Internal Geared Hubs

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Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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  • March 14, 2013 at 5:20 pm #964656
    vvill
    Participant

    I don’t know much about IGH but here’s one dynamo hub to consider.

    http://road.cc/content/review/65840-shutter-precision-pv8-dynamo-hub

    I’ve read about them in a couple places, basically a good value option from what I can tell.

    March 14, 2013 at 5:23 pm #964657
    JeffC
    Participant

    I have a 7 speed Shimano Nexus and love it, shifts easily even when stopped. I do find that it seems a bit less efficient than my other bike with a derailleur.

    March 14, 2013 at 5:31 pm #964659
    Greenbelt
    Participant

    The Jamis Commuter 3 uses the Shimano 7 internal geared hub — weighs 2 pounds less and costs $300 less than the Commuter 4. I guess in addition to the expense, the NuVinci hub is heavier? I’ll ask around.

    March 14, 2013 at 7:14 pm #964686
    eminva
    Participant

    My brother got the Alfine you mention recently and he likes it, although he finds it requires almost as much maintenance as his old derailler-based drivetrain — but he lives in a seaside town with constant ocean spray that gets salt into everything, so YMMV.

    Liz

    March 14, 2013 at 7:39 pm #964691
    americancyclo
    Participant

    @eminva 46324 wrote:

    My brother got the Alfine you mention recently and he likes it, although he finds it requires almost as much maintenance as his old derailler-based drivetrain — but he lives in a seaside town with constant ocean spray that gets salt into everything, so YMMV.

    Liz

    Yeah, the whole idea is change the chain, sprocket and front chainring, instead of the chain, cassette, and front chainrings.

    March 15, 2013 at 2:56 am #964770
    vvill
    Participant

    Gates carbon belt drive!

    March 26, 2013 at 7:06 pm #965703
    jwfisher3
    Participant

    I had a NuVinci n360 on a Breezer Uptown Infinity. Wow – was that hub ever heavy, even for an IGH. My bike (with empty panniers) weighed 49 lbs, and this was keenly felt whenever the terrain went towards the sky, however slightly, and severely taxed my mediocre fitness. On the positive side, the gearing range was decent (though not as wide as an Alfine 11 or a Rohloff) and I didn’t have any trouble with the maintenance on my NuvVinci (full disclosure – only about 200 miles total before I sold it.) The Novara Gotham is also a very heavy bike, and is fine for leisurely level ground riding, but does have the Gates belt drive, which is a plus. Breezer has now introduced the Beltway, which is available with Alfine 11 or NuVinci hubs, along with a Gates belt drive. I found the chaincase on the Uptown Infinity was a problematic maintenance issue – difficult even for the bike shop to remove, and prone to going out of alignment and rubbing. The idea of a commuter with dynamo hub and IGH is a fine one, it’s just better for short, level commutes and urban cycling IMHO.

    March 26, 2013 at 8:48 pm #965707
    FFX_Hinterlands
    Participant

    I’ve been commuting on a Shimano Nexus 3 speed for the past three years. Other than being re-assembled incorrectly bike a bike shop resulting in imposion I haven’t had much trouble. Overall they work great because you can shift when stopped and really don’t require any adjustment once dialed-in. They allow you to use a full chainguard or chaincase that keeps your drivetrain clean. The Shimano hubs (<=8 speeds) are not waterproof and eventually the seals will give way. I would rather have a 3 speed than a single speed and the 3 speeds don't weigh very much. If you do lots of longer distance or suburban biking (rather than in the city) then traditional gears are lighter and more efficient, but require a little more care.

    March 26, 2013 at 9:24 pm #965709
    Dirt
    Participant

    Try to take them for a test ride. They feel very, very different. Generally the Alfine11 is sealed very well…. better than most. That means fewer rebuilds. The Rohloff is pretty much the godfather of internally geared hubs. Its been around longer than most and has lived up to its reputation. The only down-side is that I don’t like any of the drop-bar shifter options.

    Love,

    Dirt

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