Originally Posted by
hoyc
Or am I making the friction loss stuff out to be a bigger deal than it actually is?
If speed and efficiency are your number one goal, get a standard drivetrain. If low maintainence and cruising (or distance) is your thing, get the IGH.
Yes, an igh is a little heavier and probably a little slower than a derailleur drivetrain but most of the people who ride them don't care because we aren't bolting them to our race bikes we are using them for cruising and touring at which they excel. Go to your LBS and test ride something with an IGH and you'll see what I mean. they aren't better or worse, just different.