Well, my primary ride is not San Jose but 2006 Volpe which is San Jose + gears. I put about 3K mile on it with no problems whatsoever. I just added Planet Bike fenders, Brooks B17 saddle, Continental Gatorskin 28 mm tires & Delta stem riser. It's just a great all-around bike suitable for commuting/touring/club rides/training. As far as the single speeds go, I just do not like them because just like the previous poster not only I do not like the headwind but also do not really enjoy killing myself by climbing the hills. Also, I really like going fast downhill. Did you ever try doing 40mph downhill on a single speed? I think not, 'cause I pass them by by dozen here in NY Prospect Park. The single speeds are suitable for flat 3 mile commutes but mostly for show off IMHO.