, you don't even need tools to change the wheel, which makes life easier for cyclists.

Rohloff Speedhub 500/14: price and final considerations

Compared to a traditional chain hub gear, the price of the Rohloff Speedhub is much higher, in fact the cost is around 1,000€. If we really have to say it all, it is really difficult to compare the two transmissions, because it would be like comparing a small Italian car with a German sedan. Surely no one would expect an S-class Mercedes to have the same price as a FIAT Panda, right?

Given its low maintenance and top-level performance, the Rohloff Speedhub is an excellent investment for the long-distance cyclist. It is known for its robustness and longevity and is ideal for both cycling and mountain biking on heavy dirt roads.

Those who have never tried it might think that it is a superfluous accessory or a little too expensive a treat, but those who have tested it at least once would never go back and consider it essential.

Riding is even more fun if you can change gears (even more than one) in a nanosecond and in any situation. For the first time, you become aware that you always have the right ratio at your disposal.

If this jewel of engineering has conquered you too and you want to have more or less technical details, do not hesitate to contact me and I will reveal every secret of the hub gear to you at the Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 hub.