Originally Posted by
smasha
If it were that easy...
The big thing I'm looking for that's not fashionable on current off-the-shelf bikes is a 3x10 drive-train, with 40-30-22 crankset and 11-42 cassette. This gives me a gear ratio (from lowest gear to highest gear) of almost 700%, which lets me keep a comfortable cadence up and down hills, with or without panniers full of groceries. From a walking speed to +50kph, I can maintain a comfortable spinning cadence. Also, I like 170mm crank-arms, which I'm not going to find standard on any large-frame bikes.
https://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR=...N=KMH&DV=speed
If you can suggest an off-the-shelf, aluminium, city/grocery/hill bike that can do this, let me know. Otherwise, it seems like I have to start with a bike like the Giant Escape 2 or the Trek FX2, strip it down and build it up. The good news is that I kind of do enjoy doing the work. The cost is non-trivial, but if I start with a used bike it's reasonable.
Found one, here:
https://www.occyclery.com/products/c...ls-size-medium
Then, the used market.....
https://99spokes.com/bikes/bianchi/2...-slxdeore-3x10
and elsewhere. Of course, none of that might work because some of these sources are.... aren't in the country where you are. I'm a big fan of having a rear cassette with enough gears with one tooth spacing allowing me to keep cadence in a narrow range. For me, that works with a 2x10 trannie. 3x10 is more than I think I'd ever need, but then to each their... of course. Good luck!!