Commuting - Bianchi Milano vs. Breezer Villager

Hi. Newbie here. Please be gentle. I am on the verge of becoming a bike commuter and picking up a commuter bike to get me back and forth. (I like the commuter bikes because of the fenders and chainguards that come standard on them.)

I think I've narrowed my choices down to the Bianchi Milano and the Breezer Villager. Any thoughts on either of these? I've searched through the archives of these forums, but haven't found too much comparing these bikes. A couple of more specific questions:

-On the Breezer, I went to a store today and had the salesman tell us that the generator lights on the Breezer are basically "worthless" because they don't generate too much light. Anybody care to agree or disagree?

-The Bianchi comes with the Nexus 8 rear hub whereas the Breezer comes with the Nexus 7. Is this a difference that I would really notice in my daily commute?

Any other commuter bikes you would all recommend? Thanks.

a couple questions...

1) how long will your commutes be?

2) is this for work, for errands like shopping, or just to grab something to eat?

3) how hilly is the terrain where you live?

1) how long will your commutes be?

Not too long. Maybe three miles each way.

2) is this for work, for errands like shopping, or just to grab something to eat?

Primarily for work, but I'll also use it for quick trips to the grocery store or movie store.

3) how hilly is the terrain where you live?

I live in Washington, DC, which, in general, is deceptively hilly. My house is at the top of one of these hills. My office is near the bottom. So, in the morning, I'll be going three miles pretty much downhill, and, at the end of the day, I'll be going up. It's a hill, but it's not one of the Alps.

Thanks again for your help and advice.

my wife rides a villager, and she's in love with the bike. rides it home (and sometimes to) work, as well as for all sorts of errands. the only thing she's added to the factory setup (which has just about everything) is a front basket.

the difference between the nexus 7 and the 8 for what you're talking about is...well, there's really no difference.

Hi,
my dealer tells me that the Nexus 8 is an improvement. I wouldn't know. Either bike will be fine. If you wind up riding
when you actually need a light, you will need serious illumination.
But a little light to tell people you're around is ok. One thought,
you can put fenders on several different kinds of bikes. So you could put fenders on a Volpe (for example) and have a bike that would also work for group rides, or vacation trips. I really like trips, leaving on one in a week. But what I really want to do is one of those fancy cycling trips where they carry your stuff, feed you great food, and put you up in nice places. Just a thought.

The Milano is a cool bike... I'd get that one. Here's a link to something really neat for a short commute.. <http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/bags/sqr-products.htm> I'm pretty sure this type seatpost bag will fit on the Milano, but I'd make sure before you buy it! This set up makes a rack unneeded. Add a tail light (AAA battery. 10 bucks) and a good NiCad headlight (for around 70 bucks) and you're set to go.

Also read the thread about the Kona Smoke-- another bike with fenders and 26 inch wheels that's hunderds cheaper than these two bikes your looking at. Another fine choice in my opinion. With the Kona you should be able to get a good lights and a the seatpost saddle bag for under $500 bucks, and this would be a better commuting setup than anything I've ever had-- Trek sells the 3500 model mountain bike without frount suspendion--another cheap 26 inch wheel bike that can be tricked out for commuting.

For three miles you don't need to spend a ton of cash on a bike.

1) how long will your commutes be?

Not too long. Maybe three miles each way.

2) is this for work, for errands like shopping, or just to grab something to eat?

Primarily for work, but I'll also use it for quick trips to the grocery store or movie store.

3) how hilly is the terrain where you live?

I live in Washington, DC, which, in general, is deceptively hilly. My house is at the top of one of these hills. My office is near the bottom. So, in the morning, I'll be going three miles pretty much downhill, and, at the end of the day, I'll be going up. It's a hill, but it's not one of the Alps.

Thanks again for your help and advice.


First and foremost, keep up the research, don't just believe anything that you read here or anywhere else including dealers. Also ride as many bikes as you can, something may really fit you that you hadn't otherwise expected. If you have a friend who is into biking either road or MTN, get him or her up on some of the ones you are considering. Sometimes another pair of eyes will catch something.

I am actually a big fan of both the Milano and the Breezer. And out of the two, I am a bigger fan of the Breezer. A factor in what bike to get would also be where you will park it at home or at work. I would be hesitant to go with either in fear that it would be stolen. The Breezer has another huge advantage in security with the "cafe" lock on the back wheel. That, a Kryptonite NY U Lock, and locking skewers for anything quick release would help it be less of a target.

