Even though I saw those knobby tires, I didn't realize you rode that bike off road. I was simply thinking of minimizing things, even losing the cable and shifter?

That makes me think of 2 speed kickback hubs to lose the cable and shifter. Or, move the shifter to the frame closer to the rear wheel if you're really counting ounces of cable? Of course, that would require a different shifter, I'd imagine.

Just thinking out loud.