Like lots of people on this thread I was interested in this hub, but also a bit suspicious, after all bike CVT systems have a history of vapourware.

So, the only way to find out was to get hold of one.

Luckily due to the weak dollar I managed to get hold of a MK1 (more on that later) hub for a reasonable price. This was laced to a 406 rim to go on my Dahon minibike, rigged up for commuting.

My commute is 8 miles each way over a small hill with a gravel tow path and some heavy city traffic thrown in.

I liked it a lot.

Here's a mini review to give people something to discuss.

Weight: It's heavy, somewhere over 4kg just for the hub. When riding you don't notice the weight, it's low down and behind you. The only time you notice it is when you actually pick the bike up.

Friction and losses: Ok, there are some, this will never be able to be as efficient as a clean, well adjusted single speed or even a derailleur set up, HOWEVER, it's no worse than any hubs I've ridden and perfectly acceptable for non-racing use. It does prefer being spun to mashing but I've never managed to get it to slip (I'm the wrong side of 100kg)

Range: The range is 350%, compared to