Originally Posted by
interested
...The problem with the Nexus 8 hub wasn't the cup-and-cone system as such, but bad sealing and perhaps low end cups.
Be careful when you say "Nexus", there's lots of versions. The newer 8R35 and 8R36 have the Alfine guts and sealing, very nice!
Both Sram and Shimano gear shifting can suffer from frozen condensation water in cables...I have no idea whether the Sram IGH grease are less likely than Shimano IGH grease to gum up when it is very cold.
I have run the Alfine, Nexus 8R35 and im9 in cold temp. The im9 froze up at ~20*F, the shifter on the hub isn't sealed very well and it freezes. The Alfine and Nexus ran to ~ -20*F without freezing. The Alfine/Nexus shifter is sealed and doesn't allow water in. Alfine and new Nexus hubs have very good sealing. The can take complete immersion while riding through streams with no water intrusion.