On the downside for the Milano is that to my recollection there was no bottle cage mounts, which even with a short commute can be needed especially in summer. Also against the Milano is the lack of rear rack mounts, which would drive ya towards more seat post rack options, which will decrease your carrying strength capacity and pannier options. With that said, the Milano was one of the better "feeling" rides out of the ones I had tried before buying my own bike recently.

The hill stuff is always a factor. Stuff that you think isn't on foot or in a car, you are more aware of on a bike, and depending on you level of fitness, you may want something with a 3 speed crank on front, to occasionally hit the "granny" gear if need be. The 8 spd Nexus hub really is great. Smooth shifting, And the abilty to shift when stopped, make it closer to an automatic on a car. Maintanence is pretty painless from a users end. However, if you buy a bike with one and the store has an extended free service policy for a year to three, make sure they have serviced them before!

As far as lights go, it varies. The question is are you needing to see, or be seen. Very important difference. If you ride in a well lit area, then dynamo hubs or sidewalls, and the addition of something up on the handlebar could be fine to let drivers see you and take the edge off the road.. If it is dark, then you might need something stronger to see the road itself.

If I could have gotten it, and I would have been less worried about theft where I am, I personally would have gone with the Breezer Uptown 8. But I ended up getting a Kona Smoke instead. It isn't as good a commuter featureswise, but it was a revelation in its price, durability and ride.

There is a page for commuter style bikes which talks about the different ones that are "available" (aka never stocked locally) in the USA:

http://nordicgroup.us/commutebike/

Check out the Web site www.commuterbicycle.com -- broad yet selective survey of commuter bike market. If you want to spend in 700 to 800 dollar range, look at Trek L200 or L300 and Specialized Globe

I have neither a Breezer nor a Bianchi, but rather a Kettler Silverstar, which is fairly similar to both. It's hard to give a judgement on the headlight, bucause I don't know which unit the Breezer uses. The advertising states that it has a "standlight", which strongly suggests it is a Lumotec, which is the light I have. The Lumotec is very good! If this is the advice you are getting from your LBS, get another LBS.

I have a road bike, a hybrid, and the Silverstar. Guess which is fastest for my commute to work -- the Silverstar. The Nexus is very good for situations where you have a stoplight every few blocks. There is one stretch on my commute where I ride for half a mile without stopping. However, this is not enought to give it an overall advantage. The hybrid is "neither fish nor fowl" -- it lacks both the comfort and convenience of the commuter bike and the efficiency of the road bike. Plus, there is no chainguard, so I have to remember to wrap a rubber band around my leg, just as I do with the road bike.

I have a five mile commute and have never felt the need for a water bottle. Maybe on a ten mile commute.

The Nexus 8 has a wider gear range than the 7. This could work out to either a lower low gear or a higher ihigh gear, depending on the chainring ratios used. More is better, but I would not expect the Nexus 8 to change my life.

Someone mentioned hills. I have pulled a child trailer up to the top of the big hill on Walter Read Drive with my Kettler, which is a Nexus-7 bike. I suspect this is the hardest hill in the DC area.

Which to get? It all depends. The Breezer is ready for use -- no need to play boy mechanic. The Bianchi needs a light. If it were me, I would probably get the Bianchi and buy a Lumotec light with a Schmidt dynohub (assuming it is possible to fit a rack or other means for carrying raincoat and groceries). Reason -- the Bianchi is so cool. I'd have Peter White build me a wheel with the hub and pop it in when it is ready. I'd also get an LED tailight like the B&M. The sidewall generator that the Breezer has requires tires with a dynamo track and is unreliable in snow. Of course, you could buy the Breezer and convert to dynohub.


Most DC bikeshops are clueless when it comes to commuting. Bikes @ Vienna is a notable exception. City Bikes appears to be another. Papillon Cycles does not sell any commuter bikes, but knows how to work on Nexus-equipped bikes. I'd suggest ignoring the rest.

Take all we tell you with a grain of salt. Test ride both bikes and decide which you like best. If you commute six mile a days, plus trips to the store and library, you could easily put in several thousand miles a year. It really comes down to what you like.

Paul

I have a Breezer Citizen and I love it for in-town errands. It is complete including the internal lock, lights, chain guard, fenders, etc. It uses the 3-speed internal hub and it has less of a range than the 7 or 8 speed hubs. Suits me fine though. The light works fine, no problems at all.

The Bianchi Milano is a very cool looking bike but it will cost a lot more to get the required accessories to make it a commuter.

My vote would be for the Breezer Villager.

