Originally Posted by
Jaywalk3r
If you want to use derailers, fine. It's your choice to make. But you're kidding yourself if you believe their popularity somehow makes them a superior choice. Choosing an IGH for its increased reliability is reasoning at least as valid.
Reliability... perhaps. Haven't seen any comparative data.
Durability... that's relative. Cassette cogs aren't the most durable things in the world, but they are a heck of a lot easier to replace at any bike shop along the way. When the IGH gears wear out, they are done. I like the ability to limp back home come the worst case scenario. But, I'm biased, I had a manual transmission on a car fail on me before due to poor shimming at the factory.
Rebuildability... derailleur systems, hands down. I suppose if you have money to burn and are willing to wait a week in a hotel for a replacement hub, more power to you. Even a replacement frame would be easier to find in the field than a replacement IGH.
Personally, I love the simplicity of IGH but I would only use it on my commuter, not on a cross country touring bike. If you ride back and forth across the country enough times with both systems, both will fail. One can be fixed at any bike shop along the way. The other is tour ending in most cases. But whatever, it's all hypothetical without real world experience.