One of the bikes I'm considering for purchase has the Alfine 11-speed hub gear, which forces the use of a trigger-shifter. I plan to ride in cold weather, so I'm curious about using (possibly thick) gloves. Is this a problem?

It does not force trigger shifter usage, in fact it can be electronically shifted using Di2 meaning you can use buttons or even put it on a drop bar bike.

However if one were to use it with trigger shifters you would be just fine. It shouldn't be difficult even in thick gloves to shift as long as you can put some pressure on something designed to move.

I have an old MTB with triggers that I ride in the early morning for exercise before work. I have no issues with any gloves including some really thick winter motorcycle gloves that I wear if it's below 40.

Mittens probably wouldn't work well but any gloves should be fine.

Maybe I should have stated that differently. To my knowledge, no one makes a twist-grip shifter for the Alfine 11. And I'm not interested in the electronic shifter.

You'll do better with the trigger-shifter. The twist-grips are harder to find the gear position with thick gloves on, unless the shifter has a really strong detent so you can feel it (in my experience, most don't).

I have a commuter bike with an Alfine 11 and a trigger-shift, and I have ridden it into the low 20s (F) with "lobster mitts". Shifting and brake operation are virtually unaffected.
My dedicated "winter" bike is an old Dahon Mu XL, which had a twist-grip for the Nexus-8 hub. I had a lot of trouble finding the gear positions with the first shifter, which I replaced with another one which was better. Finally I got wise and fitted a trigger-shift. I've ridden this bike down to minus-20 (F) and had no trouble shifting wearing thick gloves (lobster mitts).
Steve

Fair enough. I believe Gevenalle makes a Alfine IGH compatible "Brifter" which would be an excellent choice for winter (it is basically a bar end shifter mounted on the front of a brake lever) and I know I have seen a bar end shifter possibly made by Interloc Racing Designs but I think it was only 8 speed. They may make a new one. You might also get an 11 speed bar end shifter to work with Alfine 11 as well but you would have to check with Shimano about that as I am unsure.

I have some Gevenalle "brifters" on my touring bike (3x9) and I love them, so if you end up going that route you won't be disappointed. I also will put in a plug for Di2 as I have a road bike with it (not IGH though) and it is some of the best shifting you can get because you choose how you want to shift and what the buttons do.

Thanks for all the input. The bike I'm referring to is:

Cyclone | Day 6 Bicycles (Available without a prescription!)

I haven't bought anything yet; I'm still in rehab from my hip replacement, but I like casual exploration and thus upright comfort.

As it is shown, it's pretty close to the limit of my budget for a bare bike. If I thought twist-grips would be a must-have for gloves, I'd probably go with a different bike with an 8-speed IGH. If I get this one, I'll be adding fenders, a rack, lights, some kind of lock, and maybe a luggage case if I can find something affordable and insulated for grocery runs. Tools, of course, and something to store them in.

So, this one just got pushed up a notch among my possible choices. Thanks again!

the Shimano Di2 Alfine 11 ,electronic shifting, just has a up/down button, so would be a light touch..

ALFINE S700 Di2

ALFINE S700 Di2





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Couldn't this be a problem with thick gloves? I guess it depends on how far apart the buttons are... I'm not familiar with this system.
Steve

I've never had my Deore triggers be an issue with winter gloves.

I have worn through a number of thumbs and fingers on gloves due to shifting though. I also had to do the WD flush as the original grease would harden up and the pawl wouldn't catch consistently below 35F or so .

$1479 and a claimed 34 pounds for that bike? I guess because it is something not common but the parts I don't think add up to that amount. Plus I am doubtful of the 34 pound claim, it just seems really light for what it is.

Certainly if the bike is comfortable for you and works for you go for it but I think it might be heavier than claimed and certainly should be a bit cheaper or have nicer parts on it beyond the Alfine 11 hub for the price. It doesn't even have hydraulic brakes which can be done very cheaply from Shimano or Tektro or you can get excellent mechanicals from TRP or Avid in their BB7s.

It's two pounds heavier than the Dream 24, which I was also considering, and it'll get heavier before I'm done, with fenders, a rack, lights, toolkit, etc., etc.

This one is a little beefier, with 12-gauge spokes and, I suspect, some other heavier construction to carry a 300 lb load, as opposed to the 250 for the Dreams.

Funny thing is, they HAD it listed as weighing 54 pounds, and changed that figure after I wrote them to question it.

I'm now also looking at Dutch-style bikes, and most of those weigh at least 45 lbs, but they come off the floor fully equipped for all-weather use, with fenders and chainguards, and often with a dynamo-powered light set. All steel frames, with rare exceptions; some come with businesslike rear racks. They mostly seem to be in the same price bracket as well.

The 54lbs sounds maybe a touch high but not wholly far off.

You can get or build a steel bike with all the useful stuff for a lot less weight. It might be a more fun ride for longer distance rather than a dutch bike.

Unfortunately while the Dutch bikes have all the stuff it is often the cheaper stuff to fit the Dutchistanian style of bikes. They are looking for the same bike as everyone else with parts that aren't worth caring about since they might get "stolen"?ish? not really sure how it works over there.

Fleece Finger Mittens work for me.

I can operate my rapid fire (trigger shifter) bikes and my STI lever (brifters) on my road bike with ski gloves and mittens. It's not fast, I have to pay attention, but it is no trouble. I use mittens below about 25F. Been doing it on bicycles since around 1998. And on motorcycles since about 1968.

I have ridden my three bikes with light flexible mittens over light flexible gloves. The trigger-shifters on my 97 Nishiki Blazer MTB-based commuter are not difficult. The brifters on the Charge Plug are difficult (just the shifting, not the braking), and the indexed downtube shifters on my old road bike are the easiest.

I use these with trigger shifters and they work well for me, they're military surplus. Not very stylish but cheap and they keep your hands warm.