Derailleurs Suck!

The amount of people that I talk to with stories of derailleurs breaking off, being out of tune or not working is astonishing. A part that won't work in cold weather, mud, grass or in any area with obstructions. The first thing people ask is "I'm not sure exactly what model I should get but it can't have a derailleur"

The rear derailleur was invented in the 1930's. It really was an ingenious invention, and it has stood the test of time. The problem is derailleurs were never designed to go off road. If you have one on a bike designed to perform in hunting terrain you are asking for problems. Technology has since come a long way, and internally geared hubs can offer all the benefits of a derailleur with none of the problems. With middrive motors that can turn three times as fast as you can peddle. You can get great hill climbing torque and a top end speed around 18 mph with a 52v single speed.  Hunting terrain offers unique considerations. With trees, grass and other obstructions, a top end speed above 15 mph really isn't necessary. Having a bulletproof single speed drivetrain has far more advantages when it comes to the priorities of hunters

The other thing that most people don’t consider is that derailleur chains are the weakest bike chains on the market. Designed thinner; to shift more easily when traveling through dual pully wheels and multi layered cassettes. The end result is the weakest drivetrain configuration available. So even if your derailleur doesn't let you down, there is a greater likelihood that you will break the chain.

Hunters demand a lot from their equipment. There is a limited period of time where it is essential that their bike is working properly. Risking your hard-earned vacation time or hunt of a lifetime on a part that is actually designed to break is a recipe for disaster. Best case scenario is that when your derailleur fails, you're not several miles from your truck in a rainstorm.