Originally Posted by jpooch00
If I were planning a trip like that, I would go with the simplest and most robust drivetrain with the easiest-to-find/replace parts and a proven track record (Shimano).
There's absolutely no way I'd trust something as complex and delicate as a 14 speed hub to get me around the world - or anywhere else that was farther than walking distance from home, for that matter.
Best of luck with your choice and your trip!
Regards,
John
I'm not trying to start anything here, but I've used both systems. In fact, I still use a traditional Shimano setup on my road bike. Have you got experience with both systems? No? You say the Rohloff is delicate, but trust me on this, I MTB some pretty rough terrain, and have bent, cracked, or otherwise broken many Shimano parts while in the same challenging conditions my Rohloff keeps on doing it's best impression of a Timex. Two years, one oil change and NO adjustments or problems, whatsoever. If you are really interested in finding out about these things, read some reviews. You will find that although some people don't like them, not one complained about the delicate nature of this piece of equipment...
Just to clarify my last post, my bike uses adjustable dropouts which allows me to size my chain and then adjust effective chainstay length for chain tension (think singlespeed), negating the need for a tensioner. If you mount this hub on a frame with standard dropouts you will need a tensioner.