Originally Posted by zzxxyy
Your first reply was that you have never personally tried a Nexus hub.
Yes. I do however have some internal gear hub experience since at least five bikes (that I can remember) had internal gears, if it is my general experience regarding internal gear hubs you are fishing for.
Originally Posted by zzxxyy
I have however tried a deraileur system (for about 10 years now), and am contemplating a Nexus Inter-8, Shimano's "Ultegra" level system, for commuting purposes simply because I am tired of destroying my drivetrain.
I am sorry to hear you are destroying your derailleurs all the time, but I really have a hard time believing that you actual are wearing out quality derailleurs. If your derailleurs are destroyed, I politely suggest that they either where made of an inferior quality that pricewise doesn't compare to a expensive Nexus 8 hub, or that they were destroyed by other means than wear (crashes etc).
Regarding that someone (Shimano?) tries to designate the Nexus 8 as an "Ultegra" level hub, then I only regard it as a clever marketing ploy. I would be really surprised if Shimano actually wrote "Ultegra" on either the hub, or in their official marketing brochures. I do own a so called "Ultegra" level Shimano Dynamo hub; it doesn't quite actually have the word "Ultegra" on it, but Shimano seems to be good about spreading the word that some of their "Inter" components are of "Ultegra" level, without actually committing it to paper anywhere.
I do think however that the Shimano Nexus 8 probably is a fine hub compared to the many cheap hubs out there, though perhaps not comparable to their 105/Ultegra level.
Originally Posted by zzxxyy
IAnd whilst I have never tried a Nexus system (yet), I would think a single sprocket, thick BMX steel one, would last longer than a cassette, probably 3 cassettes even. As for chains, it is even better economy. Note that I am a year-round commuter including winter, and part of my route goes through foresty trails. Mud, grit, dirt, hills, salt, puddles, roads, etc etc. 35km daily.
Well, if you ever get to ride more than 21.000 miles (cassette x3) without needing to change your rear sprocket, please yell "I was right. I told you so 'interested' !" and feel very satisfied.
Personally I think that it is the other way around, based on what on what I hear from people riding fixies, and based on the fact that I see and hear that people having chain problems on their internal gear hubs.
When eg. installing a new chain on a internal gear hub bike, chain tensioning is important, since too tight a chain means heavy wear. As the chain "stretches" chain tensioning falls and the wheel needs readjustment, or one risks that the chain falls of, this often happens up hill, or when people really stomp on their pedals. If one carries a wrench it is easy to put the chain on again, but preventive maintenance is better.
I really don't think that chain budget looks different; I can get just as cheap low end chains for my derailleur as those used on internal gear hubs. internal gear hub on the other hand really has no other options; no nickle-chrome plated SRAM chains for you!
Originally Posted by zzxxyy
I hope the Nexus lasts alot longer than my deraileur system!
If you maintain it, it probably will last you a long time. If you ignore maintenance it will break at some point.
My point is however, that a Ultegra+105 derailleur and hub system, would be lighter, cheaper, gives more shifting options, more gears (especially if going double crank), has lower friction, lower maintenance (feel free to disagree, as long as you actually do maintenance on your Nexus), has longer or equal service life, besides allows the use of QR's and Nickle-chrome chains.
I am not trying convince you that you shouldn't buy the Nexus hub, it is your bike, use whatever you like on it. But I do hope to have dispelled some myths surrounding deraillers and internal gear hubs.
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Regards