You are reading a single comment by @Velocio and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
-
Alfine hubs are famed for their unreliability. But they are much cheaper than a Rohloff so don't totally destroy the price of a new bike fitted with one.
Velocio-
@frank9755 the 8 is more reliable than the 11 as it’s greased rather than oil bath. They have their place, on hybrids/Dutch bikes/commuter folders... they are all inefficient though and don’t handle watts. I killed a nexus 8 in a few months of commuting. Mrs TM has an affine 8 on her tourer and it has been great.
TM
Interesting, I know nothing about Alfine hubs. I assumed the sheer impractically of trying to ride on a heavy, flexible, uncomfortable, non-aero frame would be what would make him scratch, but from that it sounds like the hub could pack in.
It's all very well trying to do it on a comedy bike for laughs and sponsor attention but if you want to make it harder, what most people do is take the best bike they've got and ride faster.