Mountain Biking - IGH mountain bike

If I start off with a single speed mb, what would be the best IGH to convert to? The Nexus 8?

Is this a common setup for a mountain bike?

didnn't find much of anything searching...

The Nexus hub is spec'ed on hybrids and city bikes. The Alfine is a more rugged hub and better suited to mountain bike applications.

Rohloff - not cheap though.

http://www.rohloff.de/en/products/speedhub/

I have an Alfine on my misfit and my Jabberwocky, I love 'em.

Here's a link with lots of MTBs running IGHs
http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=154

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=449329

The Nexus hub is spec'ed on hybrids and city bikes. The Alfine is a more rugged hub and better suited to mountain bike applications.

The Nexus 8R36 has the same internals as the Alfine 501. Alfine can take a disc, Nexus is roller brake (or coaster if you get the 8R31). Both have have the great seals. The older Nexus 8R20/21/25/27 are not well sealed.

Would it be better to start with horizontal or track-style drops?

If you're buying a frame, I'd go for something with SS style dropouts (horizontal/sliders) or EBB. Most folks don't want to use a chain tensioner, IMHO it's more a style issue than a performance issue. If you already have a frame with vert dropouts it'll be OK with an IGH, just need a tensioner.

I am a big fan of the Shimano nexus8/alfine hubs. I've been using them in various bicycles for the toughest applications for three years (two years off road).

I hammer the pedals hard and weigh 150-180 lbs (pack depending). The alfine is not officially approved for off road use and I cannot vouche for heavier off roaders on this hub.

IGH off road advice:
1 use sheldon brown's IGH gear calculator, figure gearing for a bike you are familiar riding, and then find which gear combination serves you best with your IGH. If you do your homework, you may be very satisfied with the gear range of this hub. My setup spins up steeps, but tops out around 15MPH, which I think is quite fast for pedaling on single track.

2 don't buy the shimano nexus grip shifter, spring for the nexus/alfine trigger shifter

3 though difficult with horizontal dropouts and a drive side chain tug, find a way to use BOTH non-turn washers. I stripped my axle and lost a day of riding by only using one non-turn washer (http://evinem.blogspot.com/2010/08/planetary-spin.html).

4 maintain a properly adjusted cable (line up the two yellow marks in 4th gear) and you'll never do maintainence on this hub.

5 carry some improvised tool to make cable removal/install easier. I carry a spoke which fits into the alfine shift linkage and easily relieves cable tension for removing the anchor nut. Flat tires do happen-be prepared.

6 smile big when you downshift instantly and clean a technical section your derailleur friends couldn't find the gear for, draft friends on boring road descents, and smile bigger when you are kicking back while your friends are cleaning their drive trains.

P.S. I'm excited Shimano is bringing back oil bath lubrication with their 11 spd IGH. My hubs wear out, and it is easier and more wasteful to replace than overhaul them. The 11spd hub is more expensive, but you get what you pay for (exept Rohloff=more work-e and less pedal-e) oil will make it easy to maintain and promote a longer lasting hub.

If you have big man bawlz...and a fatty weed-wad rolled up in yo shizzle...then Rohloff is the only hub for you's. I've heard great things about our friend Alfine in the off road circles though.

A history of my buddie's time with his Alfine (http://goatshell.blogspot.com/search?q=alfine).

Alfine sounds like the po'-man's Rohloff that I've been looking for, for sure. Alas, I'm back to a bike with 150mm hub spacing. Dang.

Doug,

Would be rather good with the Diamondback. ;)

^^ I was thinking the same thing. And if it can hold up to a torque monster such as yourself, it should do fine with creaky old me.

Can always move it to the 575 that I envision in my future, too.