3-speed commuter input
 

i'm getting ready to get a new bike. i've been riding a univega and have been really only using 3 speeds, in the front, and i'm pretty sure i only want/need 3-speeds for my 3-mile (one-way) relatively flat commute.
i'm having a hard time finding a 3-speed bike.
is it easy enough to loose the back derailleur and just use the front? as in, buy the bike but the have the shop modify it?
any suggestions?
one though is to build my own (at lest choose the parts). i'm think a surly cross-check frame, or similar.
thanks y'all

You'd still need the rear derailleur to take up the chain slack if you just shifted the front. 3-speed internally-geared hubs are nice if you don't want to use derailleurs.

you can't remove the rear derailleur because the chain-tensioner part of it is needed in order to allow the front gears to shift correctly.

So you wanna really nice three speed do ya?

Look no further:

The Trek Belleville ~ $750
www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/town/urban_utility/belleville/belleville/

The Schwinn City IG3 ~ $680
www.schwinnbikes.com/bikes/urban/2012-city-ig3-mens-14259

The Raleigh Classic Roadster ~ $550
www.raleighusa.com/bikes/hybrid/classic-roadster-12/

Yeah, just get/build a 1x3. Less maintenance, from what I hear.

Uh, followed the link and it said the page doesn't exist...

EDIT: I tried following that link using both Firefox and Dragon (Chrome clone), both returned page not found message... Is this what you're talking about?

The way they did the rear rack on the schwinn is awsome

Sturmey Archer AW3 is a fine choice.. get a wheel, built around one.
put it in your bike, figure out the gear ratio range you want,

select the tooth count of the 2, 1 cog and 1 chainring to suit.

High gear in the hub is the cruising gear,
the other are to go into the wind and over rises in the road.

Or if you leave the triple on the crank, get the 3/32 thick cog on the 3 speed
and use the old RD as a chain tensioner. then you have 6 speed, sort of.

The sort of 6 speed with 9 gear ratios.