OK, so I can't find the old thread, my search skills are poor, so I'm starting a new one.

So, should I townify my Salsa Casseroll SS with tourist bars and cork grips like I did with my Windsor Clockwork or just leave it the way it is with drops that I never use ? Also, should I leave it as a SS, or make it geared, since it already has 130mm rear dropout spacing and a derailleur hanger ?

Do whatever you need to make you ride it. If you need gears, then go gears. Just ride it!!

Ok, should I part out my Jamis Sonik and sell just the stuff I don't want off of it, or should I keep it as a spare back up bike?

Well, I am riding it, but just mulling over possible changes to make it better. The first part is pretty much a no-brainer, since it's easy and cheap to do, but the gearing part is a bit more difficult decision, since there are downsides such as having to remove the chainguard and more difficulty in keeping it clean.

As to you question, I'm not sure if you're being serious, but I can't see any reason to part out the Sonic unless you are strapped for cash.

Tourist bars on the Salsa could be fun. I rode like that for a short while to mix things up and I found it to be very enjoyable.

I apologize, I saw where you said that you never use it, meaning the drops, not the bike. I am not a fan of geared bikes any more, at least for me. Would you find it to be more enjoyable if it was geared?

OK, no problem. The only reason for gears is that I use this bike for shopping and it's often very heavily loaded, so I have it geared very low at under 60gi to make easier to get started at traffic lights and get up hills. I also run platform pedals without straps, so I can only push down on the pedals. I've also muddled over the idea of using an IGH, which would require less maintenance and allow me to keep the chainguard.

IGH then. Keeps the clean look, and the ease of keeping the bike clean, along with the chainguard.

Do you have any recommendation for a good IGH that will work with 130mm dropout spacing ?

I was going to ask you the same thing for my next bike LOL. I know nothing of them to be honest. I am very curious about them however.

Yeah, me neither. My only experience is on my nearly 40 y/o Schwinn Speedster that has a SA 3-speed IGH. The jumps between gears are huge, so I'd definitely want something with more gears that are more closely spaced.

I had a Nexus 7-speed hub for a couple years. It was great. I traded it to a co-worker and it's still running strong. Only had a grip shifter option though. Alfine comes in 8 and 11-speed, has a rapid fire shifter, and is supposedly made with more durable internals, plus a disc option if your frame has disc tabs. We have modern Sturmey Archer 5-speed hubs on some of the new bikes on the floor. They are nowhere near as nice as Shimano's IGH offerings. Nuvinci is interesting if you want an infinitely variable gear range. Rohloff if you're a ******!

Thanks for the input. What I'd really like is to use a downtube shifter, since tbe frame already has dt shifter mounts and cable guides under the bb. Is that available for any of those IGH hubs ? The less amount of cabling and clutter the better for me.

A quick google search tells me there aren't any compatible matches for dt shifters and igh hubs besides what SA offers in 3 speed.

What about their thumbie shifter? I always found thumbies to be more aesthetically pleasing than trigger shifters for the style of bike you have, if you go for the tourist bar. SLC50 ? Sturmey Archer

Yeah, I saw that, but it only works with a 5-speed IGH and still requires running a cable and housing all the way from the hub to the handlebar with a lot of mounting clips and whatnot. I suppose I could use a cable housing stop on the dt shifter mount and the housing stop on the rear of the chainstay to minimize the amount of housing at least.

Being just a hair over the qualifications for being a clyde, should I get a Tioga Twin Tail saddle?

I am looking to get an aluminum frame to use on the track but also ride on the street occasionally.

I would ideally like to keep the frame and fork cost below $700.
What would you recommend?
Here are the 3 I was looking at:
Dolan Pre Cursa (60cm)
Dolan Track Champion (60cm)
All City Thunderdome (61cm)

You could always use a Sturmey-Archer "Duomatic" 2-speed hub. You shift by back-pedalling (like the old Bendix 2-speeds), so no cables or housing. Available in a variety of widths and with or without a coaster brake:

Products ? Sturmey Archer

Thanks for the input, but it doesn't seem worth the trouble for just two gears, and I'd want at least 5 gears. Also, that hub w/o a brake is only available with a dropout spacing of 110mm or 120mm, and the dropouts on my Salsa are spaced at 130mm.

I have a Dolan Pre Cursa, and it's a great value as a basic track frame with good track geo and stiffness. I ride mine only on the street with a road fork that is drilled for a front brake.

I'm not sure if it could handle your weight, but I have one and it's absolute torture after a very short time, so I wouldn't recommend it regardless.

Thanks.
Aside from the bit of weight savings (300 grams) and slightly different geo, would the double priced Track Champion be that much better?

Thanks for the input. Do you ride with a chamois? I do, and I would like to break that habit, but I can't seem to do it. All year round I wear one because I like the added comfort. I admit, I am drawn in by the look of it, but worry about the reliability of it.

I can't even imagine riding that saddle w/o some sort of padding, but routinely ride other saddles in just cotton briefs under my shorts or pants. The best saddle for this is my Brooks Pro. When I was using the Tioga, I only rode with padded chamois bibs and still suffered mightily. I replaced it with a Charge Knife, which is almost as lightweight, and vastly more comfortable.