Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,320
Likes: 6,606
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
True, you could get away with fewer gears, but the weight and friction would be a deal killer. Weight is critical.