My commute is too long (26 miles each way) to use it however. For that I use a Bianchi Volpe. But for around town riding, the Breezer is the one I use.

I have a Breezer Citizen and I love it for in-town errands. It is complete including the internal lock, lights, chain guard, fenders, etc. It uses the 3-speed internal hub and it has less of a range than the 7 or 8 speed hubs. Suits me fine though. The light works fine, no problems at all.

The Bianchi Milano is a very cool looking bike but it will cost a lot more to get the required accessories to make it a commuter.

My vote would be for the Breezer Villager.

My commute is too long (26 miles each way) to use it however. For that I use a Bianchi Volpe. But for around town riding, the Breezer is the one I use.

I have the Bianchi Volpe and Milano.

When I first got into cycling, my opinion of hub gears were sky high and considered them far superior than the derailuers. Not anymore. The Bianchi Milano is a nice looking bike and well constructed. However. If I had to do it all over again, there is no way I would have purchased that bike. Why?

1. The Milano is slow. - The geometry of the bike is that of a beach cruiser and the straight up position will mean you'll peddal more with less efficiency. If you have a lengthly commute (over 10 miles) it would be counterproductive to choose a commuter with a "Beach Cruiser" type geometry.

2. The Nexus hub is heavy - I've noticed there is a significant amount of rolling resistance caused by the friction loses from the weight and construction of that rear hub. This is NOT imaginary. The bike does not roll as free as one with 700 cc tires with deraileur. Since you only have a 3 mile commute, the difficulities will not come to play but taking that bike into the burbs will be another story. The Volpe in my opinion, makes a much better commuter because it has the granny gear (small chainring) which you'll really need for hills and the geometry is perfect. There are hills that I was able to climb with the Volpe that would have had me walking on the Milano. The Milano is not a light bike even though it's made of Alu! In fact, the Milano weights about 30 lbs or about as much as the Volpe! Trust me. If you had to choose between ridiing a hard alu hybrid (Milano) or a cross bike with Reynolds 525 (Volpe), the choice is clear. You ride the Volpe.

3. Hub gears are fine but not great - If you have huge hills, you do not choose hub gears. You'll really make life easier with a cycle that has a full complement of gears (ie Third chainring). Hub gears are great for poor weather and where the terrain is flat. I commute on a three speed but my trip is rather short with no hills. Depending on the hills, a 7 speed hub gear bicycle could still work based on the strenght of the rider. The 8 speed hub from what I understand is even heavier so there is probaby no performance gain in this recent model.

I like the Breezer and want to see him succeed. I've never ridden a Breezer but consider the the Uptown 8 counterproductive with that front shock and the Villager a much beter option. The lights on both models are cheap and probably won't last very long. The difference between the Nexus 7 and 8 is insignificant. A suspension seatpost will be needed for the Milano (I have one) because the frame is very unforgiving.

The Breezer in my opinion is complete and is the better option straight out of the box. The Milano is actually a very pretty bike that you ride around the park on a Sunday morning. You can make it a commuter but there's work that will have to be done. Neither bike is designed to go long distances. The Breezer is probably slow, but I doubt it's slower than the Milano.

Hi. Newbie here. Please be gentle. I am on the verge of becoming a bike commuter and picking up a commuter bike to get me back and forth. (I like the commuter bikes because of the fenders and chainguards that come standard on them.)

I think I've narrowed my choices down to the Bianchi Milano and the Breezer Villager.

Any other commuter bikes you would all recommend? Thanks.

Mate, Ya' don't need to spend the kinda money either one of
these bikes cost to do what need to do. I'm not sure why but
when ever folk's want a bike they ALWAYS think "new bike".

There are literaly millions of little used bikes that will
do the 3 mile trip and utility use available in thrift stores
yard sales and e-bay that cost less than $100. If you find
a used bike you like that doesn't have fender,rack, lights
or some other small item they can be added for very little
money.

Sure you may have to oil the chain ,replace the tires
or other general maintance but you'll have to do that anyway
on a new bike to keep it going. So don't think for moment
that new bike will be trouble free. It ain't so, mate.

There is also theft to consider. How would you feel if you
lost (or wrecked) you new $800 bike over loosing your trusty
thrift store bike that cost $100 (or less)??????

Buying a commuter/utility bike used is well worth the time,
patients and maintence cost when honestly compared to a new
unproven bike. This is a case where time searching for good
used bike will put big bucks in YOUR pocket!!!!!

I have the Bianchi Volpe and Milano.

