I promise: Vera will not end up looking like this:
However, she may end up with a fixed gear or a "flip-flop" hub. Now that she's become my regular commuter, I'm really thinking about dispensing with the derailleur.
Some of you will tell me to consider an internally-geared hub (IGH). I am. However, I haven't had the best of luck with the ones I've had. Hal, the Bicycle Habitat mechanic who's built any wheel I ride and haven't built myself (and who set up Arielle, Tosca and Helene) says the only IGH he likes is the Rohloff, which costs more than my first ten or so bikes.
And, I'll admit that I like the elegant simplicity of fixed gears, and even single speed freewheels. But don't worry: If I go that route, or give in to an IGH, I won't do anything silly like cutting off the derailleur mounting "ear" on the rear dropout. In fact, I don't want to cut, drill bend or otherwise mutilate the frame for any modification.
However, she may end up with a fixed gear or a "flip-flop" hub. Now that she's become my regular commuter, I'm really thinking about dispensing with the derailleur.
Some of you will tell me to consider an internally-geared hub (IGH). I am. However, I haven't had the best of luck with the ones I've had. Hal, the Bicycle Habitat mechanic who's built any wheel I ride and haven't built myself (and who set up Arielle, Tosca and Helene) says the only IGH he likes is the Rohloff, which costs more than my first ten or so bikes.
And, I'll admit that I like the elegant simplicity of fixed gears, and even single speed freewheels. But don't worry: If I go that route, or give in to an IGH, I won't do anything silly like cutting off the derailleur mounting "ear" on the rear dropout. In fact, I don't want to cut, drill bend or otherwise mutilate the frame for any modification.