Tyler: I have a Hilsen and I've been using internal gear hubs for about a year and I would never go back to derailers. Here is where I disagree with Jim Thill: 1. Once you learn the trick of using a 2 mm Allen wrench to rotate the mechanism where the cable attaches to the Alfine hub, wheel removal isn't difficult. You can go one step further and insert a cable coupler (from Loose Screws) in-line and then it becomes easier than removing a rear wheel with a derailer. I'm happy to share the details with you. 2. I have used a Surly Singleator on this and a single speed build on another bike with vertical dropouots and it has not given me a moment of trouble. It's very nicely made. Shimano has come out with a tensioner but it didn't work with my chainline and I didn't feel like reworking it to use the Shimano tensioner. The Singleator is highly adjustable with an Allen wrench, will accomodate almost any chainline, and it's very nicely machined. 3. I don't notice any problems in cold weather, though I've not used the hub below 40 degrees. 4. If something goes wrong, I think Jim is right that you will have to send the hub away for repair, but I understand that they are very reliable. They don't need any tinkering and adjusting them is so simple compared to a derailer that it makes me chuckle every (infrequent) time that I adjust it. That alone reaffirms my commitment to IG hubs. 5. It's true that the hub itself is heavier than a derailer hub, but then you don't have the cogs, front and rear derailers, shifters, and cables anymore. I've never calculated the trade-off, but I don't think the Alfine setup ends up being that much heavier than the derailers. Also, you have indicated that you are a big fellow, so cut back on the ice cream and cake for two weeks and you've saved more than enough weight to make up the difference. 6. You know you can shift the IG hubs while pedaling, coasting, or standing still, right?
About a year after I installed the Alfine, I came across a good deal on a Rohloff, so I replaced the Alfine. The Rohloff is nicer but I don't think it's so very much nicer that it's worth the big difference in price. I kept the Alfine, which is built into a Mavic Open Pro rim, because I still like it and want to use it on some other bike, but after all this time I'm not so sure that's going to happen. If you're interested in the wheel, contact me off-list and we can chat about it. Richard --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
