Commuting - Changing Tires: Internal Hub Gearing vs. Derailler

I am hoping to buy a new bicycle for commuting within a few days and am still conflicted about whether to buy a bike with the external gearing and chain guard or internal gearing (also with chain guard). For changing tires is one easier than the other?

I am hoping to buy a new bicycle for commuting within a few days and am still conflicted about whether to buy a bike with the external gearing and chain guard or internal gearing (also with chain guard). For changing tires is one easier than the other?
Not all hubs with internal gears are the same. The Sturmey Archer 3 speeds with or w/o coaster brake are a snap. The old S-A S5 5-speed (shift cable on both sides of hub) was not much harder to remove/replace. Old Schimano 3 speeds and all Sachs/Torpedo/SRAM 3 speed wheels are as easy as the S-A. models. My Sachs 5 speed PentaSport ( (shift cable on both sides of hub) is easy; my Sachs 7speeds (all with coaster brake) are simple since the click box comes off easily. My Schimano 7 speed wheel appears to have a more difficult dismounting procedure for the shifting mechanism but so far (2 years) I have had no reason to remove the wheel, so I don't know for sure.

I understand that wheels with roller brakes or some form of complicated hand operated internal brake shoes (not coaster hubs) may be more difficult but I never have personally dealt with them

Not all hubs with internal gears are the same.

One model I'm particularly interested in is the Breezer Villager that has Shimano Nexus Inter-7 hubs. I'm thinking that the 3 speed is not enough because there are a few steep hills that I contend with regularly in DC.
Does the chain guard on the external geared systems complicate removing the wheel?

Derailleurs are easiest to change tires on. Chain guards have to be removed. The internally geared hub has a little arm that clamps onto the chainstay. It's not rocket science, but it takes a few more minutes, for sure.



One model I'm particularly interested in is the Breezer Villager that has Shimano Nexus Inter-7 hubs. I'm thinking that the 3 speed is not enough because there are a few steep hills that I contend with regularly in DC.
Does the chain guard on the external geared systems complicate removing the wheel?

I have to use a wrench to remove the rear wheel on my folder (see sig for pics) because the rear hub doesn't allow a quick release skewer. Annoying, yes, but only adds a minute or two to the whole process -- if you remember to bring your wrench!

How many times do you get flats that the tube is blown into
uselessness? I get flats on my commute occasionally and now
can patch them without taking the rim/tire off of the bike.
Try it next time you get one.

we've got, in the family, a nexus 4, a nexus 7, and a nexus 8. all are easy enough to remove for repairs.

it's one of those multi-step processes that's way harder to explain than to do (and me a technical writer...)

by the way, a chainguard does not have to be removed for tire/tube repairs (a chaincase, on the other hand, often does).