Originally Posted by
SDRider
It's way too hilly around here to ride a 3 speed bike.
I'll stick with my trusty 18 & 20 speed road bikes.
how many usable gears on that 18&20 speed bike? how much overlap?
you might want to check out
this handy gear chart and minor dissertation on how one rider chose his gears... it was made comparing 3spds to modern drivetrains.
i'm not saying 3spd is the answer - but for many folks, IMHO a 'modern' drivetrain is overkill, esp for commuting and errands - its not like one day some mountain will just show up between you and work... typically you know you're route, and you know where you need to go on a regular basis. you also tune the gearing to match your typical riding. SS, 3Spd, and 8spd seem to be real alternatives to derailed bikes.
YMM will most certainly V.