Originally Posted by
repechage
Given the size, I would have been tempted to go to a cable operated front mech and ...
No idea how you reach that far down!
Repêchage
It's all relative as we can all touch our toes... and me toves are way down der too!
The front cable shifting seemed like yet one more thing to potentially mar the finish and leave a trace of my molestation. The long reach keeps me honest and the bike is ridden as a 5-speed except for the truly steep bits on my gravel road. Like getting out and turning the manual hubs on my 1965 Jeep CJ5, it's a very conscious decision and something I don't want to do all that often.
It's a bit weird but this is the only bike I've owned that has the presence and responsibility of owning a piece of history and all that might imply with regards to 'stewardship'