Bingo. You stole my thunder. I've seen the "Chainless" bicycle and shaft is heavy and you won't find the weight of the device because it's probably 5 pounds! The Nexus 7 hub maybe durable but I've discovered that a cassette is more efficient than any internal gear bike out there. I've been able to climb most hills with my Nexus 7 bike but I can certainly see a need for more gears.

The Chainless bicycle would be good for a junk commuter that stays outside in the rain, snows and mud. It would be good for a town bike or a beach cruiser where you're more than willing to make compromises in efficiencies for bike that can withstand punishment.

The Chainless bicycle would not be good for Tandams, Road bikes, Cross, recumbents, MTBs and Touring bikes. The Nexus 7 does not have enough gears and was not designed for MTBs

The author also mentions about the $1,000.00 German Speedhub as an alternative to the Nexus 7. First, you can never leave that hub on a junk commuter that will stay out in the snow, rain and mud as it will get damaged or stolen. Second, the Speedhub is large and heavy which is why it should not go on a light weight roadbike or cyclocross. Third, the Speedhub does not have enough gears for a recumbent or Touring bike. Fourth, the Speedhub was not designed for the kind of punishment that an MTB requires or you'll break the internals. So what kind of bike do you use the $1,000.00 dollar German Speedhub??

Good question. I've been trying to find out that answer myself. It guess you would put it on a town bike for commuting purposes but the Nexus 7 or Sram Spectro 7 work just fine for that kind of cycling. Heck! Even a Sturmey Archer 3 speed works OK as a town bike.

Folks. The German Speedhub are for those folks who want to show everyone they have money to burn.