Yuba has just made the Mundo compatible with internally geared hubs, specifically Alfine 8- or 11-speed and Nuvinci’s continuously variable n360. That simply means Yuba has made axle adapters ($19) so that these hubs will fit the Mundo’s 14-mm dropouts.

Internally geared hubs provide lots of advantages, such as zero or very low maintenance, imperviousness to rain, salt, and grit, and, perhaps most importantly when pulling heavy loads, the ability to shift from and to different gears at a complete stop.

A couple of things should be noted, on the other hand. First, you’ll lose the Mundo’s extremely strong 48-spoke wheel, because internally geared hubs are made with either 32 or 36 spoke holes. That change, along with the thinner axle, mean the Mundo’s 440 lb + rider carrying capability should not be approached.

Secondly, none of these hubs has quite the range of the Mundo’s stock 3×7 derailleur drivetrain, and the use of the Mundo’s triple chainring would allow you to transmit more torque than either Shimano or Nuvinci recommends for their internally geared hubs. (We will say we’ve been unable to break the n360 and that Alfine also are robust enough that we’ve used them on our own front-loading ShuttleBug cargo bikes without any problems.) But you can run, say, FSA’s Patterson Metropolis two-speed crankset to significantly expand your gear range safely.

If money is not an issue, what we’d recommend for the ultimate Mundo is an n360/Metropolis matchup along with Avid BB7s. How much would that cost? About as much as a stock Big Dummy.

Thirdly, if you’ve got a double or triple crankset up front you’ll still need to use a rear derailleur to act as a chain tensioner, like in the photo below from a Surly Troll.

Surley Troll double w/n360

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