This thread is pretty funny. Anyway, regarding derailers (Sheldon Brown spelling): I just made it up a local Utah mountain last week and had a bit of trouble with the derailer and cogs. They got jammed with snow! So I did the same 45 mile ride next day on my singlespeed, with sandals. Took just a little more pushing, up the steep parts in addition to the snowy parts. Cold on the sandaled toes! But nothing to jam up, eh?
My wife and I have truly appreciated the ability in Germany to purchase full equipped bikes. We don't have to go through the issues of fitting the fenders, lights, bell, kickstand, chainguard, lock, racks and such. Just clip on the basket and go! By the way, all of these accessories do indeed add weight. One may well start with a naked 25 pound bike (12 kilo), but it swiftly becomes heavier. Fortunately, in Europe we can save weight by not wearing helmets, since it's against the law for cars to hit cyclists. My fully equipped Kalkhoff (7 speed Sram hub) has done fine service commuting, day touring and long-distance touring, including Alps. But it is truly a pig to carry up stairs into trains.