Number_6

I discovered the virtues of simplicity when I took my flying lessons in a Piper Cub a few years ago. A tale in itself that informed me on the nature of life. I've been de-complexing in many things since.

I'm now the proud owner of a Schwinn Speedster EF, Raleigh Sports and 3-speed Sprite.The Schwinn is almost done and the two Raleighs are to be cleaned up this winter. I got on this kick when I was riding a recently obtained 10-Speed '74 Suburban. Riding upright brought back many pleasant memories as well as reminding me why I liked riding in the first place- as a kid. That took me back to the Celina $59 Huffy Sportsman twist grip Sturmey Archer (always been tall for my age) I had as as a 10 year old that I really dug. Also the "touring" position seems to be more friendly to the nerves in my hands. A 3-speed S-A Suburban and a rod braked job are in my future I sense...

My friend is being taken by fixies right now, so I feel 3-speeds are an appropriate response on my part.

To be honest, when I ride I like to loaf along and gawk. The poverty model Sirrus will get North Road bars, fenders and a reduction in gears from 21 to 14- with something better that it's Altus drivetrain.

Needless to say the 10 speed Suburban and Super Sport are simple and rugged (and heavy) with the Varsinintal hardware they have. Virtuous.

And for those times when I'm all into gizmology and modernity I've got the titanium 20-speed Moto. Needless to say if I spent most of my time on my heavy stuff I should be a blue streak on that.

Aforesaid friend has one of those 3 lb early 90's Cannondale framesets (880?) he'll give me. I wonder how that be all dressed up in hub geared Clubman guise... hmmm...

Henry III

Haven't reach that level of curmudgeonliness to resort to three speed hubs. Baby steps...baby steps. Haha!

big chainring 

I'm on a bit of a de - evolution kick as well. Last two bikes I have built up are sporting steel rimmed wheels, cottered crsnks, and "unclipped" rat trap pedals. 27 x 1 1/4 tires on steel rims inflated to 75 psi really absorb the bumps. It's a great ride.

I also enjoyed a summer of short get aways in my '77 VW Westfalia Bus. No power steering, no power brakes, manual everything. It's an absolute blast to drive. Looking now for a Volvo 240 wagon to replace my Volvo V70 wagon. New cars, new bikes hold no interest to me.

gomango

As I mentioned earlier, I am a fan of old and new bicycles.

Lately though, I find myself lusting after the enduro motorbikes I raced when I was a kid.

Bultacos, Elsinores and Huskys were my absolute favorites.

I've been patiently laying the groundwork here at the house for the last several years.

This spring, I might just go for it and jump back in.

Nothing big mind you. Maybe a nice 125-250cc would suffice.

brianinc-ville

Une curmudgeonne.

Velocivixen

Mais Oui! Bien sure.

bicyclridr4life

A lady with class.

dddd

I agree.

On the one hand, I'm able to happily complete most of our hilly rides here using only the big ring while friction-shifting through all seven of the cogs on my 13-30t freewheel.

And on the other hand, electronic shifting by itself can help enable the use of a greater # of cogs in back, because of the more-precise motion.
I've been preaching for years that multiple closely-spaced chainrings would work nicely with an all-electric system, in part because closer chainring ratios allow closer spacing before chain contact with the adjacent larger chainring occurs. And four chainrings that are configured in a close-ratio stack can be made from one piece of metal, with each ring reinforcing it's neighboring rings for greater strength-to-weight ratio.
So, an auto-shifting setup with multiple chainrings could maintain a straighter chainline at all times, which then reduces the need for such high levels of lateral stiffness of cogs and chainrings and thus can allow further weight reduction.
Four chainrings and twelve cogs can together produce a wide range of tightly-spaced ratios, without the need for any back-shifting in the middle of the sequence.
And yet, even an electric-shifted triple has yet to appear since the demise of the Browning system 20 some years ago.

At one time during the late 1990's, there was a single, dual-shifting all-mechanical "gripshifter" that controlled both front and rear derailers through a 3x7 drivetrain.
I don't recall if the gearing sequence was effectively 7+2 ratios. The marketing effort obviously failed.

Salubrious

Or you could just get a Rohloff.

noglider 

I'm reading Just Ride​ by Grant Petersen. It is mostly curmudgeonly, with some interesting exceptions. I'm enjoying it.