I'm hearing you HK.
I just finished building my first road bike a week ago. Its carbon fibre, running 10speed campag Veloce. Its the first time I've run a bike with more than an 8 speed cassette (my MTB which I use for commuting is 3×8, my touring recumbent trike was 3×8). I'm amazed at how much I have to tune the gears to keep the indexing in place. Apparently this is normal.
I'll see how I go, but when this drive train wears out, I might consider going to a 3×8 set up, just to avoid tuning. To hell with the weight (its only like 500g). And maybe even going to thicker more puncture proof tyres. And I definitely want a single speed/fixie. I figure if its light enough and I get the gear just right, I can probably ride almost as far and fast anyway. Flip flop for the crazy hills.
The other option I was thinking of was trying to build the last bike I'll ever need. Something like a Thorn Mercury would do it. Fast durable frame and geometry, straight bars with good bar ends, Rohloff, solid V brakes. I really love bikes and working on bikes but it chews up way too much time and I'd rather just have a bike I barely ever have to worry about again and spend more time riding.
