Originally Posted by
noglider
My feeling is impossible to quantify precisely, but if you are a 15+ mph rider, you're conceiving a bike that's too heavy. My cruising speed is slower than yours, around 14 mph, and I don't want drum brakes or IGH's because of the weight penalty. But I would not worry about internal friction. I doubt it makes much difference. I use a dynamo front hub on two of my bikes, and I can't discern the drag they create.
Originally Posted by
kickstart
That describes most bikes other than cruisers, or BMX bikes........depending on the engine of course.
Thanks to both of you for your honest opinions. I think I really just have to find an IGH bike and take it for a serious ride, instead of just around the parking lot. Maybe I'll just try to put an IGH on one of my bikes first, to see if I'll notice the difference. Then, if I like it, build a bike up around it.