Originally Posted by
vsanthos
I had no idea such things existed. I'm going to do a bit of research to see if my bike could be converted and what it would cost. I've done some searching and the response to IGH systems seems Luke warm at best. Does anyone here have personal experience? I'd think a 3/5 speed would work does my needs, but being out of shape in a hilly area worries me.
My commuter bike has an Alfine 8. I've never had a problem getting up hills on it. Although it's not my favorite bike (the frame is very rigid and gives a harsh ride), I like the IGH in traffic because of the ease and simplicity of shifting. It's a dead easy don't-have-to-think-about-it kind of bike. I also like it in winter because snow and ice don't affect the drivetrain, whereas cogs and derailleurs tend to get frozen up.
Internally geared hubs have been around for about a century. The Sturmey-Archer 3 speed was the standard on everyday transportation bikes for decades in Europe. IGH bikes are still the most popular choice in places like Holland where people ride for practical reasons, because they can run a long time on virtually no maintenance.
How low your bottom gear is can be adjusted by using a smaller chainring or larger rear cog - the entire range drops when you do that. The drawback is, any annoying gaps in the gearing are still there. But, after a while you stop noticing.