Ok, Richard, as someone who IS willing to learn something from someone with 40 years experience, please explain your thought process in deciding how you will implement a gear train for yourself or someone else? Assume I will ride 100+ mile days with bike+rider+kit+luggage ~220#, and that I have determined the need (based on oh so human preference) for a gear range from 35 inches to 100 inches. I haven't bought derailleurs or a chainset, nor have I chosen the rear wheel design constraints. Please explain your tradeoffs, so we can learn. I am interested.
The terrain is continuously rolling mid-Michigan hills, with many climbs of 150 feet at a 5% grade.
Road Fan