Internal hub or derailleur for beach bike?

[Pax]

Looking at something like an Electra Townie to run to the beach, and was wondering if the internal hub 3-speed would be a better choice than a derailleur? My best guess is the internal hub, but I'm not a bike mechanic and don't know how well sealed the internal hub is... or is it just a way to pack sand in with no good way to clean it?

Thoughts?

[Pax]

Decided on the 7d with a derailleur. Talked to a bike mechanic buddy and we agreed that having the parts out where I could keep them clean and lubed was a better choice.

I'll wait til we're down at the condo over xmas and buy from the new LBS.

[rebeccaC]

Areas of beach bike path here will be covered in sand after strong winds or a storm and stay that way for a few days. I’ve never had a sand problem with the nexus hub on my commuter and I ride the beach path a lot on it. i do quickly clean the chain on both the commuter and my fixie when i get home after riding in sand…..I spend more time cleaning my seven’s drive train after riding on the occasional sandy areas on the path.

For no problems and very little maintenance with riding in a sandy area I’d definitely go with a coaster brake nexus hub and a gates carbon belt drive system.

that townie has a great cruiser look!!!!

[Pax]

Haven't had a cruiser style bike since before they were called that. Looking forward to it for my daily beach runner.

[Pax]

I'm going for the very difficult choice of color now! Usually I'm going for better components, lighter weight, not so much how pretty can I make it? . I'm thinking coral!!

[Pax]

I wondered if there was a reason you wanted a Townie? Flat-foot technology, etc., make it suitable for a beginner, and you are far from that. Is it just a comfy ride?

Just curious.

Just something easy on the knee and fun to pedal to the beach. The flat foot tech does one very knee-comfy thing... it moves the cranks far forward so it's similar in a lot of ways to riding a 'bent.