Thread: Igh
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Old 01-20-16 | 02:28 PM
  #26  
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I-Like-To-Bike
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Burlington Iowa

Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi

Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
Every time that I starting thinking about IGH I ask myself what I have to gain and I don't have an answer.
2. I've had some bad experiences fixing flat tires on IGH bikes. It feels to me like converting a 5 or 10 minute roadside task into a 30 minute shop job.
I have decades of experience riding bikes with S-A and Sachs 3 speeds and Sachs/SRAM IGH 7 speed hubs. I don't know why some people have such difficulty taking the wheel on or off. Using a wrench (adjustable or fixed) to loosen the axle nuts adds perhaps 30 seconds to the task for a 3 speed. Loosening and reattaching and adjusting the gear shift chain perhaps one minute. The seven speed click box removal from axle requires taking the right axle nut off and putting it back on, perhaps one minute but doesn't require loosening or adjusting a gear shift change. Adjusting tension of the drive chain while tightening the wheel adds perhaps 10 seconds to the task.

Reasons why I like IGH:
1. Mine are equipped with coaster brakes which perform flawlessly with no maintenance after decades of use in all weather and temperature conditions and are 100% reliable when wet. Stories about alleged failures while riding the brakes during 4 mile descents and other similar scary tales do not have much impact on my more prosaic cycling activity. Allows me to keep a hand free of the handlebars to carry a drink, package or do whatever and still have brakes available. I used to ride a 1969 Raleigh Sprite that came equipped with a S-A 5 speed IGH which was a wonderful bike and hub but did not have coaster brakes so I did not keep it for a move overseas. It had two shifter cables so probably took an extra one or two minutes adjusting the cable tension when reassembling the rear wheel to the bike.
2. Can shift to appropriate gear while stopped.
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