Geared hub on work commuter, worth it?
Discussion
My current work steed needs some new wheels. Set I’ve picked out are £300 with a few other bits. For £600 I can get a new bike with much better wheels but it has an 8sp shimano geared hub and belt drive on it.
I do 10 miles a day with a relatively flat run.
Has anyone any experience of geared hubs please?
I do 10 miles a day with a relatively flat run.
Has anyone any experience of geared hubs please?
I have a Genesis Day One with a 8 speed Nexus hub, commuted all year round in all weathers for two years. Being able to change gear when you're not moving is surprisingly handy too, you don't need to remember to change down when you stop at lights.
I think I've replaced the chain once and I'm about to do it again.
Zero maintenance, just need to adjust the horizontal dropouts as the chain slowly stretches over time.
Previously I had normal gears and was replacing bits of geartrain constantly.
I think I've replaced the chain once and I'm about to do it again.
Zero maintenance, just need to adjust the horizontal dropouts as the chain slowly stretches over time.
Previously I had normal gears and was replacing bits of geartrain constantly.
My commute is about 4 miles / 15 minutes each way. I use a Dutch bike with 8 speed hub gears and its absolutely fine from a riding perspective including a reasonable hill I have to tackle.
Obviously it’s very different from a normal road or mtb but I think I’ll always go hub geared for my commuter bike now, even if just for the maintenance/weather resistance aspect.
Obviously it’s very different from a normal road or mtb but I think I’ll always go hub geared for my commuter bike now, even if just for the maintenance/weather resistance aspect.
Wins on low maintenance, reliability.. downside (IMO) if it borks then it's not something you can fix. Don't have any figures, but feel like it's noticeably more draggy than a conventional derailleur setup (shimano alfine 8) - in the 1:1 gear it seemed to go a lot better than any of the others.
For a commuter, it'd get a yes from me.
For a commuter, it'd get a yes from me.
I ran a Sturmey Archer 3 speed for 14 years.
Initially 5 mile commute in York (fairly flat) then 5 mile commute in Derby (not so flat).
The bike got little attention apart from tyres, an occasional wash, and oil added to the gearbox but after 13 years and approx 30,000 miles it needed a gearbox overhaul which cost about £50 in 1994. It felt expensive then but I guess it had earned it.
I think it is still in my father's garage.
Largely maintenance free cycling
Initially 5 mile commute in York (fairly flat) then 5 mile commute in Derby (not so flat).
The bike got little attention apart from tyres, an occasional wash, and oil added to the gearbox but after 13 years and approx 30,000 miles it needed a gearbox overhaul which cost about £50 in 1994. It felt expensive then but I guess it had earned it.
I think it is still in my father's garage.
Largely maintenance free cycling
Always thought a hub gear makes a lot of sense for commuting. Low maintenance, low hassle. Perhaps a bit heavier, and the epicyclic gear sets they use are not quite as efficient, as someone already said. But the pros outweigh the cons for daily use in all weather.
ETA with a belt drive too, the perfect set up for your needs.
ETA with a belt drive too, the perfect set up for your needs.
dontlookdown said:
ETA with a belt drive too, the perfect set up for your needs.
Belt drive is really bad news, spares are hard to find and sprockets are 3 times the price of geared set up, with a chain set up you can almost get spares from anywhere, little or no chance of that with belt.wpa1975 said:
Belt drive is really bad news, spares are hard to find and sprockets are 3 times the price of geared set up, with a chain set up you can almost get spares from anywhere, little or no chance of that with belt.
I can imagine spares are hard to get at present, yes. that's a fair point. OTOH you won't need many if the belt/hub combo lasts much longer, as they are reputed to do. dontlookdown said:
wpa1975 said:
Belt drive is really bad news, spares are hard to find and sprockets are 3 times the price of geared set up, with a chain set up you can almost get spares from anywhere, little or no chance of that with belt.
I can imagine spares are hard to get at present, yes. that's a fair point. OTOH you won't need many if the belt/hub combo lasts much longer, as they are reputed to do. I ran a belt-drive commuter bike for 5 years, doing 10k a day for 3 days a week. In that time I had to replace one set of (tubeless) tyres and one set of disc brake pads. Plus some longer trips here and there when panniers and bike packing stuff.
Belt worked perfectly and only maintenance was an oil purge and fill on the 11 speed Alfine hub once a year. A 5 minute job.
I never washed the bike.
It worked flawlessly. The belt showed almost no sign of wear, sprockets also perfectly fine.
I would totally recommend it. Only reason I sold it was covid and the change to working from home much more meant I could swap it for a gravel bike (I have a wife who doesn’t agree about the n+1 rule……..)
If I was commuting as frequently again, I’d not hesitate to buy one again.
Belt worked perfectly and only maintenance was an oil purge and fill on the 11 speed Alfine hub once a year. A 5 minute job.
I never washed the bike.
It worked flawlessly. The belt showed almost no sign of wear, sprockets also perfectly fine.
I would totally recommend it. Only reason I sold it was covid and the change to working from home much more meant I could swap it for a gravel bike (I have a wife who doesn’t agree about the n+1 rule……..)
If I was commuting as frequently again, I’d not hesitate to buy one again.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff