I had to lie down in a darkened room...

[Acyclo]

Last night I had one of those 'I have seen the future and it works' moments, a chap passed me on what was at first glance a road bike. At second glance it had disks and a hub gear. Aha, no more worn out rim flanges, not more worn out deraileurs and sprockets.

A quick Google and it turned out, judging by the slightly industrial shade of orange, to be a Genesis Day Alfine.

Another quick Google soon revealed the price to be close to infinity. Seventeen hundred of your earth pounds for the eleven speed version.

Looks like I'm going to be commuting on my Triban3 for 'some time' yet.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I could be converted to disk brakes maybe. But hub gears? Never!

 

[Acyclo]

I could be converted to disk brakes maybe. But hub gears? Never!

Two words - winter commuting.

 

[Leodis]

I am toying with the 8 speed, I am not mechanical at all and struggle with maintaining the rear dereailer without the cost of shop work. I was thinking about just popping on some Marathon Plus’s, SKS & racks and bobs ya uncle we have a tank of a commuter.

Only downsides I can tell is the weight, the lack of gears and the cost of servicing it.

 

[Davidc]

I could be converted to disk brakes maybe. But hub gears? Never!

Why not?

If the efficiency is good, the range wide enough, and the increments small enough then as far as I can see they have all the pros and none of the cons.

 

[tyred]

Bikes don't need to have as many gears as the marketing men tell us. Hub gears work well in practice and if anyone wants to laugh at my Sturmey 3 speed equipped road bike, they are welcome, I'm not the one who needs a rigorous chain cleaning regime in the winter and my 1/8" chain will outlast any ten speed chain several times over.

 

[Fnaar]

Damn you. Now I want one. But I can't have one.

 

[Archie_tect]

I like big gear steps.... it develops a more positive attitude.

 

[Col5632]

I had never thought about hub gears for commuting, i've only ever had a bike with what i class as 'normal' gears

 

[Acyclo]

Hmm, a quick Google suggest that the pro-pelloton might get disks in the near future. That will mean that production road bikes will start to appear with something that looks similar. When/if that happens the cost of a disk equipped road bike will be similar to the cost of comparable 'standard' bikes.

Anyone care to speculate how soon that will be?

 

[Night Train]

Hub gears are cool! FACT

I do all my riding on a 3 speed Brompton with no problems at all, from towing silly heavy trailers to 23mph sprints.

I wouldn't say no to a nice SA 8 speed though as I could manage a couple more gears at the top end and a few in between the three gears I have now.

 

[Globalti]

I tried that Genesis with the Alfine hub.

One word: HEAVY.

 

[Leodis]

I tried that Genesis with the Alfine hub.

One word: HEAVY.

I was thinking that, add commuter tyres on it as well... Waiting for 2014 CoF to come out.

 

[Globalti]

Have a look at this: http://road.cc/content/news/75271-video-kinesis-tripster-atr-ti-prototype

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Why not?

If the efficiency is good, the range wide enough, and the increments small enough then as far as I can see they have all the pros and none of the cons.

Fundamental design rules out close ratio hub gears. Wide range can be designed in OK but I don't need "big" gears - just lots of sensible ones. Over the years I knows my requirements and it's tough enough to get sensible cassettes for my needs.