4 ms·
They need very little maintenance. But they are very expensive. e.g. https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/rohloff/ https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/rohloff/
by bloat 4y ago
They need very little maintenance. But they are very expensive.
e.g. https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/rohloff/ https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/rohloff/
- 323 4y agoBut you still don't see them on very pricey bikes ($15k+). So they are very expensive, without being premium, which is a weird place to be.
- bloat 4y agoI've mostly heard of them being used for people doing giant international tours where they want something that just will not break. Seems like a very niche market though!
- wl 4y agoThe $15k+ bikes are race bikes, which are probably never going to have internally geared hubs because they're too heavy and add too much drivetrain loss. Rohloff hubs are fairly common on high end ($5k+) bikepacking and touring bikes.
- hannasanarion 4y agoBikes in the $15k plus range are probably targeted at professional sport cyclists, who need to adhere to UCI equipment regulations, which include the requirement for a chain-derailleur drive. If you want to know what's premium for everyday utility cycling, look at the ebike space, where people are shelling out thousands for bicycles just to use them a vehicles. Hub gears are not dominant, but are very well represented on price points over $2k.
- nradov 4y agoThere are also triathlon bikes in the $15k plus range which don't comply with UCI rules. But the efficiency loss makes hub gears useless for that market.
- Xylakant 4y agoYou picked about the most expensive option, there’s quite a few that are fine for commuter bikes, but cost substantially less. The Shimano Alfine series for example. But except for the Rohloff, they all have a smaller gear range than a derailleur, so there are tradeoffs.