Originally Posted by kf5nd
1. How much speed will the dynamo lights suck away? If I would normally cruise at 15 MPH, what could I expect? 13 - 14 MPH?
2. How much speed will fenders suck away, given a no-fender speed of 15 MPH?
3. Is the Shimano Nexus internally geared hub as efficient as derailleurs? If not, how much power loss is anticipated? I live in a climate without snow and ice, no road salt. So are there compelling reasons at all for me to select an internally geared hub?
Thanks for all of your help. I know that some of these questions have been asked many times, but a new summary may be useful to have.
1. The dynamo lights on the Breezer from what I heard is the weakest component on the bike. You're better off disabling these lights once they break down and use rechargable.
2. The fenders will suck speed but what is a major issue is the geometry. The Breezer is fine for short commutes (less than 15 miles) because the straight up sitting position will mean every wind will end up being a head wind. I also believe that a road bike with 700 cc wheels are more desirable than one with 26' inch. If anything, performance will be much like riding a mountain bike.
3. The Nexus 7 speed is not as efficient as a cassette. The only reason you would go this route is if you had to deal with rain, snow, salt, mud and ice. Since these are not an issue, you would never choose a hub geared bicycle. The Nexus 7 (which has no direct drive) feels like I have a couple of water bottles attached to the rear wheel.