OK, no problem. The only reason for gears is that I use this bike for shopping and it's often very heavily loaded, so I have it geared very low at under 60gi to make easier to get started at traffic lights and get up hills. I also run platform pedals without straps, so I can only push down on the pedals. I've also muddled over the idea of using an IGH, which would require less maintenance and allow me to keep the chainguard.