I also built an internal geared road bike w/ a nexus 8. I road it for a couple of thousand miles and while it was fun, I found that I preferred a geared bike for my commute (15mi each way and some large hills). I built up a 1x9 steel framed commuter to replace it. Contrary to what many people say on this board, I find I have virtually no matinence issues w/ derailleur equipped bikes. I run my shifters in friction mode and Shimano drivetrane component are plentiful, cheap and reliable. Like Jeffbeerman, I found chaning flats on the rear tire on the Nexus a pain. If I were the OP, I would look for a used bike on ebay/CL and use the extra money on upgrades. I got a 2007 SOMA Double Cross (Which I now use as my commuter) on ebay complete with Ultegra 9 speed, ready to go and shipped for $600. Deals are out there if you are willing to look. Spend some time test riding bikes locally to get a feel for what you actually want/need.