Originally Posted by
dabac
I don't think anyone replying in this thread considers it normal, as such. I'd expect pretty much any IGH to give years of good service under normal riding conditions with modest to no maintenance.
With that said, there are a few known issues.
Even if problems are relatively rare, there will always be some within that group that are more common - or less rare - than others.
Having the shifting go out of tune as the cabling settles in on a new bike is one of them.
Putting the power down before a gear has engaged fully is another. And some hubs do come with torque(ie tooth count) limitations, implying that it'd be possible to do damage to a hub if, you're a stronger-than-average rider.
So, what you have is "normal, given the conditions". And we don't know the conditions good enough. The hub issues, during entirely regular riding conditions = not normal.
The hub issues - assuming a power rider and maybe a shifter that has slipped some = not so surprising.
I meant, that I'm surprised the LBS isn't helping with a little more enthusiasm. They seem to be doing surface repairs, have done so several times, will be content to do that until they can sell him the next bike, and are making seemingly no attempt to get a solution that is more in keeping with the OP's needs and wants for the bike he has purchased - a reliable bike for commuting and city use, in which cranking on the pedals is sometimes required.
They seem arrogant, less than competent and uncaring. I'd be looking for a more competent bike shop that is also more honest and forthcoming with sound advice.
I did not intend to say that the participants in this thread are arrogant, less than competent and uncaring.