Originally Posted by
surreal
Maybe it's just me and my inability to think abstractly or tolerate goofy half-measures, but it seems to me that one oughta decide: am I a derailers person, or a SS person? (If you truly can't decide, consider becoming an IGH person...) I love SS, I love it to death, but I have some geared bikes, too. And once you've delved into that whole mess, you might as well get derailers on both ends of the drivetrain.
I agree with the above except for cyclocross. For me, the single ring up front is simpler, I don't need the extra gears (I actually prefer a wide range cassette for that application) and I never have to worry about dropping the chain. With a double I dropped the chain a couple times before I got rid of it.