Built up a commutey bike SS to keep costs down, and commute was fairly flat. Really enjoyed the simplicity, and quiet, and the way it freed up my brain in an unexpected way. It’s not until you ditch the shifters that you realise how much of your time you spend thinking about them.
Put a cassette on the back for a Downs Link – SDW to Brighton ride, and kept it on. Commute got hillier.
Off road: I bought a Dialled PA as a stop gap while I spruced up the dekerf. Liked the PA, figured there was room for both, but even more so if I kept the PA and longer travel geary, and set up the Dekerf as rigid SS. 1st proper outing was at SSUKG in the Purbecks and rode about 60 beautiful miles in the Purbeck hills. I knew it would handle brilliantly with rigids, and knew I’d enjoy SS for all the same reasons as I did on the commuter.
I didn’t know how much the uphill hauling and thrutching works your abs, back and shoulders, though!