Hub gears vs derailleur gear
 

Which one would you guys suggest for a bike getting to work and around NYC? This would be my first bike in 10+ yrs.

I think you'll be directed toward a single speed bike.

I ride hub gears myself and would recommend them for their ease of use with commuting.

It depends on what you want. Hub gears are easier to keep clean if you ride in sloppy conditions, but depending on your setup can make wheel removal for flat repair a little more involved. Internally geared hubs are not offered as commonly on as many different types of bikes. Derailleur gears won't shift if you're not pedaling, so it requires a little more advance planning when you stop at intersections. (Oh, this is NYC - maybe I should say IF you stop at intersections! :P)

You'll hear a lot about how derailleur gears need adjustment - I find that mine need 30 seconds of turning the adjuster nut once a year. An internally geared hub might require a little turn of the adjuster nut once a year or so to take up cable stretch - pick your poison. :)

Honestly, I'd pay more attention to finding a type of bike I liked before worrying about what sort of gearing it has. If you find you're really attracted to a particular bike, there's no reason to not get it because of the gearing system it has.

I just bought an IGH bike because I rode through the winter last year and got sick and tired of cleaning my drivetrain. For a fair-weather bike I prefer the lower cost/weight savings of a derailleur system. My advice - do what I did and buy both! :D

NYC hardly has any hills. Get a singlespeed. Low maintenance since you don't have to clean and tune the derailleurs and cassette. All you have to do is make sure the chain is clean and lubed. In most cases singlespeeds make for a lighter bike since it does not have gears.

I recommend the Jamis Beatnik http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...0_beatnik.html or the Jamis Spuntnik http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...0_sputnik.html

Plenty of other options for singlespeed too.

+1. The Jamis bikes are nice, and there are a ton of other commute-friendly singlespeeds out there as well. If you're in/near NYC, you have plenty of shops and hence plenty of opportunity to try before you buy.

SS or IGH would be my vote, unless you are looking purely for a fairweather ride, which opens more options, IMO. Alot depends on your preferred riding style, your budget, etc.

For Singlespeed, the Salsa Casseroll SS is a killer deal http://salsacycles.com/bikes/casseroll_single/ as is the Masi "Speciale Commuter" http://www.masibikes.com/fixed/speciale-commuter/

The entire line of Swobo bikes is pretty sweet for a variety of needs http://www.swobo.com/bikes/collection/

Raleigh has some nice bikes out there in the American market, namely the One Way http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/steel-road/one-way-11/ Clubman http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/steel-road/clubman-11/

Anyway, the list is pretty endless until you dial in your own preferences and needs.

If it has been a while since you've been on a bike, it might be a good idea to test ride a variety - upright, flat bar, drop bar, derailleur, IGH, single speed, aluminum, chromoly....................

It's a fun time to be in the market for a bike.

There's also the used marketplace, such as eBay and craigslist, but you have to sift through alot of junk to find the jewels.

I think the hub bike has advantages in the city. It's nice to switch gears at a stop. It's nice to never concern yourself with the chain falling off due to gear changes. The biggest plus for me is that you can get a hub bike with a chain guard, which keeps it much cleaner than a derailleur bike's chain. I go months before I clean my chain.

I've got both bikes now, since I bought my Giant Rapid, and while I enjoy that bike I remain convinced that for city riding the hub gear bike is best.

I ride derailleur bikes, but highly recommend IGH bikes. My wife has one and the chains last forever, the bike requires almost no maintenance, and shifts flawlessly. It also has a chain guard and full fenders. She love it, and I would strongly consider buying one in the future for myself.