Tags:
Generally speaking, it's better (and almost always cheaper) to buy a complete internally geared bike rather than convert an existing commuter. The most obvious reason is the need for horizontal dropouts, but other issues like rear dropout spacing and chainline can make your life difficult. That said, I've retrofitted many mountain, city, track and cyclocross bikes with everything from Sturmey Archer AW3s to Shimano Nexus to the occasional Rohloff.
Once you've walked yourself through the drawbacks (weight, cost, frame limitations, gear ratios) and determined that it's the most practical approach for your build, I would start to winnow your options based on gear ratio, price, and braking requirements. (Note too that handlebar choice is very limited when running internal hubs due to the shifter style.) Personally, I prefer internally geared hubs with coaster brakes paired with a strong front hand (or even better, drum) brake for serious four season commuter setups. Among advocates, you will find religious wars re: Shimano vs SRAM, vs Sturmey Archer -- but each system has their merits and problems.
Among the contemporary systems, you will probably be limited to the Sturmey Archer or Shimano 8 speed hubs in your price range -- although you might also look into the SRAM i-9 -- which is much much nicer. But if you just want to do it on a very simple budget, then take a look at your bottom bracket and cranks first and see if you can convert it to an appropriate single speed crank (and chainline) with the right gearing. If you're lucky, that would only cost <$10 for new chainring bolts. You can probably keep your chain in a pinch by just shortening it -- and then look into either buying a prefab wheel or relacing on your current rear wheel. Depending on wheat system you choose, this will run between $100-300.
So a very basic setup (ie Shimano Nexus 3 speed relaced to existing rim) could run as little as $100 and something nicer like a Sturmey Archer or Nexus 8 speed with a new wheel setup would be in the $350 range.
Ok. So what's the verdict on NuVinci? I've heard a rumor they're outperforming Rohloff....
Matt - Did you ever make a switch to an internally geared hub?
I'll go for the best meaning a Rohloff Speedhub.
"weight, cost frame limitations, gear ratios"
I thought we were riding this bike through the snow, not on the TDF?
Plus, I've heard it, tried it, etc. There is not much a weight difference between, say, an Alfine 8speed and a typical derailleur set-up. No rear derailleur, no sprocket cluster, no front derailleur, no second chainring on front... Sure, there's difference but the real really-O weight weenies are the only ones that will care.
I've never got the obsession with excessive overall gear range either. I've ridden gears, I've ridden SS. In all reality, I only really use 5 gears no matter how many are available. 8 with a full ratio of 307% doesn't sound like a drawback to this midwestern flatlander.
Frame limitations... Only if you have vertical drops.
Bar options... I didn't know Jtek was out of business. Bummer! Their products are still easy to find around still. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for someone to fill the blank on that product line.
Different strokes for different folks.
203 members
1 member
270 members
1 member
261 members