You could go with 700c if you got a SA dynamo drum brake hub: http://www.amazon.com/Sturmey-Archer.../dp/B002AGC7F8. That will give you fine all weather braking. You could then go with a SA 5 speed drum brake on the rear plus a tensioner. You live in the PNW, right? A 1 x 5 with a drum brakes and a chain guard would rock in all that rain as a commuter.