I read that the Mundo will have a 5-speed internal hub option. Do you guys carry it? What do you think of internal hubs?

The 5-speed option for the Mundo will probably not be available in 2008 in either the US or Europe, based on our conversations with the manufacturer.

While we’re on the topic of internally geared hubs, here are a few pieces of info you might find useful.

Even with an internal hub bike you still have to take measures to protect the drivetrain against rust. You still have to lube the chain, about as frequently as on a bike with a derailleur. Both derailleur and internal hub bikes have a cable that must be occasionally lubed.

With an internal hub bike you can shift while not pedaling. This is useful for city riding. When you come to a red light, you can crank the shifter to downshift three gears and you’re ready for accelerating in a low gear. With a derailleur you have anticipate this before coming to a red light, downshifting in the last few pedal strokes before you come to a stop. The same is true for coming to a hill. With an internal hub, you can power your way towards a hill, then crank the shifter to the low gear so you can spin. With a derailleur you have to allow yourself a few pedal strokes with light pressure on the chain in order to shift cleanly. A lot of beginners have trouble with this technique and either head into hills with too high a gear, or attempt to downshift while climbing hard, which is a great stress on the drivetrain.

Derailleur-based drivetrains are a little more efficient than internal hubs. Over the course of a 10-mile ride, this might mean you’ll arrive 30-60 seconds sooner with the same effort.

While both derailleur and internal hub bikes can be adjusted to shift perfectly, an internal hub bike often feels sweeter or makes less noise while shifting.

An internal hub bike has a cleaner chain line, which is visually more appealing.

A derailleur is exposed to twigs and plastic bags getting caught in the action.