Originally Posted by unkchunk
I've been following this thread, never responded because the OP inquired about long term durability and since I've only had the Nexus 8 for two months now I can't comment on that yet. Nor the riding in anger part. Anyway the derailer vs internal hubs debate has me intrigued. And I won't know where I stand untill I've had mine for at least a year.
If you like it now, then you probably will like it in a year or five too. About durability, then with normal use, and regular maintenance it should last "forever". Get a feel for how your hub rotates now when it is new. When it feels too different, or gritty, then have it serviced, or perhaps get it serviced every spring or autumn if you want to be nice to it by maintain it before any "grittyness" is felt.
Originally Posted by unkchunk
With derailer systems I have a real problem with rusting on the front derailer, especially the clamp to the seat tube and the spring. It's where sweat from my face tends to drip on. The spring is not shielded enough to prevent getting wet, but just enough to prevent me from giving it a good cleaning.
You don't mention age or maker of your derailleur, but it must either be very old or cheap (or both) for it to rust. My bike stands outside probably 11 months a year, never even had trace of rust on my front derailleur (I ride on salted roads to, and even live near the sea). I even checked other old beater bikes on my street, and their (front) derailleurs where nice and shiny underneath the grease and grime. Any quality front derailleur are made of aluminium and stainless steel, and therefore have difficulty rusting. Salt water may corrode aluminium though (it becomes white and brittle). But a thin layer of grease should prevent any significant corrosion.
Regarding the spring, then don't clean it, just paste some grease on it, that protects it from almost anything one can throw at it.
Originally Posted by unkchunk
Also I compared the gear range of my Nexus 8 hub with that of a hypothetical 8 speed rear derailer (based on my old hybrid's cassette). The Nexus's gear inch range is greater so one may have to figure a front derailer, extra crank ring and shifter into the comparison. But then once you add the FD set up, it's range is greater making an apples to apples comparison difficult.
Let's say 9 or 10 speed derailleur. 8 speed derailleur parts are usually very low end and cheap.
The high-low difference (gear range) on a Nexus is 307%
The high-low difference on a 9 speed 11-34 cassette is 309% (and has an extra gear as bonus)
So no need to indcalculate the price of an FD or a double crank.
Originally Posted by unkchunk
Unlike man's free will vs determinism debate, which becomes moot with marriage, the derailer vs internal hub debate goes on.
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Regards