Plan B (does not necessarily exclude Plan A)
 

Tom Sherman wrote:
Plan B would be to get a commuter bike to ride at least in the winter,
and to use for errands. Commuting distance combined with a shopping stop
would be 8 miles or less.
Requirements a
A. Heavy duty frame - should be able to handle 120 kgf of rider and
cargo on less than ideal roads. Rigid fork hard-tail required.
B. Corrosion resistant - a fat tube aluminium alloy frame is fine as
long as it is overbuilt (see A).
C. Decent handling on snow, ruts, gravel, over broken pavement.
D. Mounts for fenders and clearance for fat (60-mm) tires.
E. Mounts for a rear rack that can handle two loaded bucket panniers.
F. Able to use an internally gear hub.
G. Dynamo hub lighting.
H. Hub brakes - drums preferred for theft resistance.
I. ISO 559-mm wheel size preferred for greater fat tire choices.

landotter wrote:
http://helenscycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?LibId=51876
Electra Amsterdam Balloon 8. Yeah, it's derailleured, but it's a 1X8
system which is about stupidly easy to maintain as it gets.[...]

Tom Sherman wrote:
Does it work when the derailer fills with slush that later freezes?

" wrote:
Its not the derailleur that causes the problem in the land of snow and
ice known as Iowa. Its the freehub itself that stops working. The
little pawls stop being pressed outward by their springs and stop
engaging the freehub body. So you end up with a freewheel in both
directions. Internal hub might solve the problem. But a fixed gear/
single speed definitely will. Single speed until the cold stops the
freewheel from working. Then flip the wheel around and go fixed until
it warms up.

landotter wrote:
I've never had a problem with either derailleurs or internal hubs in
ice bike conditions. Only had brake cables freeze up a couple times,
which is far more scary. Just use plenty of lube in the freehub.
Castrol is cheap and smells terrific.

Memphis ice isn't really comparable to Milwaukee, Chicago or
Minneapolis ice. Heck, your salt water doesn't even freeze!

I was in Memphis last month at +20F. The locals complained
of the cold. 12 hours later I was home at -20F.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Plan B (does not necessarily exclude Plan A)
 

On Mar 19, 6:38*pm, AMuzi wrote:
*Tom Sherman wrote:
Plan B would be to get a commuter bike to ride at least in the winter,
and to use for errands. Commuting distance combined with a shopping stop
would be 8 miles or less.
Requirements a
A. Heavy duty frame - should be able to handle 120 kgf of rider and
cargo on less than ideal roads. Rigid fork hard-tail required.
B. Corrosion resistant - a fat tube aluminium alloy frame is fine as
long as it is overbuilt (see A).
C. Decent handling on snow, ruts, gravel, over broken pavement.
D. Mounts for fenders and clearance for fat (60-mm) tires.
E. Mounts for a rear rack that can handle two loaded bucket panniers.
F. Able to use an internally gear hub.
G. Dynamo hub lighting.
H. Hub brakes - drums preferred for theft resistance.
I. ISO 559-mm wheel size preferred for greater fat tire choices.
landotter wrote:
http://helenscycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?LibId=51876
Electra Amsterdam Balloon 8. Yeah, it's derailleured, but it's a 1X8
system which is about stupidly easy to maintain as it gets.[...]
Tom Sherman wrote:
Does it work when the derailer fills with slush that later freezes?
" wrote:
Its not the derailleur that causes the problem in the land of snow and
ice known as Iowa. *Its the freehub itself that stops working. *The
little pawls stop being pressed outward by their springs and stop
engaging the freehub body. *So you end up with a freewheel in both
directions. *Internal hub might solve the problem. *But a fixed gear/
single speed definitely will. *Single speed until the cold stops the
freewheel from working. *Then flip the wheel around and go fixed until
it warms up.
landotter wrote:
I've never had a problem with either derailleurs or internal hubs in
ice bike conditions. Only had brake cables freeze up a couple times,
which is far more scary. Just use plenty of lube in the freehub.
Castrol is cheap and smells terrific.

Memphis ice isn't really comparable to Milwaukee, Chicago or
Minneapolis ice. Heck, your salt water doesn't even freeze!

I was in Memphis last month at +20F. The locals complained
of the cold. 12 hours later I was home at -20F.
--

I've lived many years in various far north places. ;-) If it's below
ten, the bus is a really nice option.