Need IGH Advice
I'm going to be picking up an old lugged Schwinn soon as a project and is like to turn it into a cool commuter. I know I want an internally geared hub but I'm not sure which one. From what I've read the Rohloffs are way out of my price range and the Sturmey Archers seem to have a bad reputation. The Shimano hubs seem to have a pretty good approval rating.
My question to you all is which is best base on your experiences?
I'll be using this build as an all around commuter. Bar hopping, going to work, light errands, etc.
I'm 26, weigh just under 200lbs, live in an urban area that has some hills and gravel roads/trails. This build is going to be slow so I'll have time to save money if need be but I think $300ish is a good starting point for price.
I'd like to know more details on owning one of these hubs. Things like removing the rear wheel in case of a flat, maintenance, associated costs, compatibility, etc.
Any detail or tip or little known fact would be great to know before I commit.