It's a Giant Seek 0 with 8-speed IGH and hydraulic brakes. I am seriously thinking of picking it up. I like the idea of an IGH for its simplicity, and hydro brakes are appealing to me as well.

yes. perfect as there's no rim wear (assuming not Magura rim crushers)

belt is better but still not so widely available.

I've been commuting on bikes with IGH for 15 years, and find this type of hub pretty much ideally suited to the task. Especially on 20" wheels, where the chain doesn't get too close to the road. I have two 8-speed hubs, which can be swapped without any readjustment. Maintenance is simple: a once-a-year dip of the gear cluster in gear oil. I've also got a commuter bike with an Alfine 11, which has all the benefits of the 8-speed, plus even easier maintenance: an oil change every 700 miles or so... the wheel doesn't even have to come off the bike.
I've also done Centuries on 8- and 11-speed IGHs, so they're not just for commuting!
Steve

IMHO, a geared hub works well for commuting and utility riding. Also touring and going for ice cream- not sure why IGH don't get the attention they deserve?
3 spd SA and 8 spd Nexus red band have served me well.

As intriguing as this bike is to me I guess I'm trying to decide if I want to ride a hybrid bike. All my bikes have drop bars and I've been quite happy commuting with any of them. I imagine that Alfine IGH would be quite heavy as well. The total bike might be in the 30-lb range. Then rack and fenders would add another couple of pounds.

Hmm. I might be talking myself out of it.

Given your focus on pounds and drop bars, it may not be the best choice.

Over the past 30 years I've commuted on an old Schwinn 10-speed, modern road bike, converted MTB, vintage 3-speed cruiser, and now a flat-bar 8-speed IGH with hydraulic discs and belt drive. I'm enjoying the cleanliness, simplicity, quietness, and comfort on rough roads of this bike. Outfitted with fenders and a dynohub, it's a perfect 'jump on and ride day or night' utility bike. It's neither fast nor light.

the weight isnt that bad. since i had to start riding upright i love it. the adjustment isnt all that big of a deal. especially when your neck is killing you if you dont.

maybe an electronically shifted Alfine 11 speed will allow you to fit the shift buttons on your drop bar choice ..



I have Trekking bars on my Grip Shifted IGH, but its a Rohloff .. there is the after market Roh Box

and modified Campag or Sram Brifters that the folks at Cycle Monkey offer .. for drop bar users of that hub....

Rack and fenders will add the same amount of weight to a bike with drop bars and a derailler setup.

Eh, maybe. But if you were smart about it, there's no reason you couldn't build up a spritely modern Clubman.

is it ok if i hijack this thread a wee bit? it's just I've heard horror stries about some IGHs (insanely priced oil baths, massive unreliability, etc), and i wondered what your recommendations would be?

I'm riding a Kona Africabike, maybe 12 miles a day, most of it along a shared path and with a couple of steep bits. so heavy bike, heavy rider, and a couple of heavy hills - i feel like this is a fair amount (or perhaps even too much) to ask of an IGH?

The madness has passed.

There was good reason I converted two hybrid type bikes to drop bars a few years ago--I like road bikes with drop bars. Sure, the idea of an IGH is appealing, as does the hydro brakes, but perhaps more for novelty reasons than utility. I don't mind working on bikes. In fact, I enjoy it.

What I really want is a road bike with hydro brakes and electronic shifting...but that's another thread.

I'm 210 pounds. I've got a Nexus 8-speed hub with over 8,000 miles on it and an Alfine 11 with over 5,000 on it. Routine maintenance: annual oil dip for the Nexus and oil change for the Alfine every 6-700 miles. Neither of these hubs is terribly expensive; you may be thinking of the Rohloff Speedhub, but that's pretty much in a league of its own. I'd venture to say that the most important thing about IGH reliability, aside from regular maintenance, is keeping the shift cable adjusted so the hub isn't slipping and damaging the gears.
Steve

The bike has been sold, and no wonder either. It was an excellent deal, well below what was listed on BBB.

Just as well. Sometimes it's better not have to make that decision yourself.

Now, about that TCR Advanced 1 Disc...