As Craven said, the Torpedo Duomatic has a coaster brake and that's all the brake I plan to run! Believe me, I am a huge fan of full housing and I appreciate frames that accommodate it - but I don't think anyone will be sad to see those three little brackets go from this No-Name-Nova.

I am actually getting attached to this frame -even the colour. Who can resist the working title of this bike anyway... "Pink Torpedo"?

That looks amazing - love it! You got your hub from hubstripping I gather? He must be out of them by now? I love the idea of the Automatic. I would have chosen that, but I was lucky to have two NOS Duomatics gifted to me as part of a collection of random old parts. I'd almost sell them both to buy an automatic, but I will probably just keep the second duomatic for spare parts (as tempting as ebay'ing it might be). It even came with the original instruction manual, unused cog and brake lever band/bolt. The only thing I didn't get was a pair of axle nuts/washers. I was able to file a pair of SA keyed washers to fit, and the SA nuts fit perfectly (though I understand they are a slightly different threading, there was no friction and no wobbling so I went ahead and used them)

Your gear choice is spot on. I was considering after today's ride that I could lose a tooth on the rear and it would be just perfect (it's slightly too easy right now). That would put me at 44/21 which is exactly a 54 inch low gear!

Did you know that SA is coming out with a 2 speed kickback hub next year? Check out the last comment on this page: http://sunrace-sturmeyarcher.blogspo...bike-2009.html. The hub is called the S2C.

I think it is fantastic that the 2 speed concept will be available new again - although it makes me sad to think that the uniqueness of the Duomatic idea will be all but lost when the S2C starts showing up in a bunch of klunky new beach cruisers :-(