Those guys at NYC Bikes need to start send me comission checks ... at least once a month I reassure people that these are decent wheels (use the search thingy for other people's comments).

I put one of these on my slow ride but its speed has nothing to do with the wheel - unfortunately my BB shell is slowly eating itself (long story). I'll admit that I haven't pushed it too hard and that I have no other coaster brake wheel to compare it to but everything seems works just fine. I wouldn't worry about hills any more than you normally would on a single speed (which, for me, is not at all). It comes with an 18t cog but I bet you could talk them into something else if you wanted.

Also, don't feel like you have to get it off the Bay. They usually have them in stock at the store and most places in CT aren't that far from the city right? I picked mine up while visiting friends and it gave me an excuse to bum around Brooklyn for a while.