When I first got into cycling, my opinion of hub gears were sky high and considered them far superior than the derailuers. Not anymore. The Bianchi Milano is a nice looking bike and well constructed. However. If I had to do it all over again, there is no way I would have purchased that bike. Why?

1. The Milano is slow. - The geometry of the bike is that of a beach cruiser and the straight up position will mean you'll peddal more with less efficiency. If you have a lengthly commute (over 10 miles) it would be counterproductive to choose a commuter with a "Beach Cruiser" type geometry.

2. The Nexus hub is heavy - I've noticed there is a significant amount of rolling resistance caused by the friction loses from the weight and construction of that rear hub. This is NOT imaginary. The bike does not roll as free as one with 700 cc tires with deraileur. Since you only have a 3 mile commute, the difficulities will not come to play but taking that bike into the burbs will be another story. The Volpe in my opinion, makes a much better commuter because it has the granny gear (small chainring) which you'll really need for hills. There are hills that I was able to climb with the Volpe that would have had me walking on the Milano. The Milano is not a light bike even though it's made of Alu! In fact, the Milano weights about 30 lbs or about as much as the Volpe! Trust me. If you had to choose between ridiing a hard alu hybrid (Milano) or a cross bike with Reynolds 525 (Volpe), the choice is clear. You ride the Volpe.

3. Hub gears are fine but not great - If you have huge hills, you do not choose hub gears. You'll really make life easier with a cycle that has a full complement of gears (ie Third chainring). Hub gears are great for poor weather and where the terrain is flat. I commute on a three speed but my trip is rather short with no hills. Depending on the hills, a 7 speed hub gear bicycle could still work based on the strenght of the rider. The 8 speed hub from what I understand is even heavier so there is probaby no performance gain in this recent model.

I like the Breezer and want to see him succeed. I've never ridden a Breezer but consider the the Uptown 8 counterproductive with that front shock and the Villager a much beter option. The lights on both models are cheap and probably won't last very long. The difference between the Nexus 7 and 8 is insignificant. A suspension seatpost will be needed for the Milano (I have one) because the frame is very unforgiving.

The Breezer in my opinion is complete and is the better option straight out of the box. The Milano is actually a very pretty bike that you ride around the park on a Sunday morning. You can make it a commuter but there's work that will have to be done. Neither bike is designed to go long distances. The Breezer is probably slow, but I doubt it's slower than the Milano.


Actually the Breezer features the red band Nexus hub which allegedly is a better version than the standard. Ask Breezer about this if curious.

In my town, many of the cycle tourists use Nexus hubs on their commuter bikes. They are considered to be reliable and very low maintenance. They are more troublesome when it comes to puncture repairs, but you should invest in some high quality kevlar tyres.
I use a lumotec front lamp powered by a 3 w battery. It produces the same illumination as a dynamo system and is fine for riding on city streets. It is much more powerful than many of the battery powered handlebar lamps. More powerful lighting systems have higher wattage power source but use generic sealeb beam lamps, rather than the one designed to place light where a cyclist needs it most. Many people have commented on the brightness of my Lumotec, and I am confident riding in pitch black on lanes and easy trails.

I just wanted to thank all of you for your responses. You've given me a lot to chew on. I am thinking twice about the expense of it all, but there are also features, such as a chainguard, that come on the "commuter bicycles" that, as I understand it, are difficult to retrofit to other types of bicycles. I'm going to keep thinking, though, and I'm going to take a few different bikes out for test rides.

tightwad makes a good point.... lots of people already have a bike sitting in their basement, or parent's basement or a friend at work's basement. Look for a free/cheap bike first and try riding it. I've commuted thousands of miles on old tenspeeds I bought at Goodwill for less than 20 bucks. Although I did have a $70 headlight, $100 raingear and a $100 rack/trunk set up. Sometimes it's these little things that keep a person riding all year.


And I'm still a big hub gear fan. Yes, they are heavy. Yes, you do lose power in lower gears (10%?) But the maintance is so much less than with derailers and hub gears really shine in stop and go traffic. If you're looking to do long rides, go with a derailer. For bombing around DC? Hub gears.

Look around in any European city and you'll see lots and lots of hub gears, U-frames, big wire baskets on the back rack. All great for the city.

Mate, Ya' don't need to spend the kinda money either one of
these bikes cost to do what need to do. I'm not sure why but
when ever folk's want a bike they ALWAYS think "new bike".

