u/grash

Hi everyone - I'm thinking about getting an Apollo drop bar and taking the gear ratio down to a 44 tooth front, 26 tooth rear, which would put me right at the 1.7 ratio that I hear is near the max of what I should have before I risk damaging the IGH. Has anyone done this, any tips or tricks?

Any other mods you guys have done to your apollos? I almost want to go to a 42 tooth front cog, that'd put me at 24 and 96 gear inches, which feels like the right range for me.

I’m looking for one, do it all bike that I can use for my commute (11 miles each way), as well as riding a really hilly route near me while towing my kid on a trailer bike, and maybe eventually doing group local group rides. Strong preference for belt drive and IGH because I like to ride year round, and am lazy about cleaning my bike. Preference for drop bars as well, which leads me to either the Booda Bike Alpine ($4600 with a Rohloff IGH), Priority Apollo ($1800 with a Shimano Alfine 11) or Priority Gemini ($3500 with a pinion).

Obviously, I would like to get the Apollo and spend the least amount of money. But the gear ratio on the Gemini is bonkers and would be nice when towing my kid on the trailer bike. And the rohloff is the only IGH that is nearly as efficient as a derailleur, which makes me feel like I can maybe use it on group rides as well. Do you think I could live with the Apollo, or do you think I should spend up?