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Old 02-12-09, 11:10 AM
  #6  
invisiblehand
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Washington, DC
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Bikes: Jamis Nova, Bike Friday triplet, Bike Friday NWT, STRIDA, Austro Daimler Vent Noir, Hollands Tourer

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Any front derailer system you get will require you to trim the front derailer for certain combinations of chainrings and cogs. However, this should only occur with extreme combinations that most people don't use in the first place.

The SRAM Dual Drive has a pretty good track record over at Green Gear. By removing the front derailer, you do get an easier fold since you don't have to worry about the chain tugging against the derailer. My understanding is that the Dual Drive adds about 1.5 - 2 pounds relative to a derailer drivetrain. The three speed internal hub is very robust; but as is the case with many internal hubs, if it does brake you have a much more complicated repair relative to a derailer-based drivetrain.

With the NWT, the distance from the cog to the chainring changes during the fold. So you probably want a rear derailer or something similar to keep tension on the chain helping prevent the chain from dropping.

As long as you lay your bike on the non-drive side, you should have little problem with derailer damage while traveling in a car.
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