There are literaly millions of little used bikes that will
do the 3 mile trip and utility use available in thrift stores
yard sales and e-bay that cost less than $100. If you find
a used bike you like that doesn't have fender,rack, lights
or some other small item they can be added for very little
money.

Sure you may have to oil the chain ,replace the tires
or other general maintance but you'll have to do that anyway
on a new bike to keep it going. So don't think for moment
that new bike will be trouble free. It ain't so, mate.

There is also theft to consider. How would you feel if you
lost (or wrecked) you new $800 bike over loosing your trusty
thrift store bike that cost $100 (or less)??????

Buying a commuter/utility bike used is well worth the time,
patients and maintence cost when honestly compared to a new
unproven bike. This is a case where time searching for good
used bike will put big bucks in YOUR pocket!!!!!

The above comment is 100% correct. I will never commute on a new bike ever again. When my 3 speed bicycle was new, the kids damaged it several times trying to break the locks.

A newbe buying a used bike has to be careful they don't buy "Too used" or they'll regret the purchase. Furthermore, you also have to know what size you are or you'll buy a bike that's too big or small. If you can't get beyond these two, it's best to buy new. Probably the only advantage to buying new is the warranty and chain guard which you won't find on most used bikes. Trying to retrofit a chainguard is practically impossible.

I purchased a used Univega hybrid from Ebay for about $150.00 dollars. WHAT A STEAL! That used chromoly street bike is much better than my Bianchi Milano. It's practically become my weekend ride and after spending $250.00 dollars in repairs and upgrades, it rides like a dream. I can't believe Univega went out of business but they really made good steel bicycles. Here's what I like about that used bike and why it would make a good commuter.

1. Chromoly - A much better alloy than hard Alu any day of the week. In fact, probably the biggest deficiency of both the Milano and Breezer is due to the fact that both frames are made with hard alu. Chromoly will flex and absorb the road bump and ruts while Alu will just put that onto the rider.

2. Long Wheel base - I've fallen in love with bikes that have a long wheel base because of the comfort level. An argument can be made that a touring bikes make the best commuter. My Univega has a long wheelbase which is rare for a hybrid these days.

3. Street bike Geometry - I was afraid of buying a bike with a flat bar and preferred a more straight up position. A huge mistake. The road bike geometry is the best way to go and a straight up postion is slower and more uncomfortable over the long run. A straight up position makes you less likely to stand up on the peddals when approaching bumps because you have to lift your whole body to do this. As a result, you'll take more of this potholes sitting down thus feeling less comfortable over a long ride.

If you look at the early "Roadsters" of the 70's that had the same geometry as the Breezer, they came with Brooks saddle with double springs! The Breezer does not have this feature but uses an inexpensive suspension seat post. A poor compromise in my opinion.

4. Low Theft - If you have to leave your commuter outside your office, it has to be used. Plain and simple. There is no way you can leave a new bicycle outside unless you're willing to carry $150.00 in chains and cables. My Univega is all scratched up but that's the beauty. Parts like the derailuer are new but the scratched up frame makes it much less attractive for the cooks and thus I can park it with a mid level U-Lock (Evolution 2000) instead of carrying the New York Chain! I always use locking skewer set but that's all. Most people with expensive road bikes wouldn't dare leave their bikes outside unattended even for a minute. Not me. A used scratched up bike with good componets make a very good cycle.

This weekend, I can't tell you how many times I went inside a store only to be told to leave the bike outside. If my Univega was new, I would have been reluctant but since it's used looking, this was not a problem. In short, a used bike does not become like a child that has to be attached to me every where I go. It's liberating.

I just wanted to thank all of you for your responses. You've given me a lot to chew on. I am thinking twice about the expense of it all, but there are also features, such as a chainguard, that come on the "commuter bicycles" that, as I understand it, are difficult to retrofit to other types of bicycles. I'm going to keep thinking, though, and I'm going to take a few different bikes out for test rides.

I think that is one of the key issues. If you want to ride in normal clothing, a chainguard is essential, and very difficult to retrofit to most mass market bikes. That is one of the key reasons to buy new. Given the cost of parking in DC, I consider a $1,000 bike to be very cheap, assuming you have secure parking.

However, if you can find one of the old, 3-speed, internally-geared bikes (used to be called "English Racers" -- lots were imported in the 1960s), be advised that they make great commuter bikes if the hills are not too bad. Sheldon Brown is certainly fond of them (use Google for details). If I had to chain the thing to a parking meter in a bad area all day, I would have looked for an old Raleigh.

