What is a Rohloff?
Updated 10-2025
In 2011, it was announced that Rodriguez Bicycles became the largest builder of custom Rohloff equipped bikes in the United States!
Rohloff Custom Bicycles:
Over the last several years, we've built a large number of bikes using this hub, and the customers love them.
Most people that choose Rohloff equipped bikes have researched the product thoroughly before ordering their bike. The reasons that these people chose the Rohloff hub include ease of shifting, lower maintenance, and perceived 'ease of use'. The reason I use the word perceived is because a Rohloff bicycle frame can be designed in such a way as to make changing the rear tire much more difficult.
The Speedhub became so popular that even Shimano attempted a competing product that they released in 2016 called the
Alfine 11-sp hub.
For the most part, the Alfine didn't live up to the Rohloff, and has since faded into the 'also tried' category. There is a world of difference between the Alfine and the Rohloff?"
WARNING! Not all manufacturers treat Rohloff bikes the same. The Rohloff hub presents some specific design challenges when building the frame to keep things 'user friendly'. The crew here at Rodriguez Cycles has developed some unique exclusive features that distinguish our Rodriguez Rohloff bikes from the other brands. To read about these differences, click here.
Pros and Cons of a Rohloff Speedhub
Pros:- No fuss: The sealed gearbox ensures reliability and durability even under the toughest conditions. The even increments of 13.6% from gear to gear make it possible to always ride at the performance peak. There is no overlap in the gear range, so all 14 gears are usable. In a traditional 27 speed set-up, you've only got about 14 usable gears anyway.
- Extremely Low Maintenance: A Rohloff Speedhub is the lowest maintenance bicycle shifting system ever created. Change the oil in the hub once a year, and that's about it. The chain lasts a long time on this configuration as well.
- Allows use of the Gates Belt: For the rider that doesn't even want to have to lubricate their chain, you can set up a Rohloff bike with a Gates belt system. Although this does limit your gearing options compared to the chain set up, it is an option for you.
Cons:
- Cost: The starting price of a Rohloff equipped bike is more than a bike with traditional derailleurs. Although, I would say that the price is closer now than it was a few years ago. Look at it like a Swiss watch. You're getting the highest quality for a bit more.
- Set Gear Ratio: This one isn't really much of a con, unless you're the type of person who wants to have a gear range that wider than 526%. That's not very many people, but there are a few of you out there ;-) If you are one of them, you'll be sticking with a triple crank and derailleurs.
- Weight: Regardless of what anyone tells you (or puts on a blog or website), any bike with an internally geared hub is substantially heavier than a comparably priced derailleur equipped bike. This is true with the Shimano Alfine hubs as well.
