Go with a triple in some manner. Every bike I have had since what was going to be my last bike in 1986 had a triple. I now have my two "last" bikes, altho one is a trike. My Rans LWB recumbent and my Terratrike both have click shift triples and they work great.

I still feel that my going with a triple clear back in '86 was a good idea. With a triple you can go almost anywhere.