Paul

I just wanted to thank all of you for your responses. You've given me a lot to chew on. I am thinking twice about the expense of it all, but there are also features, such as a chainguard, that come on the "commuter bicycles" that, as I understand it, are difficult to retrofit to other types of bicycles. I'm going to keep thinking, though, and I'm going to take a few different bikes out for test rides.

Mate, don't give up!!!! Not yet!!!! Chain guards are not THAT
hard to add to a bike as there are several types to keep your
pants legs out of the chain. I've found SEVERAL good used
bikes that have chainguards on them already.

The term "commuter bicycle" is just that......a term. The
fun of commuting (or city) riding is building a bike that
is what YOU want (yes, it will take some time a small bit
of money) your way. (mate, owning a city bike that is truely
"yours" is oh, so sweet) Building a commuter bike could be
as simple as a set of bags to carry stuff and nice seat for
your tush. It all depends on what you find and.....
how patient you are in aquiring a bike.

The really important feature about any commuter bike is....
a long wheel base and a lugged steel frame. This combination
is easy to find in older bikes and will ride oh, so smooth!
Ya' just can't beat a lugged steel frame for ride quality.

Sorry to say I can't recommend aluminum except for beer cans.

"So don't think for moment that new bike will be trouble free." i have a 2009 rocky mountain metropolis (700c) with nexus 8. it has been trouble free.

the bike is similar to what you are looking at but perhaps with some geometry geared to more zippiness. for tweaking on the hills i guess chainring/rear cog swapping may help.

If you don't have a chainguard, you could always try these (http://www.alssports.com/Aardvark-Anklebiter-Pant-Leg-Straps/PAAAAAEHCKBKNOOH/product?CAWELAID=541789472), or something similar.

You can shift the whole range the IG hub operates
by changing the size of the sprockets on the hub and crank to Lower
or raise the whole set of gear ratios.

AFAIK, the Premium "Red Band" version of the Nexus hub has the same internals as Shimano's Alfine. I have the Alfine on my bike and its gearing is sufficiently low enough to get me up any hills in my area, and high enough that I only spin out when flying down hills. The bike hauls my 300 lb. frame around town without complaint, so for a lighter rider hauling stuff should be a non-issue. Where the hub really shines is in maintenance, or more correctly, lack thereof. Other than the occasional adjustment for cable stretch (which is ridiculously easy to do) the hub has needed no attention. It is truly a "set it and forget it" piece of equipment.

Incidentally, I'm a big fan of chaingaurds. I particularly like the ones from Hebie (http://www.hebie.de/Chainguards.6.0.html?&L=1), SKS (http://www.sks-germany.com/?l=en&a=products&r=chainguards&PHPSESSID=5db1bebd3f72bf10a73f52eac292e1c1), Velo Orange (http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/accessories/chainguards-stay-protectors-kickstands/vo-alloy-chainguard.html), and even though my bike is belt-driven I am considering this one (http://www.shopatron.com/products/productdetail/Civia+Bryant+Chainguard+44tooth+/+50belt+Silver/part_number=CG5200/3979.0.1.1.79958.0.0.0.0?pp=8&) from Civia.

You can always change to a smaller front chain ring if the gearing is too high.

Also, take a look at the Jamis Commuter 3. It's a decent value.

I vote neither. Both POS.
The Milano has a chain tensioner that totally negates having an IGH.
Having a bottle dyno is like pulling a sled and getting your tire sawed in half.
I happened to have tried a Rocky Mountain with a Alfine8 that was light and zippy.
Have a look around elsewhere.

...the milano has a chain tensioner that totally negates having an igh...
WTF?!! :twitchy:

Can you explain how a chain tensioner "negates having an igh"? If you mean that it takes away from the simplicity of a non-derailed chain line then I understand.

If you're suggesting, however, that an IGH will not work with a chain tensioner then you are dead wrong. In fact, running a chain tensioner gives one the option of using a front derailleur and multiple chainrings to increase gear range.

Take for example the 2010 model of the Jamis Commuter 4 (click on pic for link):

http://i.imgur.com/el8W9l.jpg (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/commuter/10_commuter4.html)

That's a fugly POS also. But the frame rear dropout looks the same as the Brodie.
Get a Brodie "Once" if they want that many gears. A FAR better bike, but more expensive of course.
Overkill for 3 mile rides.

I replaced my rear derailer (Deore) this year and already the pulley wheels are waddling like a duck. POS.

This thread is over 6 years old...

haha
I didn't reopen it. I still found those bikes online. hehe

This thread is over 6 years old...
D'oh! :o