Bostontrevor Wrote -

"It hasn't been done lately because it was something of a cult item produced for British time trialers who were pretty much exclusively a fixed gear crowd."

A lot of early safety bikes had multiple cogs on the back that you shifted when you got to a hill by stopping, losening the back wheel, putting into an easier ratio, then off you went, up the alps. I understand this was a common thing in some of the early races like the Tour De France etc, before the advent of the derailleur. I don't think there was any 'cult' or 'timetrial' aspects about it.

"Fixed gear riding these days is the opposite end of the spectrum which says strip everything down to the bare essentials. Efficient, light-weight, simple, comprehensible."

Naw, fixed just practical on one hand because a lot of couriers/urban hip types aren't that well off, as well as it being a nice little niche people can belong to an act all cool and stuff. One gear centainly isn't time efficient, converting an old track frame made from 531 or Oria or some other old crap steel sure ain't light, and as for 'simple and comprehensible'......well, err......hands up anyone who rides fixed or SS coz they couldn't understand how to operate gears?

I think the two cog cog is just something that will appeal to those who need it or already do it anyway in some form or another. The freewheel version for SSing definitely has more appeal, but if it's something that you don't think is any benefit, don't need it, or don't like the idea of running an 8 speed chain, stick to what you got I reckon.

As for me, I'm petitioning for a 16/17t freewheel, but everyone at White must be at freakin' Interbike.