Beautiful hub gear commuters, do they exist?

Hello everyone,

I've been lurking your forum for a couple of weeks now (don't even remember how I discovered it) and finally had the courage to post here. I've always loved cycling and I have always been far more interested in bicycles than I have been with cars or any other vehicles. For me, how the bike looks like is just as important as how it feels to ride. The problem is that I find most of the bikes they make these days really ugly. I hate the thick aluminium frames, I don't like the colors or the matt finishing many bikes seem to have, and the forks.. well they look like some fat mans legs. I guess this is why I love the bikes in the "bike porn" & "RGR Risers Gonna Raise (hybrid commuted geared bikes) "Fitness" "dadbike"..." threads. Many bikes in those threads are absolutely gorgeous!

One of the biggest reasons I am writing here is because I've been trying to find a new bike, and was wondering - because it seems that I share a somewhat similar taste with at least some of you - if any of you would know any bikes to recommend. What I am looking for is a flat bar commuter with hub gears, preferably Alfine 8 or 11 that would actually look good. I know most of you probably use and prefer external gear hub and derailleur, but I'd like to have a commuter with as little maintenance as possible, and a single gear just won't do it because there are so many hills on my way to school & work.

As much as I don't like how the modern bikes look like, I have found a couple of decent ones which I might consider getting. One of the problems is that they're either no longer available, or they're not sold here in Finland. I just can't imagine buying a bike before I've been able to ride it. Anyways, here are few bikes that I've found which I kind of like. If you know anything similar I'd be really happy if you could post them here.

Trek Zektor B (2017):

Revolution Shadow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6toyOgd6nM

Boardman URB 8.9

I'm a big fan of the Gustave by Schindelhauer:

But then I do own one, so very biased indeed.

I had an Alfine 11 a few years ago, it was made of cheese inside and only lasted 5000km. Replaced it with a Rohloff, and it's taken me all over Europe without missing a gearchange.
I remember hearing the alfine 8 was a bit stronger but I've never used one.

Vintage SA 3 or 5 speed? Have seen some pretty builds. Those hubs are still around for a reason. Otherwise, Rohloff.

I think Rohloff is way out of my budget. I've also heard some bad things about Alfine 11, so most likely what I am looking for is something with Alfine 8. I have no idea what are "vintage SA 3 or 5 speed" :)

Sturmey Archer. You can still find vintage ones out there (they do last after all), as well as Torpedo ones (pre SRAM), but the Alfine 8 is the one you should be looking for if you are after an OTP.
A belt drive would be a logical pairing IMHO.

Apologies. I meant (mainly) British 3/5 speed bikes with Sturmey Archer hub gears (I have several 60s/70s hubs - all still shift flawlessly). Very low maintenance and pretty cheap. But might be harder to get in Finland.

This type of thing (not the prettiest, but an example nonetheless):

Oh, and look at the German brands (Diamant, VSF, Rose etc...).

Skeppshult do some decent looking hub gear bikes:

https://www.skeppshult.se/sv/cyklarna/man/elit-7/

That looks pretty neat. A pair of Berthoud mudguards and you're good to go.

^ that is nice

https://www.marinbikes.com/fi/bikes/2019-pavement-fitness-transit-beyond-road-nicasio-rc

Heavy as hell though

Buy a regular bike and then convert it to an internal hub?

Maybe if I'd have the money and skills to do that :) I might consider it if I'd find a decent looking used bike, but even then buying the Alfine 8 and everything else is not cheap, not to mention the cost to install everything (I might try it myself first of course).

Yeah I've been checking out the Marin bikes (when I was a kid a spent all my savings on getting Marin Muirwoods) but I really don't like how the frames look like. I'm picky, I know :)

I might consider this, if I could find it used or with like 40% sale. It's a beauty.

Pashley Coutryman

Might even make an exception and not get a flat bar, if I could get this with decent price:

Pashley Pathfinder Trail:

OMG this is such a beauty, put Alfine 8 here (and maybe disk brakes) and I have found what I'm looking for:

Bombtrack Oxbridge Singlespeed Roadbike

"Bombtrack" always makes me think "bumcrack". I have no opinion about the bikes, never having seen or ridden one.

Maybe it's a generation thing ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUaL1FnotRQ

You are from Finnland? Take a look at Pelagos offerings. Ticks all the boxes.
Steel,clean classic esthetics, hub gears, more affordable then some others and they are from Finnland.
https://www.pelagobicycles.com/bicycles/hankocommuter.html

The Alfine 8 speed is a pretty good option (it’s no rohloff but it’s smooth and reliable - don’t believe the promo stuff - you’re best off pausing pedalling when you change gear). Alfine 11 is poor and nexus 8 are a bit crap. Nexus 7 is pretty good, but you’re better off coughing up for the Alfine 8. Sturmey archer 3 is effective and serviceable, sturmey 5 is shit and sturmey 8 is reliable but agricultural.

I bought a commuter with a premium nexus and was unimpressed - ended up putting a derailleur on with a dropout adapter.

Are you sure you want a hub gear? 1x10 and a regular wipe down of the chain is a much better option ime.

Maybe if I'd have the money and skills to do that :)

It's unbelievably easy if you buy a pre-built wheel from somewhere like Taylors wheels. https://www.taylor-wheels.com/bike-wheels/28-inch-bike-wheel/28-inch-rear-wheels/?laufrad_hr_nabe=327

it is literally just a wheel and shifter change, then adjust the chain. (Ok if you have a double or triple crankset you might want to swap that out as well)

This is my husband's 1998 steel mtb converted to hub gear. This one is not a beauty I know, but shows it can be done as a straight switch. https://www.lfgss.com/comments/14255088/

Belt drive is not simple, but just IGH is probably the easiest switch you can make.

Just a thought. Would IGH oil/grease gum up or solidify in Finnish winter conditions?

P.S. The Pashleys above weren't far off what I was on about.

Not sure if I will ride all year round, I mean you have to have studded tires when there's snow on the ground, and I am not a fan of riding when it's -20 celcius outside :) And yes the bike you linked wasn't that far off.

Thanks! I actually might consider this.