Long Term Test: 2012 Charge Mixer With Shimano Alfine 11-Speed Internal Gearing

Weight should be a consideration in a commuter, if you have to lift it a lot. I muti-mode commute on light rail and when you have to hang your bike on a hook, the difference between my 30 lb. commuter and 20 lb. cyclocross bike is very noticeable.
On the plus side, the 11 speed Alfine appears to be a bargain since the whole bike costs less than a Rohloff hub. I would like to see what an Alfine 11 bike would weigh with a lighter weight frame (7705 Al or higher end steel), and some lighter components.

I don’t know what I’d do with even more range than the 350% spread from 50×12 to 30×25 on my (35lb) commuter. Even then, the granny is mainly a chain catcher, except on climbs over a quarter mile.

Sure, buy a bike from Performance to commute to your organic grocery store. “I dont use cars.” Honestly when you’re distracted by the latest brand of skinny jeans or Apple product 30 years from now I’ll still be commuting by bike dressed in my street clothes and bright yellow cycling jacket while you try to ride whatever stupid, heavy, and impractical bikes neo- hipsters favor at the moment.

@PDXbiker

I think the issue is that the reviewer used Performance bikes to help him dial his set up in. Performance is a mega-chain (seewhatIdidthere) rather than a “local bike shop.”

I’m not a neo-hipster but I would never actually buy anything from places like Performance because they’re big chains who are squeezing the little bike shops out of existence. Their huge purchasing power means they can offer ridiculously low margins in comparison to what other dealers get through their wholesalers.

I believe Colin was only pointing out that he doesn’t have a car in order to push the point that he put a lot of wear into the bike before reviewing it.

This is a good review considering his intentions were to review the Charge Mixer, a bike that you can’t buy at a LBS … at least not that Charge advertises on their site.

If this were a question of buying a Fuji from your LBS vs. Performance, I could see the argument.

There aren’t that many out-of-the-box bicycles outfitted with the Alfine 11 – trying to find one under $1500 is another challenge. I agree with purchasing from your LBS and supporting them as much as possible, but if the price is right (for a large purchase) and there aren’t that many alternatives available, I don’t see any issue with purchasing from a big-box store.

As this is most likely my next bike – in part because of this fine review – here’re my two-cents.

1. There is no other bike with this value/price ratio. Even at full price. The next closest is another great deal, but quite a bit more, the Spot Brand Acme at $2200. The Mixer can be had for $1200. With a rack, with fenders.
2. Any Performance Bike shop is only as good as the people who work there. After a lot of shopping in San Francisco (where there are dozens of LBSs) I bought a Diamondback Insight for my daily commuter from Performance. The first one I bought outside the City and it was set up perfectly. And I mean perfectly. Everything was aligned and adjusted, and the bike was flawless. It was stolen, and I had to buy another one (ouch!), but it was set up at another location. It was 90% set up, and I had to take it back a couple of times to work out the kinks. But, the people at both were rabid enthusiasts – just like you and me. Great people. I spent a lot of time at the local shops and had less-than-enjoyable experiences at most of them. One in particular tried – hard – to sell me a bike that simply didn’t fit. The others didn’t have what I needed.

Much of the money they make at each location goes back into the local economy. They employee real locals, pay taxes and provide alternatives. They carry many of the same bikes you find elsewhere and the people are great. If – and when – I can afford that next ride, I’ll hit the shops again, but I know, now, where not to go, and Performance is high on the list.

The only issue I’d like to see fixed on the Mixer is a swap to, or at least an option for, a belt drive. That would take a frame redesign, etc., and I know for a fact Charge won’t be doing this any time soon. And, of course, at this point in drive history, it would add cost. The next one will be a belt.

One last thing: I ride everyday. Rain or shine. I use my bike like it should be used. I don’t pass judgement on other people’s rides or their choices. Unless they are a**holes and run lights and thread through crosswalks, they are on two wheels and that’s all that counts. You all can ride what you like, and so can I. Enjoy the fact we can and move on.

In the UK we have Evans Cycles, a mahoosive chain store, and they squeezed out Two Wheels Good (our LBS in Crouch End). I for one was glad to see them go. They had great mechanics but were terrible snobs. I took one bike there for a service and it got stolen from them. They didn’t bother to tell me. When it was days overdue for return I phoned them up and they finally admitted my pride and joy was gone, and that they hadn’t bothered reporting it stolen to the police because it might affect their insurance premuims 🙁 Now admittedly it was “only” a Trek – with custom carbon forks, custom wheel, and a ton of personalised bits (lights saddle etc) all of which took me months to get right – but it was *my* Trek. So they tried to make me accept some cheapo donkey of a Trek bike as a substitute. When that didn’t wash, finally they paid me out what my bike had cost me, after making me wait weeks and hassle them 3 times for the cheque. Good riddance. Evans’ mechanics may not be as good but they are polite helpful and friendly.

PS Great review, really want the 2013 version, and thanks for the tips on sizing!

I bought one of these recently from Evans Cycles via the Internet (no stockists here in the north of Scotland) and it arrived within 1 week, everything perfectly set up, only the pedals to attach and handlebars to adjust. Having said that, the cheap and nasty pedals (Wellgo alloy) got swapped straight away, as did the Charge Griddle grips (too thin and hard), and I also swapped the stem which is very short. I’m surprised The Captin (08/29/12) wanted a more upright position – this bike has a short wheelbase (and therefore some toe overlap) and the position is very upright. Any more so and it’d be like riding a unicycle!

The Alfine 11 hub is a revelation, much nicer than my older Nexus 8. When it comes to servicing, being able to change the oil without removing the wheel and taking the hub apart is a major improvement. The gear ratios (mine came with a 39/20 chainring/sprocket) are nicely spaced and the range is more than adequate for my 6 mile commute that includes some hills.

The handling is quite entertaining and requires concentration, but it’s very enjoyable and encourages you to go fast. The Prestige steel frame seems to do a good job of smoothing out poor surfaces and combined with the excellent Spoon saddle and 700x32c tyres produces a comfortable ride. The weight certainly isn’t an issue once on the move.

A note about sizing: I got the small size frame and it was the right choice for me. I’m 68″ tall, 32″ inside leg, and I have an inch or two of standover clearance.