Originally Posted by
mdilthey
First off, I can accurately check my tire pressure by hand because I've done it a few thousand times. I know when it's low within 10-20 PSI from experience.
I have my doubts, but for arguments sake, lets say you're that skilWithin 10-20 PSI isn't precise enough to be useful. It certainly isn't precise enough to keep your efficiency within a 2 percent range.
Originally Posted by
mdilthey
2% on the Rolhoff adds to everything else. of course, you can say it's "nothing to worry about" as a response, but the numbers are the point. 2% less efficient on an otherwise 99% efficiency form of transportation over tens of thousands of miles matters to some.
A derailer equipped bike is nowhere near 99 percent efficient. 99 percent efficient is a no frill fixed gear bike, well maintained, with a perfectly straight chainline, ridden at very low speeds.
Originally Posted by
mdilthey
Not if you die of old age before going through 15 derailleurs.
Let's compare like against like. You aren't going to buy 15 derailer systems of Rohloff quality for the price of a single Rohloff hub. And there's more to the cost of a derailer system than the purchase price of a rear derailer. The chains are more expensive. Steel sprockets and chainrings aren't readily available, so fast wearing aluminum ones must be used. Maintenance isn't free, unless your time is worth nothing and you do it yourself. Total cost of ownership favors the Rohloff.
Originally Posted by
mdilthey
Both fail, one is replaceable. At any rate, your own anecdotal data seems to guide you like a freight train, smashing through the acceptance of any logic other than your own. So, roll on...
Nonsense. Both may fail, but one of them is much more likely to do so. If the expected repair cost of option A is 9x more than the expected repair cost of option B, but option B is 10x more likely to fail, then option A is the better choice. In the case of Rohloff versus derailers, the increased reliability makes up for the increased cost in the unlikely event of failure.